Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-12-26
THE GAZETTE.
THURSDAY EVENING, deer. &c.
The Expense Of Marriage.

A New York paper recently indicated some
reasons why some men remain single, by show
ing the cost of marriage. 1t gave IN detail the
expenses of bridal outfit somewhat as follows!
A robe of heavy satin, with train three yards
in length, trimmed with pufings of illusion and
point lace and satin rufles ornamented with
sprays of orange blossoms, all OF which Is es-
sential to give point and binding force to the
VOWS of everlasting 6delity--S50O. This IS a
comfortable sum but the first reception dress
of peach.blow, gros grain silk, trimmed with
noint applioue, sputs the votive robe 10 the
Shade with bill of 5000. The young maiden
must also have walking dress of sage green,
of two shades, with trimming OF black
thread lace for the waist, and a rut1e OF box
nlaits at the bottom, which adds $500 more to
the sum total. The old-tashioned custom OF
wedding, followed by dance and party at
home, and quiet retiring to the home cham
ber is out of date. The bridal night is now
celebrated in sleeping car, en- route tor Wash
ington, Niagara, or Europe, as the case may
be, and, tor the bridal trip, travelling dress
of Cashmere is indispensable, made with pos
tion, overskirt, and demi train, trimmed with
silk of the same color, which costs $50, and
there must also be morning wrapper OF Cash
mere, involving further outlay OF $50 :.
This wrapper is one OF necessity. 10 aid'-
ton to this she must have one In which 80
looks we'll This must be made OF Nalnsook,
whatever that is, with Vaenciennes lace and
puf6ngs value 500. The bridal outfit tor I'M
derclothing must consist Of one dozen night
dresses, two dozen chemises, two dozen pairs
of drawers, one dozen corset covers, one dozen
breakfast sacuues, and one dozen skirts made
in sets, the most elaborate of which will cost
$3.50, the least $40 For comfort, the bridal
belle should have half a dozen embroidered
flannel skirts that will cost from SIS to $25 each.
Add to these items the shoes, hats, handker-
chiefs, hosiery, fans, gloves, pertumeres, hair
goods, and the thousand and one other myster-
ious little absurdities that are necessary to the
existence of some women, 10 the absence OF
any one of which they have absolutely nothing
to wear, and we have bill of about $4,000,
without estimating jewelry, which sum the
journal before mentioned claims is the cost OF
getting married in our extravagent cities. As,
Stunning this for basis, it argues that some
meu main single because they are afraid to
shoulder such burden Chicago Tribune.
The Tribune proceeds to state that the arguu
ment is very weak one. A man OF sense IS
not Obliged to take one of these gildcd butter
fys. In the matrimonial market there are less
expensive goods, which are made OF better
stuff, will wear longer and do more service and
are in every way more attractive than the hlgh-
er priced and more perishable articles There
are plenty of bright beautiful, sensible and
healthy women ready to marry, who would be
content with simple and cheap outft-iu fact
prefer it to the gorgeous parapherualia above
described.
The Tribune then pitches into the men,
whom it pronounces and denounces as far more
extravaganza costly, selfish, stupid and mean
animals than wonderland with good show OF
reason. If the men were not fools enough to
admire white satin with puffings of illusion the
women would not be such fools as to wear them.
We may safely concluded that where the costly
illusions play SO important part 10 the drama,
the principal parties are fools and the denoue-
ment will be bitter delusions. Wing.