The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-09-30
SOME WOMEN VINO no NOT MARRY


fiI'n too old-I don't kiss boysF
A---e . So
SOME WOMEN wHO no NOT MARRY.
IN. Y. verbal
Itis common thing for writer's upot,
social questions to lament a certain ten
deney towards a decrease in the number
1f marriages, which tendency they as
sumo do b fact-and then endeavor to
explain. The most popular explanation
among cheap morallsts In the press and
II, the pulpit ID TO the effect that the
young men OF this generation have a
Naturalization TO mattin1ony because
the voting women are go extravagant
lii their habits that only rich
fellows can afford to marry them. and
so frivolously educated for the adornA
metit Of society rather than the creations
Of d home, that they cannot become
good wives. This may be true to. some
extent In regard TO the wealthy classes
In which the young women are brought
up in luxury, and taught to expect
nothing else during their lie time, and
the voting men are accustomed 70 de-
pend upon q. regular income, which they
have learned to spend upon themselves
hit not to increase, No such narrow
minded and cynical Interpretation OF
the motives OF human conduct should,
however. be accepted In broader APP
l,licatioti. We are inclined to think
that the majority OF men now as always
desire a wife who shall prove a true
conlrads Id the battle. OF life and share
It's triumphs or its defeats. and the
majority Of women are willing TO enter
into such an offensive and defen-
siYe alliance with the man they
love against the world. What
guarantee has he who waits until he
has won SUCCESS before he fnarfies,
that the woman whom he chooses to
share his fortunes is worthy OF trust or
affectionY Taking for granted the ex-
istence oil adisineli nation TO natrimony
la our day, we should explain 1T not
more by she dread OF young men OF
limited means to assume new burden,
women to cast off the burdens which
they have already assumed. Within
the past few years many new avenues
OF employment have been opened to
women, and they have found their way
into many departments OF Industry.
Thus young girls have acquired GER
tain spirit Of independence. and as they
have grown In helpfulness, the helpless
ness Oh those about them seems to have
increased. Az the girls In some house,
holds became bread winners, the boys
seemed to grow idle and careless,
and, lacking The spur Of necessity, they
fell into the habit Of lazy trust In their
eisters' industry, which the sisters OF the
laat generation showed In the industry OF
their brothers. Thus, In addition to that
large class OF working-girl who have
been left to support a widowed mother
or family OF younger brothers aud
sisters. there are thousands who have
Ito become virtually the head of the
household through the drunkenness OF
father or the worthlessness Of a
brother. When girls had not SO many
employments az they now have and
were incapable Of earning such good
wages 1t was simply impossible
for them to take. such burdens on
their delicate shoulders. Now they 90.
cept these tasks In a. epirit OF cheerful
self.sacriiice, and soon find their youth
slipping away from them and their
marriage. because marriage would sink
their individuality. deprive them of
the power OF earning money and turn
adrift those dependent upon them for
support; 30 the wrinkles come, and toll
hardens the frame into grim outlines,
and the shadows OF unrealized dreams
and unfulfllled hopes fall over the
brightness OF the eyes, and the woman
In merged In the worker. It is wonder
are In the country. They. outnumber
the cases of young. men Sinking mat
rimony through dread of women g
extravaganza three to one..s Phileso.
hir1 tenlIs ass 81 s Women toward hard
labor and celibaey an indication of an
advance In civilization, the harbinger
OF that era anticipated by the doetrin-
airee when love shall cease to be the
main business or aim OF woman's life,
and the neatness maintained without
effort, the comfort wrought out of small
resources, the cheap adornment of the
household In which q girl is at once the
bread-winner and the home.brightener
might almost reconcile us to such tha4
cries were It not that a mournful air s't
sacrifice hangs over all these domestic
temples. In each the priestess grows
weary OF her vestal service, and adher-
ing to 1t from q sense of duty, looks
upon her life with the sadness OF those
who know not love, but. as the poet
sings,
s Far from passions, tears and smiles,
Drift down q moonless sea and pass
The silver coasts of fairy isles"