The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-08 00:00:00

TIIE OTHER SIDE OF THE PICTURE.

The following letter hal been addrossed to the e litor of
the T inee

Sir,--In your able article on the painful subject
brought before the notice of the public by " I. R. B.,''
you toll some wholesome truths on the side of the question
relating to women. Thera is a side no less imp(Ttatit re-
lating to men, on which I shall be thankful if you will
allow me
,the opportunity of saving a few words. •
The laws which society imposes in the present day in
respect of marriage upon young men belonging to the
middle class are in the highest degree unnatural, and are
the real cause of most of our social corruptions. The
father of a family has in many instances risen from a
comparatively humble origin to a position of easy compe-
tence. His wife has her carriage; be associates with mtn
of wealth greater than his own, His sons reach the ago •
when, in the natural course of things, they ought to marry
and establish a home for themselves. It would seem no
great hardship that a young couple should begin en the
same level as, their parents began, and b 3 content for the
first few years with the mere necessaries of life ; and
there are thousands who, were it not for society, would
gladly marry on such terms. But here the tyrant world
interposes ; the ion must not marry until he can maintain
an establisment on much the same footing as his father's.
If he dare set the law at defiance his family lose caste,
and he and his wife are quietly drJpt out of the circle in
which they have hitherto moved. All that society will
allow is an engagement, and • then we have the sad but
familiar sight of two young lovers wearing out their best
years with hearts siekened with hope long deferred ; often,
after all, ending in disappointment, or in the shattered
health of the poor girl, unable to bear up against the
harassing anxiety' Or even when a long engagement does
finally end in marriage, how diminished are the chances of
happiness ! The union, which, if allowed at first, would
have proved happy under worldly difficulty, has lost its
brightness when postponed until middle life, even with
competence arid a carriage. Perhaps the early struggles
would have only strengthened the bends of affection ; but
here I feel that I am on dangerous ground. Already I
hear society loudly exclaiming that I am advocating im-
P •
rovident marriages, that I would flood the country with
genteel paupers, that I am advising what is contrary to the
best interests of society.

But s'op awhile, society. Your picture of marriages at
35, with a Belgravian house for the happy couple, a foot-
man in splendid uniform, and at least a brougham, is very
pleasing; butthere is a reverse to the canvass, and that a
very dark one. How has the bridegroom been living since
he attained his manhood ? I believe that there are very
many young men who are keeping themselves pure amid
all the temptations of London life. God's blessing ba with
them, for they are the salt of our corrupt city. But I
know that there are thousands who are living in sin, chiefly
in consequence of the impossibility (as the world says) of
•their marrying. Some go quietly with the stream, and do
as others do around them, almost without a thoueht of the
misery they are causing and the curse they are laying up
for themselves. But many, perhaps most of them, are
wretched under the conviction of their conscience. Livingin
the midst of temptation, they have not sufficient principle to
resist its fascination, and although they know where God
intends that they shall find their safety, yet they dare not
offend their family, alienate their friends, and lose their
social position by making what the world calls an impru-
dent marriage. The very feeling which Heaven leas given
as a chief purifier of man's nature is darkening their con-
science and hardening their heart, because the law of
society contradicts the law of God. I might touch upon
even a more terrible result of the present state of things--
medical men and clergymen will understand what I mean,
—hut I dare not, and I have raid enough.
I must in sadners confess flat in the lace of the power-
ful tyranny of social law in this country it is difficult to
suggest arfy general remedy for this evil. But the rale;
chief is on the increase with our Increasing worship et
money, aid public attention ought to be appealed to
on the subject. if our American eulogist be right in
commending "pluck" as one Of oar distinctive cearau-
teritics, it is not our young men who should lack the
quality. If they will shake off the affectations of club
life, and claim a position in society for themselves and
for their wives, because they are qualified toi it by edu-
cation and character, and not merely because they re-
present so much money, they will soon force the world
to give way, and strike down one of the greatest
hindrances to their own happiness, both temporal and
eternal. It will not in general be difficult to bring the
daughters over to the same opinion. Mothers and sisters
are seldom very hardhearted in such cases, and by united
efforts the stern father may be induced to give his blessing,
even though the happy couple (aye, happy, let the world
sneer as it will) have to begin on little more than the pro-
verbial bread and cheese.
The recognition of this principle would do much to check
some of our most deadly social evils. It would make meal
a girl whom the tyranny of the world now dooms to a joy-
less celibacy a happy wife end mother. It would raise the
tone of character of our young men, bringing out into
healthful exercise the home affections, which are now au'
nied them, at the very time of life when their influence is
most beneficial. It would drive away all frivolity 1,13"
effeminacy before the realities of steady work, which early
marriage would oblige them to face. It would purify out;
streets, and check many a bitter pang of conscience, au('
save many a soul. We are experiencing the bitter fruitg
of man's law—let us see whether God's law will not worig
better.

