The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-11-04
: Miscellany.


Marriage is in fair way, just now to be-
come standard topic for newspaper treat
ment Half the editors in this land of critics
~ are most grayely discussing the difficulties
e a4 that are accommodating in the path leading to
the bridal altar. We are glad to see the in
terest that is taken in this matter. But we
are not quite sure that the subject is proper
ly handled. The most of our editorial breh-
sss. rem are disposed to lay the blame on the ex-
travagance ofthe age, aGd particularly on the
t-sae expensive habits of our ladies. The burden
OF complsint is everywhere the same. Edi-
tors from Maine TO New Orleans discoursino
f'-t on this topic, write alike; and the same fact
viz, the excessive costlness OF women-points
a. a the argument. If this is true statement of
l-rl the question We have not much to apprehend
as the evil will probably cure ITSELF Women
viii not be likely To risk their chances of mar
riage for the sake of indulging in extra show
The truth is, however, that the extravaganza
of the day is affecting the habits of our
men more powerfully than those of our
women. Luxury and fashion are costly
things for both sexes. A woman's
follies in the expend ture OF money usually
i5 appear on her person and in some of her "sur
rOundings !" but a mans foes none the
-''l 80 less dear because they confined to the
club house or known only to his intimate
friends. Ii then, SO many women are put,
ting themselves out of the reach of matrimo-
III ! ny by their high notions of style, is Ii not
equally certain that just as many Inen-per-
haps more--are voluntarily placing them
selves in the same positiontby iayishing thou
i.aiosa sands per annum on their own precious
nh selves? 7s
The decrease of marriages in this country is
obviously among our most prosperous classes
n 81 and it is comparatively limited TO those sec
tons which are accumulating wealth most
rapidly Men and women ia these classes
3sfi3 and sections alike enriched by the grow
eAt ing fortunes of business and speculation
Sons and daughters share in the fathers
gains. How, then, can the evil bear on one
sex to the exclusion of the other? Observa-
ton has long since taught us, that whenever
! families grow rich the sons more extrava-
giant than the daughters-they demand more
money--they waste more money simply be-
cause the ways and facilities for wasting it
fFs4fs are much more numerous aud accessible.
The main reason, therefore, why the number
OF marriages in this class of our population IS
i@h e7f declining Is because the choose to mare
it so, and not because the auome1. are beyond
81 a their capacity to support. Three fourths of
-' the bachelors OF our acquaintance are rich
Al IA enough to bear the expense even of the most
r fashionable women and, what is equally Ger
tain, they are bachelors just because they are
~ rich. Wealth often indisposes men to marry
but it rarely has this effect on women
asai At the period OF life when marriage begins to
charm the fancy and awaken the sensibilities
l.I.7,r our fast young men are preoccupied, They
"a have already, in most cases, surrendered their
20 souls to other captors. Dissipation and licen-
tousness have utterly untitled them for poe
-. try and love- and they vastly prefer amidnieht
si debauch to the pleasures OF Preside and the
D companonship OF devoted wife. Talk as we
.f.,. may, then, OF the extravaganza of the are il
aoa. is corlupting our men far more than our Wo-
men; and it does this, not only by its direct
consequences but by fostering cold, callous
vicious -heartedness, which makes matrimony
Il too much of a conscience and restraint for
sn i their unbridled passions. fsrno
Men soon outive the sentiment of marriage
Nature provides for its early DEVELOPMENT and
5i-ia, rapid growth LII between eighteen and twen-
ty-hve years of age young men are absorbed
with Their gross grati6cations--or, if they
are moral and have the excitement Of fortune
IN possession or prospect-it commonly hap
ic Ices affr
than IL otherwise proves. 1t is not felt as a
present want of their whole being; and as
marriage with men usually turns on thoughts
and sentiments belonging to one given period
OF life, and not, as with women by sort of
prophetic anticipation of what their nature
- ~, will need for maturity and old age the loss of
youthful impressions is rarely recovered.
ss There have always been disspated, licentious
Ia. "a men, The last age is as old as the world, so
sa far as Smith or Jones has rioted in sensual
ism. But this fast age cannot wait on adj
vancing life as its predecessors did. 1t fore
stalls hope and heart It is intensely eager
- for young blood and fresh souls. Premature
sots, gamblers rakes abound. Now, it is Just
here that the source of the decrease in mar
gaa riages is to be found. Vice plucks out the
hearts OF hundreds OF our young men
spl1cks them out by the roots-and leaves
them no soul to admire and love virtuous
wv ~ woman. 1sh a8 Hs8R
81 = 81 Marriage is Gods law and men are not to
gaii SET II ASIDE In relation to his provdential
earthly government, it holds position some
iisf what analogous to religion in bis moral and
% spiritual government. All civilized society is
qs4b bound not only to recognize its sanctity but
i9u to encourage the exten of Its ties and the
operation of its restraints over the largest
possible number The worst feature of the
'sss extravaganza of the age is its influence on
our domestic character; but let it be remem-
bered that there is no sort of parallesm in
Its effects on the two sexes, for where one
aia young lady is spoiled by it five young men are
ruined.-Harper's Bdzdr. b..