, 1872-12-15
TEE IX?ENSE OF MARRIAGE.


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TEE Lx?ENsE OF MARRIAGE.
4 New York Paper recently Indicated sonao
rcasons vino so.no men remain single, by show
ing the cost Of marriage. It gave in detail tie
expenses of bridal outfit somewhat es follows
4 robo Of heavy eatin, with train three yards in
length, trimmed with pufings OF illusion and
point laco and satin ruf1!es. ornaneatcd with
sprays Of orange blossoms, al of which is es-
sentia1 to give point and binding force to the
VOWS Of everlasting fda1it5-a50o. This is 6
comfortable sum; but the first recepton-dress Of
peach-blow gros-grniu silk, trimmed With point
applique, puts the vo.iye robo in tho shade with
bill of s6oo Tho young maiden must also
havo 3 walking dress Of sage-ssreen, Of two
shades, with trimming of black trcad-lacc for
the waist, and o 1ufle Of bo1-plaitB At tho bot
ton1 which adds $500 more to the SUN total. The
oll-faslioned custom Of q Wedding, followed by
dance and party at home, aud quiot retiring
to the homo chamber, is ont Of dato. TIE bridal
night is now celebrated in sleeping car, ca
route for Washington, Niagara or Europe, as the
case may be, and, for the bridal trip, travelling
dress Of Cashmere is Indispensable, made with
postillion, oyerskirt, and demi~tra;n, trimmed
With silk OF the same color, which costs SIS, and
there muRt also be morning wrapper of Cash
mere, involving further outlay Of $50. This
wrapper is one Of necessity. In addition to this,
she must have one in which she looks we'll.
This must be made OF Nainsook, whnteyer that
is, with Valenciennes lace and puf6ngs, value
800. The bridal outfit for underclothins must
consist Of one dozen night-dresses, two dozen
chemises, two dozen pairs Of drawers, one dozen
corset covers, one dozen breakfast jacques,
and one dozen skirts, made in Eets,
the most elaborate of which will cost $3.50, the
least 940 For comfort, the bridal belle should
have half dozen embroidered flannel skirts
that will cost from So to 525 each. Add to these
items the Shoes hats hand1erchiefs, hosiery,
fans, gloves, perfumeries, hair goods, and the
thousand and one other mysterious little absur-
dities which are necessary to the existence Of
some women, in the absence Of any one Of
which they have absolutely nothing to wear, and
wo have bill of about s. 600, without e5tima!-
ing jowelry, which sum the journal before men,
toned claims is the cost OF getting married in
our extrayagant cities. Assuming this for 4 ba-
sis, it argues that some men remain single be-
cause they arc afraid to shoulder such
burden.
The argument, however, is 8 very weak one.
If man cannot ISSUING such an expensive
creature for his wife, let him get something
cheaper. In the economy of society, unlike that
Of material thinga, it does not follow that the
highest priced articles nre the best. In the
matrimonial market there are less expensive
goods, which are made Of better stuff, will wear
longer, and do more service, and are III every
way more attractive than tho higher priced and
more perishable articles. There are plenty Of
bright, beautiful, sensible, excellent women,
ready to marry, who would be content with
silk dress, a calico wrapper, and a very small
outfit Of articles Of bijouterie, and would look
better when arrayed in their three-hundred-
dollar bests than the butterflies in their gaudy
three-thouaand-dollar outfits. Theman, therefore,
who remains single because he is afraid to marry
Ill eAPeuoAFe c1eatu1os ul5tn1Ja Au 1uoIuusIe
vanity, and = want of appreciation which do not
call for confederation. He is moral coward
and next-door neighbor to fool. Because he
cannot get butterfly, which, at best, may last
but single Season, he refuses to take robin
which Will sing all the year round. He should
carry out his principles in daily life to be consH
ent,-go cold in winter because he cannot afford
q hundred-dollar overcoat, refuse to drink coffee
because he cannot get champagne, and sit up all
night because he cannot sleep upon swans down.
But even admitting that woman is al expen-
siye luxury in marriage, wherein is she more
to blame than man, Or wherein is
she more expsnsivo? The figures
show that man as we'll a. woman
is costly animal, md that the difference iH very
small in the expense accounts, especially IN that
class which is accustomed to bewai1 the cost
marriage. Young Adolphus contemplating wed-
lock is by no means IN economical creature,
and does not have to pay for Ararniuta's outfit
either. Ho is not satisfied without three or four
suits which cost at least $500, as he pays his
tailor not only for the material lie wears, but
for his oHn folly and vanity, which add Q largo
percentage to the bill. He must have 8 differ