Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-09-25
Why Marriages Decrease.

in the centres of population, where
the needs of life press hard. The old
fashioned Observation-Disclosures has of late
years been losing ground in these
places. Thirty or forty years ago it
was plain sailing a gibbons hat and
the Italian opera were unknown all
worked for II living, and none were
rich as compared with those of to-day.
1t has become evident that in cities
IIymen is losing his power; yet the
goddess who came out of the sea-toam
continues to exercise her wOnted
charms over men, though they refuse
to follow Hymen. There is hide
and-seek process on the part of men
to avoid supporting the woman, which
would be to the last degree ungener-
Gus if it were not in some measure
compulsory. Fathers endeavor to
dispose of daughters to those who
stand upon conditions, and each tries
to shirk the expense of keeping them
Thus regarded, the woman becomes a
possible CIRCUMFERENCE to a marrying
man, and almost q parasite in her own
family. a great number of those
who live in luxury in the metropolis,
make both ends meet with difficulty
The head of the family is stretched on
financial wheel, which never ceases
to turn every day in the year. He is
pressed for what he considers the
necessities Of life, and spends twenty
thousand dollars year. The capital
Of this man who spends twenty thous-
and dollars 4 year, at legal interest,
would not perhaps yield him third
Of what he expends thus he is oblig-
ed to work hard for his living, and
without relaxation. He is not in a
position to hel Up any one but himself,
however willing he may be to do 50.
The young man making his way
through IN ocean of difficulties, and
carrying heavy ballast in the shape Of
clubs and social dissipation, may like
the daughter Of the poor rich father !;
but he has not the audacity, even it
she were willing to make the sacrifice,
to take her out of her handsome nest
into an inferior one. In resisting the
matrimonial temptation he has some
thing to say for himself. His knowl-
edge Of life tells him that there are
scarcely any hours OF happiness which
are compensation for the rasping,
wearing, daily want Of means to pro-
vide for every day necessaries and
comforts, and that it is not long be-
fore domestic peace gives way before
this terrible pressure. 1t is human,
too, for the woman in unguarded mo-
ments to make comparisons between
her married and single life, in which
regrets and reproaches are implied if
not spoken. When matters reach this
point it is the coup de yrace, and do
nestle felicity is at an end.
An adviser may say to this young
man, if he wants to marry the poor
rich girl, 60 West but this is coun-
sci he cannot follow. His lot is cast
here, and through industry he has
reasonable expectations of ultimately
acquiring q modest competency.
1t would be foolish for him to give
up the bird in hand for the two
out West in the bush, to say
nothing of his likings, which ten to
one favor his present surroundings
Here the field of labor is plainly in
dicated, and he is already in the har-
ness. His future being here, he must
submit to the conditions of life around
and accept civilization as he finds it,