The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-02-18
A Word Tor Wones.

4 Word Tor Wcmen.
"YoUHG men do not marry nowadays,
because they cannot support their
wives"
Such is the remark which one hears
everywhere of late, accompanied with q
lifting of the hands in holy horror at the
extravaganza of the "dear creatures"
"If girls would only be content to begin
as their mothers did, instead of as their
mothers live now" how nice it would be,
to be sure! Every Darby would straight
way seek his Joan and love in cottage
be multiplied ad infnitum.
And this is not because, in sOoth, girls
must have dresses for every day in the
year, and jewels for every dress; because
they can wear nothing out Of the fash
ion; because they have not time to make
the endless variety Of costumes needed,
and must, therefore, pay enormous mil
liners and drcssmakers' bills; because
they must 60 where everyone else goes,
and see what everyone else sees because
when married their houses must have
everything mammals" does. and perhaps
more; because, in word, they are SO
fearfully extravaganza.
1t is true that they are. 1t is also true
that they wild be just SO long as they are
encouraged in it by these very same wise
lords of creation who say, when asked
why they do not marry, Cannot afford
it; really, they are SO extravaganza, you
know"
Very well, good sir. But tell me, who
is it that always pays the most attention
to the most stylishly and elegantly
dressed girl in society-and what girl
will sit quietly by unnoticed when few
dollars or few hundred dollars, it may
be, will gain her the company of the one
she wishes? Who is it that spends-we
will not say how much-upon cigars,
wines, little suppers," theaters, neck
ties, jewelry, broadcloth and fine linen;
handsome, even luxurious, bachelor
apartments, furnished with all manner
and adornments-things one "must
have" you know, but amounting to
enough to support yourself and wife in
comfort and to spare?
Who is it that would be ashamed to
ask any Of the fellows from the club to
come and see him in that modest two
story frame house, just beyond the fash
ionable quarter? Who is it that would
not want his wife to wear last years
bonnet or buy cheap goods; that must"
have thousand little luxuries to "live?"
Who is it that would rather wait and not
be married until he had a fortune to
spend in ministering to selfish pleasure?
l believe that there are to-day more
girls, true hearted, noble and womanly,
living lives of idle ease and comfort,
who would leave it all and be glad to
share the plainest, humblest home with
the man they love than there are young
men willing to give up the luXuries of
their bachelor lives.
And SO the days go by. They walk,
ride, sing, dance and make merry with
each other, enjoying themselves in
measure, it is true, but wasting the best
part of lives which were intended to be
spent in earnest, loving home work to-
gether. Life is too short and too pre-
cious to be passed in this way. There is
sweeter, richer reward in faithful, affec-
tionate, Jealous labor for each other and
humanity in establishing home, in its
purest, hottest sense, than in the fieeting,
frivolous pleasures of selfish enjoyment.
OF course, in our modern society, the
initiative must be taken by the gentle
man, and however willing girls may be
to make sacrifices they can only wait
until asked. And if the "lords and mas
tiers" do not feel disposed to assume the
cares, the responsibilities, the downright
cork of family relations, preferring to
continue lives of case and careless lux
ury, let them do so. But let them be
manly and just enough to give their
reason frankly and honestly, and not en-
deavor to clear themselves and throw all
the blame upon the extravaganza of
the girls" They have long enough
shielded themselves behind those no more
nor indeed as guilty as themselves, and
/ think it is high time that they be CON-
PEELED to assume their rightful share Of
the burden.
Let the saying read, as is true:
Young men do not marry nowadays
because they niN not support their
ives.'-Etizabeth Olmis, in Hearth and
Home.