The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-04-03
GkeGntelliaetteeE.
natrlmony and It's IIndrances.

From tho Cincinnati Gazette.
The New York Tines for months past
has given special prominence TO cores
pondence on the expenses OF living, with
special reference to young married cou.
ples in cities, whose incomes are moi
proportioned 10 their tastes. OF course
iood clothing and lodging do not cost
very much to those who are satisfied with
life in u tenement, with cheap ready-made
clothing, and with the homeliest food
They may cost very much, on the Other
hand, to those who are fastidious, anC
who have not the power OF selt-denial
The question to be answered, is how little
can a pair exist on without sacrificing
too many Of the enioyments, convention
ally regarded as essential, for the sake Of
domestic happiness. The Times CORES
pOndents, who are obviously real expert
menters, differ somewhat in their figures,
but the preponderance OF sentiment seems
10 fix about $1,000 per annnm MS me
smallest income on which persons ca"
unite home comfort with social respecIa'
bility. Those who attempt the GomPIna'
lion on from two to five hundred d9lIaTS
io0s " w ma, "nhm;t 10 much self-denial with
reg.rI N jrcss aud dainties. Ihey are
w;se II thew turn their backs on cheap
boarding houses and set up naDltatlon
for themselves, however humble II may
he. Such arc about the conclusions oil
large number Of letters, accompanied by
statistics TO show the data on which the
ouiniops are based. We may call $4,000
"a the minimum OF income on which an
ambitious couple may expect to live,
dress fairly well, reside in n respectable
neighborhood, and possibly set aside a
hundred or two dollars for life insur-
ance policy. Greater rctrcnchment in
wolves disregard OF all fashionable pre-
tensions even Of the mildest sort.
Wee do not suppose that the expense OF
living, take 1t all in all is much, II any less
in Cincinnati than in New York. Ifthe fig
ures Of the Times, or rather those Of its
contributors, be accurate, prudent marri-
age il out OF the question. with large and
respectable class OF young men and wo.
men. II the maintenance of n certain
degree OF style is essential, then the
bachelor who il very comfortable on ST.
200 or 81, 500 u year will cripple himself
by taking wife. He would be cruel
even il he asked refined, but thoroughly
economical girl to share his fortunes. 1t
is very easy, we know to advise young
people to disregard all conventiOnalities,
but social considerations cannot wholly
be disrcgarded. Bold and much loving
couples may sometimes defy them with
immunity, yet the gain must be large and
apparent to justify the sacrifice. A good
vile may indeed be hclpmate, but wo-
men Of tact and genius are not very nu.
merous. Amiable incapacity is no COM
pensation for the largely increased bills
which arc among the bridegroom's earli.
est expenses. There is no worse drug on
a Young man than thrittless wife.
On Sunday last Baltimore minister
preached n sermon on the Seventh Com.
mandment, many OF the violations Of
which he attributed to the obstacles
which are thrown in the way Of marriage.
He argued also that it was the duty, rs
we'll us the right Of all persons to marry,
unless physically disqualified or having
other reasons for remaining single. With
out accepting all that the worthy divine
advanced, it requires no proof to say that
those countries in which marriage is least
hampered by restrictions, are the most
yirtuous. The evils which follow i'll.
assorted marriages are less than those
which result from the restriction OF we'd
lock to the pecuniarily well to do. Were
parents more DESTROYS that their sons
should have home OF their own, however
modest, than that they should hold
place in fashionable society from the first,
they might encourage early marriages,
and thus give respectable countcnance to
what is now deemed an imprudence. I'm
pretentious living on the part OF begin
ncrs would then cease to be step down
ward.
In Canada, in the old French colonial
days, hardly young man reached his
majority without taking n wife, and pa
rental or priestly authority had much to
do in guiding his choice. We have no
expectation OF seeing return OF these
simple times, yet there is certainly room
for Improvement on our present customs.
llF. FOkeT WNukcu W HuNc hio hAHh bSAViS
wedding the Lady Ann, who had been Sc
lected for his consort, but he was none the
better for the delay. Could the young
men who waste their earnings between
twenty and thirty, or at least watch their
chances for moneyed match, be made to
feel that they would be far better off with
home OF their own, and were expected
10 have one as soon as possible, and were
girls educated with a due reference to
their true position in life, there would be
far less vice and much more real happi-
ness in our community. This is the Cen.
tennial era, and we may we'll have regard
to the matrimonial, ms well IA to the po'
li,icaI example OF our forcfathers. They
generally married young, without waiting
for splendid chances or large incomes,and
we are quite sure they werc at least as
happy OS their more ambitious descend
ants.