Is he married?

From Woman’s Weekly, February 16th 1918.

His Pay-Book Will Tell You!

MY DEAR FRIENDS. —I am going to quote this week from a letter I have just read in "The Times."  It is a warning that should be known to all girls in these days.  The rector of a coast town writes to say that a girl in his parish—one whom he had known for years—had had a narrow escape from marrying an overseas soldier who had already a wife in Canada!  The rector made inquiries and found out the truth.  The girl's people had never thought of doing this!

Since reading the rector's letter I have read another in "The Evening News," and it is so practical that I think it deserves to be quoted, as it may be of great use to many of my readers. 
Here it is:

"Evening News." Friday, January 11th 1918.

PAY-BOOK TELLS A TALE.

Writing to "The Evening News" on the subject of the warnings given to girls to make inquiries before becoming engaged to overseas soldiers, Lance-Corporal Hayman, of the New Zealand Force, says — "May I suggest for the benefit of young ladies that a man’s pay-book records whether a soldier is married or single.  Hence a girl would have cause to hesitate if a soldier fails to produce, among other identification papers, his allotment, next-of-kin, and his crime-recorder—namely, his pay-book."

I sometimes have letters from girls who are thinking of marrying soldiers from "Overseas."  Well, their fathers or mothers, or whoever acts as guardian to the girl, should remember Lance-Corporal Hayman's hint, and ask to see the pay-book.  So simple, isn't it?  It is a parent's duty in all such cases to act on this good practical advice. —Your friend,

MARY MARRYAT.

[Mary Marryat was the 'agony aunt' of Woman's Weekly.]