Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-10-22
MARRIAGE STATISTICS.
The Cincinnati Gazette says:-All ms

The Cincinnati Gazette says:-All man
Kind and womankind too, seem to have grea
interest in one kind of statistics at least
that which relates to the holy state OF mat
rimony. They generally inquire most sed
nlouslv into the last ''new case and ever
into the 'premonitory symptoms, so ina
there are few things in which the history o.
individuals is better known, than IN TINS
part Of their domestic relations 1t is only
of late wears, however, that staticlans have
taken the subject up by wholesale, and made
it part of Legislative inquiry. We have
now, however, the results in the aggregate,
of several of the European States, and Of
some portions of the United States. 1t is in
some stages of the rise and fall OF nations,
of real importance to know the statistics OF
marriage. For example, in the decline OF
nations, the marriages of all that part OF the
people who have not the means of self sub
sistence rapidly diminish. Now, in the de-
clining davs of Rome, the knights and the
Roman gentlemen generally refused to mar
ry, and Imperial DEGREES were put forth re-
quiring them to marry; because their neg
Ilect in this particular, was positively reduc-
ing the strength of the Empire. This is one
of the examples which may be given, in il
lustration of Mr.. Matthew's great principle,
that population is limited by the limits OF
food; for, the Roman gentlemen declined
marriage because it was too expensive to
keep a family. No such results are like
ly to occur in this food-producing country
for centuries to come. 1t is curious, how
ever TO look little into this matter, as
illustrating the general Laws of the Social
Economy.
In the city of Boston, statistics are much
better preserved and attended to, than in
any other part Of the country; and, hence,
we know will bear close approximation tc
truth-the general laws of Man in Society.
From the report the city Register for 1880
we draw some general results which will
show the proportion of marriages there:
Formulation in 1850 13S,788
Marriages. in 1850 1851
Proportion of marriages in the
whole population IN "a
Proportion of marriages to popu-
lation over Is wears of age in 36
Marriages under 20 yrs of age 2S6
Proportion of marriages to popu-
lation between Is and 20
years of age IN SO
Marriages between the ages of
20 and 40 2,2Ol
Proportion of marriages between
20 and 40 to population be-
tween those ages IN ~
! MARRIAGES. above the age Of 40 120
Proportion of marriages in the
=. population above the age of4O ! in 10
prcdomiRsnce- tsmales over
males married between -1-------'
and 25 Is per cent.
Pledominance of males over fe-
males married between 25 s.
80 wear, 20 per cent.
Proportion OF the whole number
Of marriages between 20 and
30years % per cent
From these proportions, it follows:-
l. That Gpc-SinAs ofthe American popu--
lation marry between the ages OF 20 and
| 40 Ofthe whole number OF marriages, more
than onc-haIf marry between 20 and 80
years Of age.
2. That thereis considerable discrepan-
cy in ages at marriage between males and
females-the males being on an average
from three to FIVE years older than the te-
males--as shown by he fact, that the largest
proportion Of females marry between 20 and
25, and the largest proportion Of males be-
tween 25 and so.
3. The fact that only 236 marriages out
of 2. 557 took place under 20 years Of age,
disproves the common idea that very large
portion of Ameii AN women marryt too young.
But of ,557 women married, 43l were un-
der 20-which is but one-Sirih part.
4. The number who marry over 40 years
of age is quite small. Ofthese, the largest
number are widows and widowers.
In reference TO second marriages, we have
the following facts;
First marriages 4,511 persons.
Second marriages 563 T"
Third marriages SO /"
Fourth marriages
We thus see that little more than one
tenth of married parties enter into second
marriages but the number of those who
marry oftener is very small.
Some may be curious to know what DIFF
ference there may be among men and wo-
men in the tendency to second marriages.
The numbers are
MEN. WOMEN,
Second marriages 354 219
Third marriages % 5
Fourth marriages 6
This seems 10 give men the greatest ten
dency to often marriages but is not some
thing due to the difference of opportunities
in the latter part of life' We havc now
given our readers glimpse into the fgura-
tive conditions of matrimony, much drler,
doubtless, but also much more real than
those other figures which fit through the po-
etc dreams of the young aspirant for matri-
mcnial honors.
o. A terrific clap of thunder, neither
preceded nor followed by any other, aston
ished the people of East Dumfries Canada,
on Friday last Some men at work in 0
field, and without notice, were thrown down
by the lightning, and rendered for few Sc
conds powerless, whilst the flash expended
its power on a neighboring tree, which it
shivered and set on fire. The thunder in
stantly followed the flash, and it was of the
most awful description,