American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-11-27
A Chapter on Matrlmony.

a young lady out West, in a .commu-
nica'i"n 'n the Sandusky Register, up.
on the subject of matrimony. says with
a practical truthfuluess as unwelcoms,
perhaps. as it is important: a.5...a
at is a mounful fact that this world
is full of young men who want to mar.
ry, bnt dare not. Deny this as some
will 1t is nevertheless true, as we can
easily show. InIhis town for Instance,
there are some thirty or forty young
men; well TO do in the way of business
aud salaries, yet they refuse to take the
stop which they all want to take, but
do not. Why? The large majority of
them have salaries ranging from FIVE
hundred to seven hundred dollars per
year. Now the frs, question to be as
ked by any sane man, is. can ] proper.
y support a wife, if | take one Z Then
he counts the cost Of living as a woman
OF his preference would wish, and lu
ne hnds to his amaZement thar his in
come Is vastly too small 10 support even
a very modern establishment; and
somewhat maddened by the reflection,
he plunges into labor and courts busi-
ness with an assiduity. that takes away
his health eventually. in hopes Of attain
ing an inc"me that will enable him to
mary aHd have home of his own. And
Tins Is the secret of tho bard unendng
toil OF tho young men of to-day, who
are last approaching thirty years of age
this is The reason Of so many disap-
pointed men aud waiting women, deny
1t as you may. .h sH ''
"But. says some good woman, you do
US injustice for any wetnun that truly
loves man will adapt herself to his cir
cumstances with the greatest pleasure
But what man of any constituencies, or
high sense of honor, would take a wn.
man from easy circumstances, aud a
pleasant and we'll furnished home, to a.
dorn his Iour little rooms. and do his
housework, as the first principles Of e.
economy would demand Of him Few
viii d" II; t"r though the woman sig.
uifies her willingness to take up with
such experience. we are all such crea.
lures OF circumstances, that there would
be complainings on her part, eventual
ly, and sickness from over.exertion. run.
happiness from many cares that would
render marriage anything else than
pleasant. But so the young men very
wisely think--prefeling a few years Of
single loneliness, in order to obtain mon
ey enough to support a modest h"uso
ut between twelve aud fifteen hundr ed
dollars year expense, rather than to
place modest educated woman into The
house. of six hundred year, where she
must d." her own housewoIk. .......f
Now, what is the remedy Plainly
that women must fit themselves To be
such wives as the young men must havo
Else the young men must fit themselves
To be such husbands as the women want,
spend the very choicest years of their
life in the dismal drudgery of cease,
less toll, breaking down health, happi.
ness, energy, onlyto give themselves up
TO marriage when the best Of their man.
hood is gone. The women mus, choose
for themselves, which it shall be, for the
matter is solely in their hands. Let
motbers say To their daughters Put
on that calico gown, go into the kitch
en- and prepare dinner; take charge nf
the household and fit yourself to become
woman cheerfnlly consent to such ser.
vice, and instead of lavishing all thought
and limo and money upon the adorn.
ment of the body, trainiho mind to prop
ar industry, and school it to proper
tastes, There will be no longer com.
plant that young men Cant afford To
marry" and wc shall have beautiful,
modest houses all around US, and wo.
men will have loving husbands, and all
life once more have somothing Of the
tru'hiulness and virtue which It had in
the days of our blessed fathers and moth.
ers, when it was woman's ambition TO
become the head of the house, and the
mother of noble children" ....... Il
There is some good sense for you
girls. . .......'.
... .. <-----~---- .|...
Taking a dandy doom. John Ran.