Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1867-11-29
EXPENSIVE MATRIxoxY.

critics are most gravely discussing the dir
cuiiies that are secrmalstiny ia the path
ieAding 70 the bridal altar. We are glad
10 Sc the intrcst that i taken in this matter.
Bot we arc not qsiie sure that the ssbiec,
Is properly handled. The most G our edito-
rial brethren are disposed % lay the blsIn,
On the e&iravsganee ofthe ace. anu pArticu-
larly on he expensive habits Of our ladies.
The burden % complaints il everywhere
the same. Editors from Maine % New
Orleans. disooursIng on this topic write
alike and the same hct--viz.. the exoes.ive
eosti'ness Of vonAn-roints the Argument.
II this isa true statement Of the question
We have no; mu-h n sPprchend, A. the evil
vii probably cure Itself Women vii 10,
be likely 70 risk their chances Of marriage
for the sake Of indulgins in extra show.
The truth Is, hovever. that the ex.rar-
asance q the day Is Affecting the habits cf
our men more powerfully than those OF our
women. Luxury ard fashion are costly
thIags FOR both sexes. A wonan's foH;es
n TIC expenditure q money usually appear
on her person and IN some % her IS surrouud-
ings." bot mln's foiiics are none Of tho
less dear because they are confined o. To
club house OF known only % bis Intimate
friends II. then. 90 many women ase
putting themselves oct % the reach of nat
rinoay 5y their high notioas Of .syle. IL 4
not equally certain thAi just a. many ucr-
perhaps more-Are voluntarily placing them
selves IN the same position by lavi.hins,
ihoasaals Per Anaun on their own p-ccisu,
selves?
The decrease ofmarriagcs in this country
is obviously among our most prospcrou,
classes. aud ii is comparatively limited 10
those sections whicb are aecunula;ing wealth
most raPidiy. Men and women in these
classes snd sections are alike enriched bv
iae growing fortunes Of business and spec-
ulaiion- sons and daughters share in the
iatAcr's gains. How then can the evil bear
on one sex % the exclusion 9TH otherf
Observation has long since taught NJ. tia,
whenever families rTow rich tie sons are
more sNirasagant th-n the daughtcrs-tLey
iefnaul more noney-ibcy waste more mon-
ey' y'simPiy bccause the Ways and ABILITIES Tor
wasting ii are much more nums rous anI
accessible. The main reason. therefore.
Why the number Of marriages ia this class
Of our Populaiion Is declining Is 5eca,lss re
Hsea choose % lace u %. All nof b,-rlse "a.
uron'es are beyond der eapa1ty 70 rapport.
Three-fOurths Of the bachelors Of our &C.
qaainiance are rich enough 70 bear the ex-
pense even of the most fasionahle women:
ard. What j. equally certain. they are Iache-
Tors Just because they are rich. Wealth
often indisposes men % marry. but rarely
has this cfec; on -omen. ~ the period q
iiic When marriage begins % charm tie
fancy AMI awaken the sensibilities. our "a @
young men Are PrcoccaPied They have
aifeaiy. N most eases. surrendered iheir
souls 70 other captors. Dissipation anl
iiceniioasness have utterly united them
Tor poetry and love. and fbey vastly prefer
a midnight tc5aach % the pleasures of a
treside and che oompanionsiip Of "A devoted
wife. Talk a. Ne nay, thea. Of abe extrav-
asanoe Of The age. Be- j. corrupting our men
Tar more thar our women and q does tbs.
not ouly BY hs direct consequenoes. bot
by fostering cold. cailous. vicious-hsart-
edness' vhich makes mairinony too much
# oi q conscience and q restraint FOR their IN.
bridled passions.
Men soon outliyc the sentiment q r,ar.
rage. Mature provides for iis early devcl.
opment snd rapid growth. II between
eighteen and tscniy-6vo Years Of a-c . youn-
men arr absorbed 18th their rross grstis-
caiions-or. Il they are moral and have 10
esciierncni 81 fortune iu possession or rros-
Pcct--it commonly happcas that rarri -e
o. much less affra,tive than a other-ise
proves. 1t j. not ieit a. present want q,
their Whole beng and Al marriage wi.b
rien usually tu-ns on thoughts s-I sen..-
Hle'fs aciongng 90 one given rsr.oI oflic.
81 noe, as With women. tr a sort cf rr1.
rhe,ic anticipation of uhli thcir nature ~,I
n-ei for mstur.tv ard Oh age. ire loss a
vouthirl i1nressi-1s is rarely recovered.
lhrrr htFe a'rars been d.ss.patod. E-en.
tiols 1e1. Ihe ftrt arc is a. od a. tie
-rr'i. .o ifr a. Suth or Jon-s has rio.el
I'm sens1si isa. Bui fhis fsst are csnno,
-iit on aivaaei-r Dr. a. i,s predecessor,
30. li ioresitis hops and heart. "a.
'n'frse'y eager i1r youns blood aod f-rsb
soa.s. fremsturo cots. rambicrs. rake,
a.'1od. No~. &c is iasi here tlat the sosrc.
. oi he decrease ia marriage is o. Be found
wee p,ack' OF the hcarts oi Lanlre.I. a
cur youns mcn-P'asks tbcm 5st bv the
roofs-ani leavcs them no sosI % almiro
All l0vc a virtuous ronan.
Mn~-.a.r 4. r. A.. -