Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-07-07
why Don't He Marry!

open your ears wide, young ladies and listen
TO MS reply: 81 am afraid to marry-in these
DAYS OF extravagant notions, could not get
meat and bread enough to eat" For shame
great, stout able bodied man. with two strong
arms and big heart, afraid that he could not
get the wherewithal to live. For shame, Yet,
has he not some reason to fear now-a-dsvs
when society has such false ideas of life. and
the rising generation is addicted to such habits
OF last living! A wife is becoming too COSTLY a
luxury for young men of the middle and lower
classes; whose income, though sufficient to sup.
port helpmate, would be entirely inadeouste
10 MAINTAIN delicate inutility, whose ideas
are conhned to crlnollne and cheap novels, and
whose exertlons are limited to rockinp-cbair
exercise and street gossip. The modern train
ing OF the majority of American girls is not
calculated to create a taste for the quiet enjoy.
ment OF home, or to endow them with cana.
city for the superintendence of household
affairs; so that in vast number of cases, mar
riage may be simply defined as a contract for
the payment of double, instead Of a single
boarding bill. Upon the whole, we cannot
perceive that young man of moderate income
can be blamed for waiving the privilege.
But, after all. society owes avary nan q wife
and every woman husband, and IL the debt is
not paid, it is in most cases the fault of the
creditor. The clerk, with a limited income,
cannot think Of Offering his enviable person
and affections to lady who has not goodly
share of accomplishments and what is far more
desirable the wherewithal to live. The young
lady, on the other hand, cherishes ambitious
aspirations and would not think of marrying a
clerk-and in the course of time. the former
relapses into quaint old bachelorhood-
latter settles down a confirmed old maid
Now, instead of lapsing into an ungracious
old bachelor, why should not that highminded
youth have conquered his snobbishness and
married decent working girli He could
have found hundreds Of them, his EQUALS in
intelligence, in true position, in everything
except cOneeit, perhaps. Why, instead of freez-
ing into old maidenhOOd could not the would
be fine lady be content with a husband who
was honest, if not fashionable, and who would
have proved an afectionate protector though
unable to dance the polka? The slavery to false
appearances, to empty pretension, makes more
old maids and bachelors than all other causes
If young ladies and gentlemen were only brave
enough to appear what they are, they would
not only avoid much misery, but would achieve
greater worldly prosperity, and in time be in
reality what they are all their lives striving in
vain to appear: Honest frugality and united
effort are sufficient to meet ali the wants of a
family, and to accumulate a snug little proper
ty Marrying for money or marrying to get
home are not only unwise bat are positively
sinful. The happiest marriages are the most
prosperous in the end, have been found among
those who have started with no other stock in
trade than true affection, and character, will
and mind equal to the reasonable demands of
life. Stop not, then, to ask what the world will
say; stop not to inquire whether he or she is
rich In lands. and slaves and coin; but marry
tor that most most honest and philosophc of all
reasons-because you love each other; and
with proper energy and perseverance, not all
the world can prevent you from being abund-
antly prosperous and happy.