Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1871-01-26
Where are the Young Men?

There are curious facts. noticeable in the
Eastern States, 10 which occasional allu-
sion is made in converse ion and the news
papers-facts which illustrate the scarcity
of young men OF a certain class. At every
fashionable summer resort. the small num-
Der of young men and The comparative
plcntifulncss OF young women are matters
OF notorciy. IL there should happcn To
be. IN such gathering a. this. half duz-
en- young men. Of unrNceptionahle position.
TO SIX times that number OF young women
IN corresponding position. the ihirty->iN
women would account themselves peculi-
arly fortunate. In hotel hop. one will
see half the girls with partners of their
own sex. The ladies' of a travelling party
IN Europe are, A. rule. in an overwhclm-
inS majority. The fact that bcaux arc
scarce In all public places. i one with
which The young women 81 the Eastern
States are painfully familiar There are
many good reasons la be offered for this
di>Proporiion OF the sexes IN such places
the pressure OF work or cf study upon
The men, at a period OF life when their
tine i not wholly at their disposal bein.
the principal one.
II i were only In the resort, for summer
recreation that young men are scarce. tn.
Tact would no, be noteworthy particularly.
They ought - have something tn do. and
enough 10 DO to keep them from >pcnJiu. a
great deal of time ia the pur>u, OF pleas
ure. II i startling fact. h5weSc r. that
IA" Young men OF the first class. or tho>.
regarded A. belonging 10 the nr>t class.
are a. scarce IN the towns A. ,hcy are Al
the summer hote.s. The marria.,abl,.
.tri> among Eastern families 81 the be-,
position are IN Overwhelmingly IA ernum-
ber> than are the marriageaale ,ouny men
ia the same position. Something OF thi, i
que 70 tic raVas"> made by the late war
among the ranks ofthe Young men. Some
thin, more Is due 10 the emigration west
ward OF great numbers OF them 80 that In
some or the We>te II States, the men out
number the women. Whatever the causes
may be, they are sufficient to establish a
marked inequality ia the number Of the
sexes in the class to which we alIude
There are many social circles. in every
Eastern city ard considerable town. en-
oracing great numbers OF beautiful aud
"elI-ehucated young women In which
there cannot be found a brilliant or even
particularly desirable match among The,
men. Two or three hackueyed bcaux.
whose hair remains black by reason of the
barber, and whose teeth are sound by
reason OF the dentist do the polite fort Two
or three generations OF beauties. and are 80
busy IN tue service that they forget 10 mar
I
u thriitless maidenhood with hearts
unwUn and charms uuapprnpriated. the
sweet lie of the women drie, up. ard
sinks TO the dust from which il rose
Now 10 u this i one Of the most sad
anu serious things connected with our So
cial condition; and ii has 4 world TO do
with the uueasiness OF women. nlnnins-t sd
III various ways,-the universal >eckin.
Tor something with which TO iii ~ life
ana make II significant.
Bui we have practical reason for call
Ing attention To this matter; and thi, We
propose 10 present in u statement relatin.
10 large number Of young men. usually
assigned To the second class in society
|" ME our hne girls are bemoanng tn
lack oi young men, and the scarcity OF
! oeauA VINO are manageable and who
mean marriage, there il class Of youn.
men whom they do not recognize 4. all
/ yet WHO VIII furnish 10 the next generation
lt> men OF enterprise. of power. OF posi-
'!oh' ana OF wealth. IL Is not the sons of
I he rich who will, as rule remain rich
1 ne sons OF the poor will ge, rich; ana
there are to-day. druid ling in offices. and
| counting-rooms. and store houses and ma
/ chlne-shop>, and printing establishments.
/ liie men who, in twenty live wears will
control Tie nation socially. politically
/ ahu financially. Every man OF them means
| 10 De married; they will, a. a rule. make
/ excellent husbands; they are all AT work
/ tryln. 10 win success. They are men who
would be easily improved by recognition.
ana by bring ng them into good intelligent
society yet they are A. little noticed a. if
/ they were so many dogs. Nirtuous youns
/ men from the country 90 into The city. and
/ ilNe Tor years without any society. and are
/ regarded hy the fashionable Young women
Win Indifference or contempt but those
Young men have hold upOa the future.
dhu "hen their success l. won. in whatever
/ held o. enterprise ii may be The fashion
aole VIII be glad to claim them a. belong
| ing To their own number We regret 10
sly that a. rule. the young men for
""oih position has been won by virtuous
anu ehterprlslhg fathers amount To but lit
lie IN the world; and we rejo ce t. LAY tina,
companions chosen from those who have
their fortunes to make aud their position 20
win, are those TO whom a well-bred WON
ah Gao gene rally with safety intrust her
| happiness and herself
III there is anything in all these fact.
thus brought into association which noints
| Out duty to ''our best society" and urg,s
~ performance. even i'y selfish motive. il
VIII re readily perceived. The hope OF
uhe country Is in this second grade OF
| young men. They ought to have better
social privileges. What better capital can
man have than youth virtue. Intelligence
health and Enterprise? What better claim
than these can any man present for admis-
sion INTO good society? To Young men OF
TINS class. now almost wholly neglected
lhe society OF ducated and accomplished
women would be rare and fruitful privi
lege-frutful to themselves and quite as
lrultfu. TO those whose cuurtesies they
rrcelve--Dr. j. G. Holland. in .SerfbRers
| M0nfkIn for Eahsa.n.... 49,