Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1872-02-21
TO MARRY, OR NOT TO MARRY,


love-" about the first of January
young womcn's fancics resolutely
turn to thoughts of matrimony. At
least, that is the inference from the
troops that flock just now nightly to
the altars, especially the fashionable
affairs. Whether it il TO make sure Of
as many wedding gayities "a. possi-
Bile before Fashion lccrccs a
temporary death to all gaycty in the
sack-cloth and ashes of Lent, we do
not know, but this is assurcdlv the
favored time when the temple OF
llymen opens its doors to women
who can enter them in the approved
gros-grain and point lace. OF mar
, riagcs in muslin, we hear OF few at
any time. Young men of small sala-
rics. and pemnilcss young women,
nowadays find every month to chill,
to cross the threshold of that house
III which poverty is SO apt to put out
the fire on the hearth, and love so
uncertain about kindling it again.
They are eXhortcdb by practical rco-
PIE of the past generation to rcmrm-
bcr how their grantlfathcrs married;
with only. very likely. the provision
/ of an axe to cut down the trees in
their clearing. and the plcniShing of
few pots and pans. wooden chair.
anl feather bed. Those were the
days, they tell us, when sturdy men
were hard-fistcd and honest: when
their sturdy wives washed, and knew
fhe- ways of the churm Instead Of the
piano: whsm dozens Of hardy children
grew up within me-" gates into hab-
its Of frugalitv and honor, ! nc Young
man with small salary dawdllIrS III
| the opera. and the pennilcss Young
woman who spends her time in max
ing hats for herself and singing, Al,
non giungc, are hidden TO 20 aud
forthwith do likewise. The whole of
ing generation, are cxhortcd tn
Awake. ARISE, or be forever flllcn:'
to bctakc themselves TO hard work
and rearing children without delay.
Now, ali this advice sounds cmi-
.ncutly strong and sensible: but is it
practicable? In two generations not
only the tastes and habits, but the
nature of Amrican men has altered
under the influence of city life, in n
degree which. for better or for worse.
is actual and absolute. Nine of ten
of these educated young men would
prefer death at once to the relief Ofa
pioneer; drudgcrv for the bare mcccs-
si,ics Of food and clothes, exile from
the world Of books, music and art;
the perpetual sight of n shabby over
worked wife whom they could not
relieve, and shabby children to whom
they could give neither culture nor
refinement. The mere possessions OF
wife and children, instead of hcing Z
reward, would add to the chagri,
and discomfort, which would grow
more bitter with the intensity OF
their love. How many of the deli.
cate, pretty girls who fill our streets,
too, are tit to do their grandmotlcr's
''stcnt' of work at waShtu Il, b,churn, or
broom? Weak backs and dvspcptiC
stomach are facts not to be snccrcd
or Scoldcd away. The Young people
in town realize the situations; they
they shrcwdly look out for ricll
partners. They are anxious to put
W, love into their lives, if possible, but
regard it as necessity 10 put money
in their own purse at the same time.
Where is the remedy? Marriages
grow to be more n matter Of stocks,
furniture aud drc.s W tn every gel
Grafton. The children, born of much
luxury and little love if born at all.
become more feeble in mind and
body. short-livcd, until Foreigners.
who judge us from our cities. may
well q cstion whether Americans
in the next century will inherit
America. The problem is just this
How can Young man and woman
with the necessities Of educated pc0
pie and not strong health, afford tC
marry and bring up children OH {
small income:
The answer is here: First by dis
covering that The necessities of e,lura.
ton and refinement do not depend on
money for their qualification. Tur.
key carpets, silk dresses or coats
bought on Broadway have nothing
to do with their owners lives, no!
do they contribute one whit TO thcil
culture or good breeding. Wha,
will contribute TO them, and give
hig caste to their own lives and
those of their children, are somG
high motive in living and clcanlincs,
and beauty in their daily surround
ings. Now. pure love and sound
common sense are the rarcSt oarthl,
motives which any MAJ can brin:
into his daily work, AMI cleanliness
and beauty the cheapest of houschol,
, plcnishing. We know youn:
couple, who, during the war, marie,
with an outfit of$7Oo year, an ute
disregard of fashion, much love
and All absolute faith in sclf-hclp an,
| the help of God. They have mcvc
lacked necessity or comfort of lii
. and their snngGcrv of home, wh;cl
opens daily to the best people il
r, Boston. is remembered by ever
, guest as one would remember heart
!. some, beautiful picture. Yet thcr
, is not Turkey carpet or costl
l painting in il. Any pair of trU
lovers, who will put aside fashion
and conventional opinions for com
|. mon scpsc and good taste, may mar
4 ry with like chance of success. IL
n the West, of course, and in couitr!
+, towns more tangible comfort is pro
, durable for a small income than In tn
seabor,i cities; but s"mcthing Is los
in headquarters of art, music, litcrn
turc. whose qualifications here ar