Polynesian., 1861-07-20
A Brief CHAPTER ON Bachelors.


The Boston Ersn'ng Transcript has the follow
ing
Pope-hlmself an old bachelor, and therefore
speaking from experience-affords but little COM
fort to the brotherhood. He says ..
sinful bachelors their fate deplore ..
Full well they merit all they feel, and more"
The etymology of this word is anything but COM
plimentary. Junius derives it from 6dkeios foolish;
and rnenage, from bas cheralierra knight of the
lowest order. 1t is by some supposed to be derived
from bOccalaurens, crowned with laurel berries.
This is more dignifed certainly, but it reminds US
of George Coleman's words in regard to Sir Thom-
as Erpingham, who returned from his wars in
France crowned with laureIs, and sat down in his
solitary castle all alone: ..- --
That sitting under laurels, all alone,
Is much more dignihed than entertaining ...
Legislators have done their utmost, since God
created man. to compel this refractory class to fall
into the ranks, like useful citizens, and obey the
standing orders, recorded in the twenty-eighth
verse of the first chapter of Genesis. The Roman
censors tried old bachelors as Satan advised the
Lord to try JOHN their substance. They were
fined, but to very little purpose; possibly the or
deal with boils might have been more effectual.
Dion mentions an ancient law which compels
person of full age to marry. In the time of Au-
gustus, the Lr Julia de nayitandis ordaaibus was
enacted, and old bachelors were handled without
mlttens. They were made incapable of taking
legacies, and of nherIting, with certain exceptions
Thus, to employ venerable pun, matrmony be-
came in a somewhat novel way, matter of money;
for Putarch says the dread of losing these golden
advantages drove many to marry-probably as the
less evil of the twain. s.. = ,..
With the Hebrews, marriage at twenty was
matter OF obligation. They gave literal con-
struction to the command in Genesis. Celbacy
was accounted disgraeeful-a cause for Teproach
Women were willing to support themselves, if they
could only get married and remove the disgrace.
Thus we read in Isaiah, v, [:
And in that day shall held of one man,
We Bread and wear our own apparel only
let US be called by thy name to take away reProach
1t is not stated whether these seven women were
maids or widows.
Lycurgus rather hard upon old bachelors
BY his laws they were accounted infamous rem
dered Ineligible to any Office civil or military and
forbidden to appear at the public shows or sports
unless to be led round the market place by the
women in derision. They were compelled to sing
certain songs in ridicule of themselves .-. :,
BY the canon-law, when males arrived at puberty
they were required either to marry or turn monk
and profess chastity forever. In England, in 1895,
the seventh year of William ILL.,, bachelors over
twenty-five years of age were subject to an annual
tax-fl2 los for a duke, etc. In after time thew
were taxed upon their servants. In turning over
the leaves of William Homes table book, we
stumbled on the following passage: ......
"There is being who can never taste the ex-
qusite joys of home-l mean the old bachelor
He returns to his lodgings-there may be every
thing he can possibly desire, in the shape of ex-
ternal comforts, provided for him by the oficous
zeal of his house-keeper, but the room has an air
of chilling vacancy-the very atmosphere of the
apartment has dim, uninhaOited appearance--the
chairs, set around with provoking neatness, look
provokingly useless and unoecupled. All is re-
pelng and dreary. No gentle face welcomes his
arrival, no loving hand meets his, no kind looks
answer the llstless gaze he throws around the
apartment he enters. He sits down to a book
alone. There is one sitting by his side to enjoy
with him the favorite passage, the apt remark, the
Just critcism.' ..-.e
And all the-We were about to finish transcrib-
ing this interesting passage, when, lifting our eyes
across the street, saw Caudle and his fat wife.
1t was very hot; they appeared fatigued and out
of sorts she was hanging on one arm, and he was
carrying her sick poodle the other. Well, truly,
thought we, as put aside the volume and laid
down our pen, there is much to be said on both
sides of every question. sszzafcrra e.7 9-r