I find it is a common practice among American girls to engage themselves in marriage without consulting their parents.

Once I had a serious talk on this subject with a young couple who were betrothed.

I asked them if they had the consent of their parents.

They both answered emphatically that it was not necessary, and that it was their business and not their parents'.

I told them that although it was their business, they might have shown some respect to their parents by consulting them before committing themselves to this important transaction.