National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-09-05
Why Marriages Decrease.
What n Magazine Writer Has to Say
About II.

About IL.
The falling off in marriages is found
in the centres of population, where the
needs of life press hard. The old-fash-
ioned disinterestedness has of late
years been losingground in these places.
Thirty or forty years ago it was plain
sailing gibbons hat and the opera
were unknown all worked for a living,
and none were rich as compared with
those of to-day. 1t has become evident
that in cities Hymen is losing his power;
yet the goddess who came out of the
sea foam continues to eXercie her
wonted charms over men, though they
refuse to follow Hymen. There is q
hide-and-seek process on the part OF
man to avoid supporting the woman,
which would be to the last degree un-
generous if it were not in some meas
ure 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 n
possible incumbrance to the marrying
man, and almost 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 "A fl
nancial wheel, which never ceases to
turn every day in the year. He is
pressed for what he considers the nee
essaries of life. and spends twenty
thousand dollars year. The capital
of this man who spends twenty thous-
and dollars a year, at legal interest
would not, perhaps, yield him third
of what he expends thus he is obliged
to work hard for his living, and without
relaxation. He is not in a'position to
help any one but himself, however will
ling he may be to do SO. The young
man making his way through an ocean
of difficulties, and carrying heavy bal
last in the shape of clubs and social
dissipation, may like the daughter of the
poor, rich father but he has not the
audacity, even if she were willing to
make the sacrifice, to take her out of a
handsome nest into an inferior one. In
resisting the matrimonial temptation he
has something to say for himself. His
knowledge of life tells him that there
are scarcely any hours of happiness
which are compensation for the rasping,
wearing, daily aant OF means to pro-
vide for everyday necessaries and COM
forts. and that it is not long before do
mestc peace gives way under this ter
rible pressure. 1t is human, too, for the
woman in unguarded moments to make
comparisons between her married and
single life, ON which regrets and re-
proaches are implied if not spoken.
When matters reach this point, it is the
coup dc grace, and domestic felicity is
at an end.
An adviser may say to this young
man, if he wants to marry the 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 ac-
quiring modest competency. It 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 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 as
he finds it. Thus reasoning, he turns
away from the poor, rich mans sumptu-
GUS dwelling with sigh; he may not
pluck the coveted flower. And if the
expected bridegroom in purple and fine
linen, from Lydian shores fail to come,
the daughter is condemned to a life of
celibacy. If the father has several
such who wait in vain, his house, ac-
cording to the Dutch proverb, becomes
like cellar full of sour beer.
There are three issues out of the diff
fculties which involve marriage in the
cities-a simpler mode of life; the in
which the woman may ac-
quire in self-support and the dowry,
which concerns rather the parents than
the woman herself.