Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-11-23
Threats of a Matrimonial Strike.

| tenancng the habits ofextreme luxury and extrav-
agance among the young ladies. 1t is well known
that the society attempted last year by some ladies,
for similar purpose, failed most miscrably. No
one now wears the badge of the Black Bee,' and
not more than half dozen were ever bold enough
| to do SO. Our city, socially seems to be rapidly
approaching the leiisan condition of morals, and
, all the attempts hitherto made to redeem it have
! resulted in utter failure Hence the novel method
now said to be taken, which is modelled after
similar attempt at Marseilles. France where six
thousand single gentlemen banded together and
swore not to marry until the ladies abandoned their
present habits of extravaganza. The object may
seem Utopian, but, at least, it can only fail"
Really, this rumor is little more than spor-
tive invention and yet there is tragic seri-
BUSINESS in the social tendencies to which it
aludes. 1t is truth that cannot be denied,
that in our large cities few of our young men
who mingle in refined society can afford to
form a marriage partnership with the young
ladies they encounter, unless in the rare in-
stances where liberal dowry is one of the
feminine attractions.
Owing to the progress of luxury and to
those changes in the female attire, which near
ly double the quantity Of cloth required for
dress, the expense of supporting lady g in
society" has enormously increased. Many of
our bellies, even in the less ostentatious and
extravagant circles, would consider thousand
dollars year rather mean allowance.
"Why don't you go out and walk, Sophy.
this fine day p asks an unsuspecting pater-
familias of his blooming daughter. Her lip
quiyers She looks up with the expression
of an injured saint on her adorable counte.
nance, and then, burying her face in her
pocket handkerchief exhibits to the paternal
vision her netted waterfall, (stufled with very
questionable, though invisible rubbish agi-
tated by the sobs to which the inquiry has
given birth.
90 How now-what the deuce is the matter,
| girl--what have | said or done to cause this
outbreak 2" asked the bewildered father
Speak can't you2 Is there any particular
reason why you should keep moping in the
house 2" - Yc-c-cs, Sir" replied Sophy,
with palpitating bosom. "What is it p II
havnt any-any-b-b bonnet to wear, sir =
Good gracious why it was only last mouth
| paid thirty-fve dollars for bonnetp'
"That was summer bonnet. sir" I've ms
autumn bonnet sir" Not the one bought
you last October 2" "Tbat'sal out of fash
ion sir" Something very like maledic-
ton on the fashion escapes from pater-
famias, and he adds " [ tell you what, girl;
this fashion will be the ruin Of us all if
you're not taken off my hands, and that qrick-
| ly. Why don't you get married, eh ?" Sophy
only answers with renewed sobs /; and the bar
barous father, melted at last, takes three ten
dollar grcenback out of his wallet and hands
| them to the poor. bonnetless creature. She
receives them and heaves the sigh of injured
innocence, as if it required the profoundest
effort of Christian principle to reconcile hor
self to life for what is life without the pros
| pect of seasonable succession of new fashion
able bonncts?
But the worthy patcr-fmilias is very much
mistaken if he thinks by such bats he is GO
ing to impale husband on his daughter in
times like these Let him read the following
advertisement from recent Richmond paper
and learn wisdom:
WTANThD--A SITUATION AS SoN-INLAW
w in II respectable family. Blood and breeding
object being already suppcd-capital essential.
No Objection TO going short distance into the
county. Address f. +. V,
Exchange Hotel.
The advertiser is bat specimen of a very
large class of young men who arc now candi-
dates for malrimony, and the reason Why
such unworthy motives mingle in their calcu-
lations in reference to the most important act
is the fault Of parents aud daughters
A young man, in the receipt of MODEST
income Of fifteen hundred or two thousand
dollars a year, shrinks with dismay from a
conugal partner, whose dresses and carriage
hire alone would absorb more than one-third
Of his earnings; who has been brought up in
utter ignorance of all useful household accom-
plishmcnts, and to look forward to a marriage
of affiuence as the end and aim Of her cxis-
tence, and perhaps the means of reimbursing
her parents for their out'ays in her behalf.
The poor fellow sees he cannot support the
Charming Leonora in the style to which she
has been accustomed. and which he would be
10th to deprive her of and so he crushos out
from his heert his inciplent attachment, aban
dons all matrimonial ideas for the present.
and drops in at the Club to have game of
billiards and cigar, or to talk over his dis.
appointment and its cause with some sympa-
thetc young friend in the same predicamcnt.
This is no fancy picture hundreds of similar
eases are occurring every day; and it is
question for the ntoratiSt, whether such state
ofthings is conducive to social purity and hap
piness.
Now that strikes are the fashon-now that
even the musicians, the men of catgut, " like
sweet bells tangled, out of tune and harsh,"
are having their strikc-why should not the
bachelors take their turn and strike also -
forming a league, making declaration in
dependence, and promising that they will have
nothing to do with matrimopy until these ex-
travagant habits of the ladies are reform ed
BY this course they may bring some of the
parties interested to their senses
We fear, however, that this social malady
is decp-seated in the moral constitution of both
sexes, and that it will not be radically cured
by any superficial treatment. What p.ysi-
clans call the "hcroic practice" must here be
applied. Our young men and women--both,
perhaps, equally to blame-must cultivate
resources and develop energies, which will
enable them to find their happiness in other
surroundings than in riches, fine dresses. ex-
pensive silks, carriages and stately houses,
:" with all the modern Improvements"
They must have a higher ambition than to
outshino their neighbors in upholstery, in
bronzes, and in frescoed ceilings They must
learn to seek the object of this disciplinary
term of an immortal existence elsewhere
than in pleasure, further off than in opulence
nd nowor-not sbr;nk n avop frop novartv