The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-31

Is life really life if one must pass it upon the
light rope! Is existence worth having when il is
eternally question of Neutrality-suspicious. to this
aide and beading to that
Is II proven that all people have vocation for
marriage, and is coDugslism per Sc certain to re.
quire those who, to attain it, must divide between
Two what they had already found barely sufficient
for one These are the simplest questions which
We have no need of philosopher to ask or an
swer for US. III one were simply TO pronounce
from what appears the surface of life-and ii ia
very bard 10 90 deeper-we should say that the
single people, especially the men, have the best
or 1t; They are more in request among their
friends, available for more attentions. and keen
longer young than their married brethren.
The doubled-barrellede gotism of marriage spoils
many good fellow, and destroys the charm of
nary delightful woman. The firm, that terri.
BILE partnership crops up at every moment, ana
routes that glorious spOntaneity that delicious re-
sponsibility we once remember.
I have no patience with those people who want
10 marry on what it is puzzle to them to live
sIngly upon. They must be moral, forsooth at
the cost of reducing some unhappy girl to drudg-
cry on the false pretense-for it is false of low
ing her.
Why can't they let it alone? as the great mas
ter of common sense said Of less eventful con
uDgeDcy.
| have met more pleasant and companisnable
people among the single than the married: but
there is caniing notion abroad that marriage is a
sort OF backbone for good behavior, and so the
be married. | don't know how far theory goes.
or whether alady's shoemaker should have a wife
but I'm sure her coiffure ought.
hope we shall soon hear the last of this tire
some controversy; for If one wishes positively to
ascertain from his personal experience, whether
IL be safe to marry on fl00 per annum let him
commit 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
published the day he comes out, and certainly
there will be nothing in this absorbing system to
interfere with his happiness
But it. is a mistake to suppose that marriage is
necessity, except to three volume novel. am
certain that very large number of persons are
not made for that species of companionship
Mind, / am not enamored of Mormonism or spirit
uel wifery, nor have the slightest sympathy with
Agapemons. What / desire to insist on is that
our present day civilization inculcates coniugaI
ism too indiscrminstely, and takes most uniqsti
fable means to support its position. One of these
- TO disparsge those who are called old maids
have seen many timid rider in a bunting field
jeered into riding at fence which cost him
croper," and am convinced that many women
are driven into marriage to escape the obIouuv
and sarcasm OF belonging to that msligned cate
CORY.
1t is not exaggeration to say "mslirnedp 7
would ask any one who has seen much of life
who has, 30 to say, been man of the world.
watching its ways and studying its doings-i
would ask him If he ever met in any section of
tran among these same old maids? Where has he
tonnd more hearty, genial, generous natures
Where sound views of life dsfgured by fewer
pTejudces! Where more thorough charity in dis.
cpssing the motives? Where, in word less of |
those very attributes by which it has pleased the
world to characterize this class? II is no part of
my talk TO call witnesses to what say but one |
Will cite, because she eminently represents all |
that have so feebly tried 10 picture; and If her
genius might seem to outshine the luster of her /
personal qualities, it is only to those who had not
the happness.and II was happiness-of her in
tlmacy. am talking of Miss Edgeworth, and it
Is well worth ell the weight of the years it obliges
TO have met and known her.
i will not Affirm that marriage could have
spoiled such nature, but will say it could not /
have bettered it. Nor is it q small part of the |
matter that at eighty she was the guiding spirit,
the delight and the charm OF that family which |
derived glory froo her name and happiness from
her presence.
Is 1t to a class which numbers Miss Edgeworth
and Hiss Nightingale among its members women
need shame to belong?
have done. / will only add that. instead of
besping ridicule on the condition of unmarried
women, and out of sheer derision driving them
20 accept anybody-anything as husbands-let US
accord them all the Difference and regard we be.
stow on others, and let not forget the presence
IF some old msid," whose qualities of mind
md nature have charmed us, and whose traces of
beauty are not few nor faint; that If we do not
ieem matrmony the great prize in life, it is Iiy.
ng shame to our sex that such O woman should
be single.
If have wandered from my text OF " Marriage
N starvation allowance, "a it is simply because
ave not that oyerweening impression of con.
ugasm that would recommend anybod - face
1egRsry to attain ii any more than | would advise
man 10 lay out his last shilling TO buy ticket in
! lottery.