Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-09-14
To Marry or Not to Marry.

"Cornelius O'Dowd," in the new mum
ber of Blackwood, discusses the question
on marriage in pleasantway. We cul
few passages: f..,g
"Is life really life if one must pass j
on the tight rope2 Is existence wortl
having, where it is eternally question
Of balancing-swaying to this side, ant
bending to that? g......,.
"Is it proven that all people have I
vocation for marriage, and is copjugal
| ism per Sc certain to requite those who
to attain it, must divide between two
what they bad already found barely suf
| icient for one2 These are the simpl,
questions which we have no need of q
philosopher 10 ask or answer for us. /
one were simply to pronounce from whal
appears on the surface of life-and it il
very hard to 90 deeper-we should say
that the single people, especially the
men, have the best of it. They are more
in request among their friends, available
for more attentions, and keep longer
young than their married brethren. -r:
"The double -barreled egotism of mar
riage spoils many good fellow, and
destroys the charm of many delightful
woman. The firm, that terrible partner,
ship, crops up at every moment, and
routs that glorious spontaueity, that de-
licious responsibility we once remem-
bered.
"I have no patience with those people
who want to marry on what it is pszzle
to them to live singly upon. They must
be moral, forsooth ! at the cost of re-
ducing some unhappy girl to drudgery,
on the false pretence-for it is false-of
loving her.
"'Wby cant they let it alone 2 as the
great master of common sense said of
less eventful contingency.
81 have met more pleasant and COM
panionsble people among the single than
the married but there is a canting notion
abroad that marriage is sort of back
bone for good behavior, and so the curste
must be married, and the doctor ought
to be married. 1 don't know how far the
theory goes, or whether lady's shoe
maker should have wife, but I'm sure
her coiffeur ought.
81 hope we shall soon hear the last Of
thistiresome controversy; for ifany man
wishes positively to ascertain, from his
personal experience, whether it be safe
to marry on 500 per annum,' let him
commit a small misdemeanor in Ireland
and be sent to Jail for three months. If
his constitution stands the dietary-the
seven ounces Of Cruel and pinch Of barley
per diem-he may have his bans pub
lshed the day be comes out, and GER
tainly there will be nothing in bis absorb
ent system to interfere with his happiness.
but il is mistake to suppose that
is q necessity, except to three
volume novel. / am certain that very
large number Of people are not otmade for
that species Of compsnionship. Mind, |
am not enamored of Mormonism or
nor have the slightest
sympathy with AgapemoneS What I
desire to insist ou is, that our present
day civilization inculcates conjugalism
too indiscriminately, and takes most un-
iusti6able means TO support it's position.
0Re Of these, and the best commendsble
Of az. is 10 disparsge those who are
called old maids i have seen many a
iimid rider in a hunting field jeered into
ridiRg At fence that cost him crop
per- and / an convinced that many
women are driven into marriage 70
escape the obloquy and sarcasm Of be-
onging 20 that msligned category.
1T is no exsgKetation TO say ma
igned.' / would AK any enc who has |
zen much Of lfe-vho has, so 10 say,
,een q man Of the world, watching iis
Esys and studying It's doings-I would
,sk Of him. has be ever net In any sec
iOn Of hunaniiy greater kindliness, !