Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-04-07
Celibacy.

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the family relation, are in danger ofbe-
ing superseded. These and similar ut
terances have become one of the prom
inent topics of the newspaper press.
In all of our large cities the disincli-
nation to marry on the part of young
men is frequently spoken Of and writ
ten about. And it is said, triumphant
ly too, that just in the ratio that men
incline to bachelorisnl, rowdyiSm, de-
bauchery, and crime become rampant
in the land. a.
This is subject of great importance
to all, and of fearful interest to genera
tions to come. 1t requires no extraor-
dinary reach of thought to comprehend
that the natural and inevitable result
must be, sooner or later, the general
demoralization Of both male and female,
and the utter disorganization of human
society Without the maintenance of
those domestic associations and du-
ties, which are known only where the
marriage institution is made sacred, no
society ever did or ever can exist above
barbarism or savagism.
To arrest this downward tendency
Of the race, two causes must be cor
rected. Young men must be trained
to live, move, and have their being,
without those blood-mfaming and soul
palsying poisons, liquor and tobacco,
and young ladies must learn to be use
ful as well as snowy. On this latter
clause Of our text we propose to expi-
ate very briefly, and then leave the mat
ter, for the present, to the reflections of
whom it may concern.
1t is notorious, all over the civilized
world, that American females are IN
healthy, and that the tendency to dis
ease and infirmity is constantly increas-
ing. The daughters, as a general rule,
are more infirm than their mothers, as
their mothers compare unfavorably
with their grandmothers. There is no
theme so much written about, talked
about, lectured about, as sickly Ameri-
can woman and girls. Even the med
ical Journals and daily newspapers of
Europe are frequently comparing the
health and stamina of American females
with those Of the females Of Great Brit
ain, France, Germany, etc, and always
to the disadvantage of the former
And they seem to see, not without rea-
son, one OF the leading causes of the III
innate degeneracy of the American
people, and the final overthrow of our
republican government, in the fact that
the vitality Of our females is running
down.
Young men cannot be ignorant of
these things. They are, and must be
fond of the society of young ladies'
Nature, and instinct, and reason, and
custom incline them to marry. But
with the thought of a matrimonial ALI
ance come the thoughts Of everything
except beds ofroses and domestic joys.
So far as courting goes, all is pleasant
enough; but with marriage is associated
the idea Of doctors, nurses, and great
er or less number ofBridgets and Katys,
and Marys and Ellens. Instead of a
help-mate, a wife to cheer him On in
the arduous pathway Of life, and take
charge of the household affairs, he
dreams Of delicate nerves, tender stom-
achs, falling hair, decaying teeth, and
spinal irritation. He anticipates, as we'll
he may, a constant monologue about
pains, aches, bad feelings, morbid SEN
sations, as the prevailing music by the
! tireside. He thinks of ever recurring
bills to pay. He knows the chances
are against him of marrying a patient
to take care Of, instead of a wife 10 en-
! JOY.
| Now men are just as selfish as wom-
en- are. On the whole, we think they
are more so. The young lady who sup
poses that any young man on the face
OF the earth wishes to marry her for
the sake Of nursing her through life,
makes very great mistake. There
have been, indeed, "marriages Of SYM
pathy." But Heaven sanctions not,
and nature abhors such alliances.
If young ladies advertise themselves
as pretty play-things, young gentlemen
will take them at their word. IF in
their actions, and by their manners and
accomplishments they declare them
selves irritable and courtable, but un-
marriageable, young men will so under
stand the matter, and act accordingly.
They will be ready enough to dance
and frolic with those they do not re-
spect. They make themselves agreea-
ble to those they cannot love. They will
play court when they cannot think of
marrying. Whenever they find their
attentions are beginning to be taken in
earnest, they will seek other society,"
They will not, of course, give the rea-
son for this, and the young ladies viii
of course wonder 'Ewhy don't the man
propose?"
Young men, we repeat, will sport
and amuse themselves with Young la
dies whom they neitherlove nor respect.
But if they do respect them and could
love them, they are frightened from a
proposal to marry by the sad evidence
of infirmity, which cosmetics, false-hair
artificial teeth, and expansive skirts are
unable to conceal. Hence they rather
avoid all approaches to intimacy, and
often abandon the. company of those
who could be healthy, and who would
make good wives, and seek amusement
in less respectable society amid more