The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-09-08
Why Marriages Decrease.


What Magazine Writer Has to Isay
About II,
Tho falling of in marriages Is found
in the centres Of population, where the
needs OF life press hard. Tho old.fash-
ioned disinterestednes has Of late
years been losinggroundin in these places.
Thirty OF forty years ago it was plain
sailing; q gibbons hat and the opera
were unknown all worked fof living,
and none were rich as compared with
those of to-day. It has become evident
that in cities Hymen is losing his power;
yet the goddess who came out of the
sea ionm continues to exercise her
wonted thhtms over men, though thOy
refuse to follow Hymen! There is q
hide-and-seek process on tho part of
man to avoid supporting the wOmdh,
which would DO to tho last degree un-
generous il 1t were not in some meas
llre compulsory. Fathers endeavor to
dispose Of daughters to those who
stand upon conditions, and each tries
70 shirk tile e1penso Of keeping them.
This regarded, the woinah becomes n
possible ineumbrance to the marrying
man, and almost d parasitic In her own
family. A great number OF those who
live in luxury in the metropolis make
both ends meet with difficulty. The
head 81 tile family is stretched on n a.
nancial wheel, which tibfet ceases to
turn every day in the year. He is
pressed for wllnt lie considers tho nee.
essaries Of life, and spends twenty
thousand dollars q year. The capital
Of this man who spends twenty thous-
and dollats n year; at legal interest,
would not, perhdpsI yield him q third
OF what he expends ; thus he Is obliged
to work hard for his living, and without
relaxation. He is not in position to
help any one but himself, however will
ling lie may DO to do so. The young
man making his way through an ocean
Of difficulties, and carrying heavy bal.
Inst in tic shape Of clubs and social
dissipation, may like the daughter OF the
poor rich fathers but he has not the
audacity, even II she were willing to
make the sacrifice, 10 take her out OF n
handsome nest into M inferior ono In
resisting the matrimonial temptation he
Inns something to say for himself. His
knowledge of life tells him that there
aro scarcely any hours Of happiness
which are compensation for the rasping,
wearing, daily want Of means to pro-
vide for cybty:day r6cessaries and COM
forts, and that it Is not long before do
nestle peace gives way under this ter
rible pressure. 1t is human, too, for the
woman in unguarded moments TO mako
comparisons between her married and
single life, on which regiets and re-
proaches are implied il not spoken.
When matters reach this point, it is the
coup dc grace, and domestic felicity is
at M end.
An adviser may say to this young
man, II hO wants to marry tho poor,
rich girl, "Go Vest" but this Is coun-
sci he cannot follow. His lot Is cast
here, and through industry he has rea-
sonable expectations Of ultimately nc.
quiring modest competency. It would
be foolish for him to give up tho bird
in hand for tho two out West in the
bush, to say nothing Of his likings,
which, ten to one favor his present sur
roundings. Here the field Of labor is
plainly indicated and he. is already in
the harness. His future being here, he
must submit to the conditions of life
around him and accept civilization rs
he finds it. Thus reasoning, he turns
away from the poor, rich mans sumpti-
ous dwelling with n sigh; lie may not
pluck tho coveted flower. And II the
expected bridegroom in purple and fine
linen, from Lydian shores fail to come,
the daughter is condemned 10 q life of
celibacy. II the father has several
such who whit in win, his house, ac-
corling to the Dutch proverb, becomes
like n cellar full OF sour beer.
There arc three issues out OF the dif-
ficulties which involve marriage in the
cities-a simpler mode OF life; the in
dependence which the woman may nc.
dulre In self.support and the dowry,
which concerns rather tho parents than
the woman herself.