Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-06-29
THE MARKET.
GeneraIly Devoid of Animation.
Waterang.PiAce Prospects.


GsneraIly Devoid of Animation
Watering-Piace Prospects.
New York SUM-
During the past winter business has
been very light. The movement still
lsgs behind the expectations OF holders.
Few engagements are announced, and
the trade generally has been devoid Of
animation.
Bachelors are operating in an ex-
tremeiy cautious manner, and large
stocks OF marriageable youAg women
have been carried over from last autumn.
The number Of young girls between the
ages OF eighteen and twenty-five seems
to be unwarrantably large, and fathers
afflicted with ~marriageable daughters
cannot exercise too much caution in
making preparation for the summer and
fall trade.
All eyes now turn hopefully toward
Saratoga and Newport. 1t is, however,
feared by steady old ~dowagers, long in
business, thatreally desirable young men
With incomes ranging from SIS, 900 to
$4,000 per annum, will this season be
scarcer than ever before.
Our rich young men, as a rule, have
pretty much given up fashionable water.
ing places. They may, as birds Of pas.
sage, pass a few days at Newport, SharoH,
Saratoga, New London or Long Branch;
but the great majority 60 abroad, go
yachting on their OWL or their friends
yachts, pass the summer in out.of.the.
way places along the coasts or in the
mountain0, shoot, drive, fish and " sit
around generally. In early fall they
return to civilized regions aud commence
a series Of visits at elegant country seats.
Watering place engagements are nova
days few and far between. Newport, in
the fall, when cottage life is especially
enjoyable, is infinitely more dangerous
to the bachelor thar during the height Of
the season. Mrs. Mann Hunter, at this
period OF the year, invariably has some
three or four lovely young women stay
ing at her cottage, and to meet them she
invites an equal number of eligible young
men. Three weeks of constant walks,
talks, drives ard waltzes with the same
young women, to say nothing of sailing
excursions, picnics and Sunday after.
moons in the library, are quite likely to
do the business for any spirited young
fellow who has the slightest snap Of vim
about him. Mrs. Mann Hunter, one of
the shrewdest operators in the matrimo.
NAL market, has successfully establish.
ed her daughters, bat still continues in
the business through pure love of match.
making. We understand she will have
on hand during the coming season a
constant succession of what the French
call hautes n%ouveautes, eliminating with
the choicest rosebuds 10 October.
In other days and happier times our
fathers and mothers fell in love and mar
ried without inquiring too closely into
fortunes, rent rolls and the rest Of it,.
They jumped into matrimony as one
takes a header in the rolling surf. In
nine cases out of ten it had the same in.
MIGRATING effect, bracing them up as
they went hand in hand through the
trials aud troubles of a wicked world.
Now, among those classes claiming the
monopoly of the greatest portion of the
refinement and culture" which are
supposed to be floating around loose
through the country, marriage has come
to be looked upon as a regular business
transaction, a matter Of money rather
than love. Cupid may assist at the nup.
tials, but money is essential.
A young fellow nowadays with $4,000 a
year thinks he cannot afford to marry
unless he marries money" he has no
idea of making sacrifices for love. No,
siri He has $4,000 a year and be spends
it co%nseientiously and religiously on him.
self. We believe modern club life tends
greatly to lessen marriage. By Joining
any Of q leading clubs, men with mod.
est revenues a enjoy daily all the com
forts, Injuries and advantages of an es.
Enlistment maintained at a cost of $780,
900 or $780, 900 per snnum, while at the
same time free of all the petty cares aud
annoyances indispensable from keeping
house. Strangely enough, the class OF
men whose conditions of fortune oppose
no obstacle to marriage seem more wed.
ded to club life than those who are
obliged to study economy. No wonder,
then, that the matrimonial market is
dull. Looking around we find in ~so.called
fashionable circles an alarming increase
in the number OF mature bachelors and
elderly maidens. One is almost prompt.
ed to ask, what shall we do il the future
for culture and refinement if these peo.
pie do not marry2