60 
IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 
who married 50 years ago. In the study of certain phases 
of social science it would be desirable to learn how the 
tendency to marry in Iowa compares with other states and 
with other countries; to what extent men and women 
marry three, four or five times. Again irr the study of 
social science in this country it is desirable to know 
whether natives or foreign born persons are more likely to 
get married, and to what extent the blood of Yankees and 
foreign born people is getting mixed. Whether marriage 
between whites and blacks is increasing, and whether by 
this method progress is likely to be made in solving the 
race problem. By referring again to the Massachusetts vital 
statistics we find the marriage rate of Massachusetts as 
compared with various foreign countries per 1,000 popula- 
tion as follows: Russia 91, Hungary 89, Massachusetts 87, 
Germany 85, Belgium 88, Austria 82, Spain 81, United 
Kingdom 80, Switzerland 77, France 76, Holland 76, Italy 
74, Norway 72, Sweden 62. In my opinion if it were not 
for the large standing armies in foreign countries, which 
we do not have in the United States, the marriage rates 
would be greater abroad than they are in Massachusetts, 
or in most of the states in this country. It is to be 
remembered furthermore in this connection that the popu- 
lation in Boston, and in the manufacturing cities of Massa- 
chusetts is now made up to a very great extent of foreign 
born population and of the children of foreigners. The 
Massachusetts vital statistics report also contains a 
chapter and several tables concerning divorces applied for 
and granted. It appears that in the year 1902 the whole 
number of divorces granted was 1,480, which number is 
greater by 587 than the average during the last 20 years. 
Twenty per cent, about the usual number, were granted on 
the ground of adultery, 46 per cent, which is 1 per cent less 
than the average, was granted on the ground of desertion, 
70 per cent of the divorces granted were on the complaint 
of the wife. 
