A 1908 Bill Against “Betraying into Matrimony” by George Glenn

George O. Glenn of north Georgia, had a lot of successes. Yet there must have been some failures in his private realm.

In 1908, he hit a low. As a member of the Georgia legislature he proposed a bill to protect poor bachelors from the wiles of women.

It read “if any woman, whether maid or widow, shall betray into matrimony any unsuspecting male subject of this state by scents, paints, powder or perfumes, cosmetics, artificial teeth, false hair, iron stays, corsets, pads or padding, hoops or high-heeled shoes, low-cut waists, lingerie lace, variegated dropstitch or rainbow hosiery, or by any other deceitful means or artful practices, the marriage upon conviction, shall be null and void.” (North Georgia Citizen, July 23, 1908.)

Glenn was soundly and nationally lambasted for his proposal, and it came nowhere near enactment.