Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-09-03
The Scarcity OF Be.ur.-(sxIEcrED)

During the past gay season, one peculiarly
was so frequently remarked at all the water
ing places, that it is almost a wonder that 1t
has not been more generally commented no.
90 by the 1ress. We refer to the want OF
beaux, to the absence of young gentlemen,
10 the maj ,rity of young ladies at
every hop, aud in every surf during bathing
hours. A. one most fashionable hotel, at a
we!l-kuown watering place, twenty-five pretty
bellies were seen, one morning, enclrcling q
solitary youth, who, the one dark spot among
so much waving muslin, must bave reminded
beholders of a lone crow wingiDg bis way
before a wilderness of snowy clouds.
Statistics tell US that there are more males
born than females, and that despite subse-
quent deaths there is always q fair balance
Us regards the ratio of the sexes. This may
be, but we are sure that young ladies would
like to know where the majority OF the young
unmarried gentlemen conceal themsel'es.-
For not only at watering places but even at
city balls and parties and ali sorts OF reuni.
ons 10 the winter time, are there more ladies
than gentlemen, a fact too generally admit
ted 70 demand discussion.
There is q cause for every thing, and We
presume that there IS one for this. Ameri-
can young gentlemen are by no means geo.
orally disInclined to 20 into society, especial
~ into the society of ladies, nor do they dis
like watering places. The fact is, that as
compared to the average Of the social assocla-
tons, aims, and training of most young Ia
dies, young gentlemen are, VI do not say too
poor, but not rich enough to face such q bril-
liant and expensive life as is involved in be-
iug much in company with young ladies.
Let any one study this subject, nationally.
candIdly, and with an eye TO facts. Let
him, above all things, shun that vulgar pre-
JUDGE which simply accuses ladies Of eI.raV.
asapce and dissipation, without making al.
iuwance for the causes which form social re.
lations as they are. It will hardly be de.
MED that the daughters Of most families are
educated - take moro expensive views Of
lie, and TO aim higher in marriage than the
sons. In society, young gentlemen talk
rich" with young ladies in manner which
they never do with one another. They talk
OF the opera, of extensive pleasures, they are
altogether on q higher line than most young
men 10 the same circles and no wonder
Their parents have devoted ali their means
and done ali 10 their power to make Of the
daughters good matches, and the daughters
do not know II; but the progress has had the
effect Of Tightening away more young gen.
t,emen than they are aware Of. Let any one
stick TO facts, and 20 carefully through socie-
ty, aud lie will realize this. IL any one still
doubt. let him observe the extraordinary fact,
that here 10 this new country, this America,
there are 10 tho large cities, more old maids
10 proportion to the whole number Of inhabi-
tants, than in any part of Europe. Natural
enough. Every body cannot marry aud live
in style; nay, the expensive tone OF such So
ciery a, fills first class watering places, fright
cos oatchelcrs out of it altogether. There
are many ladies who laugh at jim this. and
Dick that, because Dick and jim are eccen-
tric and dent like ladies' society, when the
fact is, that the young men in question, sip-
ply don't like the idea of devotng all their
spare cash TO gloves, carriages, bouquets,
opera ticke;s, aud innumerable other expen-
ses unavoidably entailed by seeing much Of
the fA.eiAatres-es. |. costs a single man,
without any 6xtrayagance, from thirty five to
fifty dollars u week, at a watering place, if
be does the gentee! thing" and reciprooates
compliments decentIy. This, to say nothing
of loss Of time irom business, is more than
the great majority OF the brothers OF the
young ladies VINO 20 there can afford. Great
pains are taken to give the girls chances to
zee life and get marrled-untortuDstely, the
husbands are not always to be had.
1t is not easy 70 say how all Of this will be
changed. A system which has gradually
grcwn up is not easily modified. In a coun-
try where people make fortunes rapidly and
are very ambitious, it il to be expected that
everything will be hoped for the daughters.
Where in that country a much smaller pro-
portion Of women work, than 10 others, such
ambition will naturally be increased. Un.
fortunately, all the ambition in the world.
and all the qua llfying Of girls for husbands,
richer than themselves, will not fill the coun-
try with such husbands. Our only hope il
in the luturr:-!n that golden age Of fem sle
education, when physical and moral train
my allied to a more rational system Of intel
~lecIual development, will teach both parents
and children that there is something much
better 10 married life than expensive Ostents-
ton, and that 1t really costs much less to live
comfortably and enjoy ourselves, than is at
present popularity imagined.--IhHadctphiG
FreniHy Bulletin.