Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-07-06
Matcll-NIaking.

hearty condemnation than the inveterat
spirit of match making, that pervades eve
nv atom of society. The importance of Sc
curing husband, and avoiding the stigm
attached to old-maidism, is inculca.ed ol
the tender mind of the young woman a
the first and most urgent duty. She; he
parents, friends, and acquaintances, JOIN il
admiring the good sense and good fortune
of such of her companions as marry early
or make wealthy matches, while the ro
mantle creature who has the hardihood to
refuse "good offer is held up as an ob
iect of repTobation, and her conduct is CON
demned as the height of folly. No matter
what the mental, moral, or personal quail
ties of the aspirant may be, if he is able
and likely to make "good provider.''
woman is bound to accept him, and consid.
er herself very fortunate. | once heard il
seriously said, while discussing the merits
of a rumored match, that "swindler might
make a very good husband-decIdedly bet
ter than no husband at all. ,
It is painfully ludicrous to observe the
various manifestations of this spirit-to see
with what u1fweariea Politeitess, fathers ,ane ,ane
mothers play the agreeable to unremarka,
BILE Young men, whose chief merit consists
in their being bacheIors-to see young Wild
ows eagerly inviting their young friends tG
come often and visit them socially, and
bring their beaux; and, above all, to see
the total indifference with which most young
ladies treat those who are not marrying
men. They seem TO consider it perfect
waste Of time to talk to an old bachelor or
married man, and prefer listening to the
most vapid nonsense from the lips of one
whom their Imagination can convert into
lover, to joining in rational conversation
which can have no effect upon their hyme-
NAL prospects. Some persons, from sense
of propriety, endeavour to conceal their
matchmaking plans under the veil of hos
pitality; but others come out boldly. For
instance, an old lady with house full OF
daughters, not long since asked friend OF
mine, Mr.. A., to introduce some bachelors
to her family, informing him that her eld-
est daughters were manageable, and that
each at wedding would be made mistress
of a small house and a couple of negroes.
Mr.. A. accordingly introduced Mr.. B.,
who, on his first visit, spent the evening,
and was very much pleased with the young
ladies'. Being no Romeo, but cool, mod
crate man, he let several days elapse with
out repeating his visit, whereupon the old
lady, getting uneasy, went to the office Of
Mr.. A. to inquire why his friend had not
called again, and if he was displeased.-
What is to be expected of a woman educa-
ted in such school? They are almost
certain to cultivate only those accomplish
ments which are convertible only into mat
rimonial capital. They play on the piano
forte, sing, dance, and talk small talk, while
mere domestic requirements as generally
neglected.
Some parents, however, belonging to the
new school, whose motto is that the way
'to mans heart is through his stomach, -
have their daughters initiated into the mys.
teries Of the kitchen, in which case young
men are generally invited to dinner, and
always informed, accidentally of course
that certain dishes were prepared-or, il
dl dil dTlstoCrdtfC, uPerlntehdeu-Uy my
or our daughter" This over-anxiety to
secure husbands, and especially rich ones,
besides its injurious effects on the female
character, is the cause of nine-tenths of the
unhappy marriages we see-now hurrying
its possessors into inferior matches from a
dread OF never getting other chances, and
again inducing them to refuse those whom
they really prefer, and who are perfectly
unexceptionabIe. from false ambition
The remedy for all this lies in cultivatine
their minds and hearts; IN teaching them
that wedlock is not always blessing that
if entered upon from unworthy motives, il
is likely to become a curse, and that it is
far better to remain single than 10 marry
for the purpose of bettering ones condition
Mrs. r. II. Nichols.
.FRrDAY.--The custom of making Friday
hangman's day, is quite modern in this
country. In England, formerly, very few
executions took place on that day. Tues