National Republican., 1873-09-25
WY Marriage. poorr..s.

The falling of In marriages is found In the
centres OF population, where the needs Of life
press hard. The old-fashloncd dlslnterestcd-
ness has Of late years been losing ground In
these places. Thirty or forty years ago II
was plain sailing; a gibbous hat and tho
Italian opera were unknown; oil worked for
living, and none were rich as compared
with those Of to-day. II has become evident
that In cities Hymcn Is losing his power; yet
the goddess who came out Of the sea-foam
conunues 70 exercise her wontcd charms over
men, though they refuse 10 follow Hymen.
There Is hidc-and-seck process on the part
OIL man TO avoid supporting the woman, which
would DO to the last degree ungcnerous II II
were not In some measure compulsory.
Fathers endcayor TO dispose Of daughters 10
those who stand upon conditions, and each
tries to shlrk the expense Of keeping them.
Thus regarded, the woman becomes posi-.
bic cncumbrance TO marrying man, and nj.
most parasite In her own family. A great
number Of those who live In luxury In the
metropolis make both ends meet with dlfh.
Guilty. The head Of the family Is stretched or
financial wheel, which never ceases TO turr
every day In the year. He Is pressed fol
what he considers the neccssaries Of life, and
spends twenty thousand dollars year. The
| capital OF this man, who spends twenty thou
sand dollars year, at legal interest, wouit
not perhaps yield him third Of what he ex
ponds. Thus he Is obliged to work hard fol
his living, and without relaxation. He Is no
IN position TO help any one but himself
however willing he may be to do so.
| The young man making his way through
% an ocean ot diiicultics, and carrying heav,
ballast In the shape Of clubs and social dlssf
patton, may like the daughter Of the poo
rich father; but he has not the audacity, ever
II she were willing to make the sacrifice, I,
take her out OF her handsome nest into an In
ierior ono. In resisting the matrimonial
temptation he has something to say for him
self. His knowledge Of life tells him tina
there aie scarcely any hours Of happlnes
which are compensation for the rasping
wearing, daily want Of means 10 provide 70
everyday nccessaries and comforts, aud tha
II u not long before domestic peace gives wa,
before this terrible pressure. II Is human
too, for the woman, In unguarded moments
to make comparisons between her marie,
and single lif' In which regrets and re
matters reached this point, 1t Is the coup Il
grace, and domestic felicity Is ut an end.
| An adviser may say to this yonng man,
he wants TO marry the poor rich girl, q
West; but this 10 counsel he cannot follow
His lot Is cast here, and through industry b
has reasonable expectations Of ultimately nc
curing a modest competency. II would b
l .eoh'h io' hlm tokNcup tlc Uuu III mana 10
the two out West In the bush, to say nothin
OF his likings, which ten TO one favor his pres
ent surroundings. Here the field Of labor
plainly Indicated, and he is already in tn
harness. His future being here, he must sub
NIT to the conditions Of life around him, an
accept civilization as he finds IL. Thus rea
soning, he turns away from the poor ric
mans sumptuous dwelling with q sigh; h
may not pluck the coveted flower. And
the cxpected bridevroom In nurnla and an
linen. from Lydlan shores, fall to come, tn
daughter Is condemned TO life of celibacy
IL the father has several such, who walt ]
vain, his house, according to the Dutc
proverb, becomes like q cellar full Of sou
beer.
There are three issues out Of the diflicul
tics which involve marriage In the cities
simpler mode OF life; the independence whlc
the woman may acquire In sclf-support; an
the dowry, which concerns rather the pa
rents than the woman hcrself.-Aibert Rhode,
In September GALAXY.