I remain, air, your obedient servant,
London, May 6. THEOPHRASTUS.

Country Markets,

DERBY SMITHFIELD.-Mly 5.

There was a good supply of fat beasts to-day from the
North of Englaml, Rotherham, and Liverpool markets;
the best quality was in good request, and yet a few We're
left unsold. The number of sheep was large, the greater
t
part being without their wool ; the demand was rather D 5,
in the earlier part of the day. The supply of fat set!
store calves was large, and in request. Fat pigs scarce,
and higher in pike.

The following wore the quotations :—Beer, 61,dt0 701
mutton, Sid to 10d ; lamb, —d to Od ; veal, 7(1
lb. ; pigs, lOs 6d to 11s Od per score; rough fat, 5s 0I to
per 141 b. ; hides, 41(1 to 6:d per lb ; calf-skins, 464 to 65
per lb.

BOSTON-111.5.Y 6.
We had an average supply of grain at to•dafs market'
Good dry parcels of wheat realised an advance of is 11
qr on last week's rates. The demand was chiefly 18°1;
and ruled extremely inactive. Oats ls, beans 2s, and pea
2s dearer.
Prices :—Tirbeat, red, 49s Od to 60s Od ; new, —s to ---s„J
white, 58i Od to 62s Od; extra, 645. Barley, 40s Od to 4,,‘;
01. Oats 19s to 278. Peas, 404 to 44s Od. Beane, 4`'
Od to 46s Od per qr.

NEWARK—MAT 6.
Wheat, white 63s to 68s, red 60s to 624 barley, malt„iff
44a to 48s, grinding 3Gs to 38s; oats, 24st. 308 to 325, 2-41;
218 to 265; beans, 44s to 463 ; malt, 76s to 808; peas,
42s;to tares, 44s to 48s per qr.

EDINBURGH GRAIN.—MAY 6.
A fair supply of grain to-day. Sales heavy, and price,:
for wheat better, and in good condition. Barley and oe
lower. Beans better.
Wheat, on the top, 3s 01 up, 'and on the aver
is 4d up. Barley, is 6d up on the top, and Os 71 dcle
on the average. Oats on the top la Od down-012 "
average Os 3d down. Beans on the top 4s up, and °
the average le 7d up.
Tares from sis to 55s per quarter.
Potatoes—Regents, from 2os to 255; Orkney reds,
to tie.

AVERAGES PER IMPERIAL QUARTER.
Wheat £2 5 0 6-12ths.

Do.• new

0 ct 0 0-12th.

Barley %
Oats
Bans

1 18 11 8-12 tho.
1, 9 1 0-12ths.
2 3 0 4-12ths.

Total Supply and Sales.
Wheat 1702 qrs sold 1407 qr°
Barley 423 qrs sold 212 qrs
Oats 1690 qrs sold 1000 qrs
Beans 179 gra sold 159 qrs

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