Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-03-21
Marriages ON the Decline, in New
s....... Work City.
[From The New York Express. i

lfr0m the New Ork EXpressI
One of the phenomena of the times is a
growing unpOpularity in themarriage in-
stitution. The number OF marriages Is relr
atively growing less every year, especial
ly in cities. A New York correspondent Of
the Illinois Journal gives the following as
the result Of his observation on this inn
pOrtant subject. li.u .sq..fGi t.ryt9l,f 1ye
There have been no marriages OF conse-
quence in what may be termed "high life"
this season, nor anything like the usual
number among the middle classes Now
and then we see wedding cards, or bride
at the opera or evening parties but the NUM-
Der is astonishingly small. People are of
course marrying all the time, but who are
they? People whom nobody knows. The
everlasting poor are tying themselves up
for life as usual. ...f.....-
When man reaches that deplorable con-
dition that he has not change Of shirts to
his back, he is in a fit condition for the sac
rifce. That has always been strong in
centive to the altar-bOund, that when for
tune frowns her hardest, aud when things
have gone to their worst, many a man de|
fies fate and takes wife. Ii his lot in life
improves, and it can hardly do otherwise.
he gives the institution the credit. In busi-
ness circles and in the social scale there
has always been premium on marriage.
The man who takes wife gives hostages to-
fortune, and has bound himself more firm
ly to the drudgery Of toll. Merchants and
bankers raise the salary of ayoung man
when he marries and frequently refuse to
do ituntil then. 1t has passed into a PROV
erb that If man do not marry young, 1t
grows less and less probable with him.
and this is, perhaps after all, the best
argument fore arly marriages 'Ima yga.
TInr e, To-, ekakn nf nffa afHc
important for us to learn. 1t is by no
means novel thing under the sun, and is
not altogether left-to human caprice. 1t is
symptom of the civilization of the time
and country. Not only has polygamy lost
its attractions, but monogahy is growing
into disfavOr A similar state of things Is
recorded of Rome under Augustus, who
found it necessary to put series of penal
ties upon celibacy and prevent unmarried
persons from inheriting their parents prop
erty. So that in the words of Plutarch,
''the Romans married to be heirs. not to
have them.p 1t was at time when the
eternal city was rolling in riches. Dissipa-
ton and extravaganza were so rife that
sumptuary laws were enacted. l 7ay
At the same time the fashion of dress
adornment had been carried to an unpar-
alleled height. Compare this state OF
lnlURo Will JlldJ WHlCu pICNdll-
ed in Paris for years and which is now
manifest in New. York. Concubinage is
one of the consequences, and now the
prodigal lorette eXcites the envy and
| patronizes the grand ladies of the
city. Public celibacy is private shame.
| True, we have not yet reached the climac-
teric of Paris and London indecency. We
have the Teresa, Olympia, Annonyme, or
| De Berestord, with which 10 turn the heads
of our young spendthrifts, and outdazzle
the women of fashion with their own taw-
dry grandeur. Our Louisas, Madelines and
Josephenes have more private role as yet
| They have their little crowd of admirers
| They strip their "friendsn of few hun
dreds only, and instead of giving grand Sc
lect balls to distinguished persOnages, they
more modestly content themselves with a
/ box at the Acsdemy and a petit sOapef at
DelmOnico's. But the tendency of the
times is ia the same direction. The parlor
and drawing room attractions grow feebly
less, while the cOarser destinations of the
casino increase. What shall we do about
| it? Shall our fair and fashionable maidens
initiate the wives and daughters of the
wicked French capital, and compete with
these perilous sirens, by approaching
nearer to them, and so defeating them by
their own weapons? Or shall they leave
it to time and returning reason? Perhaps
a little more motherly-like plainness,
economy and usefulness might wean the
men from this false worship; or, mayhap,
tits just as well as it stands. +,