Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-06-19
From the Sunday rimo,.l

The eject of war hpon mGtrimony is "A
subject Whicliis exciting seriou3discussion
in social circles. The annual reduction in
number of marriages, which. have fallen
on wotully for years past, has provided
1000 iOr coinmeatetoslaaI -Iinle,. as,d the
present war makes the prospect for young
women more dismal than ever. What are
we do they ruefully ask; Our lovers are
drafted of into the army, and NAV he kill
ed in battle or MANNED aud rendered helm
less for life, and We be rendered disconso-
late old mnids Sad contingency But
there is bright side to even this dark pic
ture, which we will proceed to unfold to
them. Perhaps even the war may prove II
blessing in disguise, and when il is over
make the market matrimonial easier than
1t has been since common shilling calico
was considered unworthy the attention of
Il young lady of taste.
Plainly, the growing extravagance in
dress and living necessarily put stop to
thoughts of marriage amung young men of
moderate means, and with only the efforts
oftheir hands TO rely upon for future snc-
cess. Boarding-houses also took away the
great incentive TO marriage, the desire for
II home. Young women were no longer
willing to commence life mUdestly, and ns
their mothers did before them. They would
sirug their pretty shoulders at the idea
Of preparing their owunnd their husbands
breakfast, and scoff at wearing !. clean
shilling print dress instead of a fancy
wrapper as morning costume They bring
to their husbands nothing but n costly and
SNOWY wardrobe, which must lie as lnxuri
ously reiilenished, but they expect, with
wonderful assurance, 10 be supported in
the style to whirh "they have been nccus-
toned" Young men commencing busi-
ness, or with salary of one or two thous-
and dollars per year, cannot possibly meet
these expectations, and ifthey compromise
on the bOnrding-house system, find they
have only commenced lifelong struggle
with poverty and gcntility which is sure
to eud in misery, and that they have
acquired none of tho compensations of
domestic life to make up for the freedom
they have lost. Under such circumstances
1t is not at all surprising that marriages
were mt discount. and that in the large
cities tic annual discount has heen twenty
per cent. for the past two years on the
former number
1t is possible that the episode Of war
may change this state of things. For n
time, ut least, women will learn that there
nre greater objects of interest in this world
than silks and laces. fine house in A
certain quarter, OF the latest Partisan bon.
net. Necessity, and sense of duty also.
may suggest the patience of economy, and
the active impulse given to Womanly sym
pathtes excite a more thoughtful sense of
duty and responsibility, which will have
the best possible effect on the future We
don't pretend to the gift of prophecy, but
it is safe TO say that the present or
deal will increase the value of our Young
women as wives Atty per cent. II will cure
them-some OF them, at least-of their
laziness and selfslness. and in the new
value which they will learn to put upon
husbands and peaceful homes, they NAV
obtain some dim idea of their share in the
work of creating and sustaining.
IL would he II result cheAply purchased
at the sacrifice of hundred millions of
dollars, If our wives and daughters should.
go back even partially to the simplicity
md truth Of our earlier nationnl historS.
We do not condemn indulgence in luxury
when it does not involve the sacrifice Of
sterner duties and responsibilities. On
the contrary, We admire il. for the beautiful
with which it surrounds us, and greet itaE
the natural accompaniment of a higher
civilization. But luxury, like other good
things, must be earned u be. properly en-
joyed, and the young should be content
with plainness and the qualification of
moderate desires until care, patience, ami
industry have crowned them with richer
blessings. They should remember, also,