The sun., 1878-11-09

another effect Of the hard times, which have
induced men TO put matrimony off.
OF all the men who took to them wives
last year, only 279 were under 20 years OF
age The largest number of the grooms
were under 80, though there were five over
50, one between IS and so, 81 between 10 and
IS, and 1874 between 60 and 10. OF the brides,
2,4io were under 90 5,592 between 20 and 25,
aud 1929 between 25 and 80. Beyond those
ages the numbers rapidly dwindc down
One bride, however, acknowledged that she
was over 75; the ages OF 10 brides were be-
tween 6j and 20, and Of 17s between 30 and
G5. II is not surprising to find that, while
all tho grooms freely gave their ages,
twenty-one of the brides We're reticent about
their years. AS to the rest OF the brides,
politcncss, at least, compels us to accept
the ages they gave, and we should not think
OF suggesting doubt as to their being the
true ones.
The average age Of the men married in
1877 was u little over 20, Of the women,
a little over 25. The average ago of the men
marrying for the first time was nearly %,
of women so marrying. nearly "a. These are
high averages, and they indicate, us all the
marriage statistics Of Massachusetts indi-
cate. that the men there are slow to assume
the responsibilities Of matrimony. There
were 9, ,0ij bachelors who chose maidcns for
their wives. and Gos bachelors who married
widows. OF Nidowcrs. 1896 married maids,
and SIS married widows. or the brides, 1852
were led to the altar for the second time, 20
contracted their third marriages, and their
fourth marriages; while of the grooms,
uIt Id 4
for the third time, - for the fourth. and
Tor even the sixth time. Two Of these mar
ricd widows who had once been hereft Of
their husbands. and one "a widow who
mourncd two spouses in the grave.
But the most romantic part of these APP
parcntly dry statistics is that which relates
to the comparative ages Of the grooms
and brides OF $50 selected marriages 1t is
the universal experience that at an age when
their boards are not yet grown, susceptible
youth are likely to fall in love with women
older than themselves. Happily the good
sense Of the women usually prevents any
more serious result of this boyish inlatua-
tion than few slccpless nights for the
cnamorrd stripping; but some of tho boys
succeed in getting mature women for
wives. Thus. Of the youth Of lG who were
married in Massachusetts in 1877 two had
for brides girls Of Is. and one II woman
who confessed to at least - years. or the
six boys of II, two married women older
than themselves. or the 81 Of IS years. 20
got wives who were their seniors, one bride
acknowledging "a years. OF the 100 youth
OF IL years, 90 married women older than
themselves. and one Of these was IS, one 30,
one %. and two 20. OF the 353 grooms Of 20,
81 had brides who were their superiors IN
age. but the oldest bride, modest and dis
Greet maiden, gave her age as only 80.
When, however. the Massachusetts boys
become men. they put away childish things
and win for themselves wives younger than
themselves. No one Of the grooms enumer-
ated In this table Of $50 marriages. who had
reached his majority, married u bride who
was his senior.
Taking the marriage statistics OF Massa-
chusctts for 1877 all together, they reveal a
state Of society which is far from normal
There are too few marriages In proportion
to the population. and the consequence is
seen in that widespread immortality for
which the old home OF the Puritans is now
getting SO unenviable reputation. Men
and women Of Massachusetts, should obey
the laws Of GoD. 1t is not we'll for man TO
be alone