The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1866-02-20
MATRIMoNY.


doubt Of it--not any. II proof is needed,
look at the uneasiness Of young men, until
they are doubled. and notice the short time
generally allowed 10 elapse between the
decease of the lamented first, and the es-
pousal of the beloved second All of which
goes to prove that the desire for matrino-
NY is implanted in every human heart, that
the welded state is normal and the single
state abnormal in short, that as we stat
ed at the beginning, il is a good thing.
Matrimony being good thing, should
be encouraged, not only because Of the
happiness Of the individual, but for the
good Of society at large. The married
man has given bonds to society. He is
tanned. The unmarried man lacks steadi-
ness, fxedness Of purpose, and stability
With no one TO care for but himself, he be-
comes improvident. With no crosses to
bear,he becomes proud. With no one TO
ring his faults in his ears, he becomes vain.
He can pack his carpet-sack and march at
u moments notice, and hence is unreliable.
Having no solid home comforts, he seeks
excitement in pnblic places, and becomes
dssipated. In short, he is kite without
tail, which may ascend rapidly to con-
siderable hight, but which wobblrs down
ward in an ungracefuland disgusting man
ner. Therefore mairimony is good
thing.
We write these lines sorrowfully. Mat
rimony is on the decline. There is not
the marrying and giving in marriage there
once was, which being good thing, we
lament. Why is ii?
Time was when ii was perfectly and
entirely safe for young man to wed the
object OF his alteration with a very small
stock ofready money. The lady's parents
furnishing the outfit the step was not very
hazardous. A salary of SEQ or $500
would not only keep the young couple, but
with economy something could be saved
out Of it, for the rainy day which sooner or
later overtakes all. One Of the most pros
porous men of the city, who is on the high
road to wealth, and who has passed two
thirds of the milestone ON said highway,
married on a salary OF $3.50 and saved the
first year Slj0. And they lived well.
AT present writing it cannot be DONE
The female portion Of humanity have high
er ideas than $3.50 per annum. The rent
Of the house to live in must be $3.50 more
than that sum, and the furniture $3.50
will hardly furnish the least pre!ensious
room thorein. Then comes the expense
Of servants, Of clothing, rides, excursions,
parties, dinners, everything, why the sala-
ries on which the generation just going
out married and thriyed, raising large
families, is no where.
These are stubborn facts, as every young
man knows. Hence they cannot marry
until they have accumulated enough Of this
worlds wealth to support this style; and
by the time they have accomplished this,
nine out Of ten Of them are not worth mar
rying, or have lived so long alone that
they have degenerated into the belief that
il is the best mode of living, and don't
want TO.
There is but one way Of remedying this
growing evil. Cut down the expenses.--
When luXuries are cheap we use the more
of them. If strawberries were four cents
quart, the consumption would be quad
ruplcd. Make matrimony altainable by
all. The young men are as much inclin-
cd as ever, bat they are barred out. Fash
ion has placed wide gulf between thous-
asds Of them and matrimony, which can
only be bridged with greenbacks. On the
one side they stand looking across long
ingly--oR the other the thousands Of young
ladies approaching the dreary confines OF
old maid-hood are standing, desparingly.
Eili up this gulf with common sense, take
oil The iaiii on mairimony, and restore to
she Probate Judge and ministers the good
old time Of yore.-- Toledo. Ohio, Hade.