The sun., 1878-11-09
Alas, for Massachusetts!

Unquestionably the hard times have had
the unhappy effect OF reducing the number
OF weddings In various parts Of the country,
but the condition of Massachusetts. the
home OF the Puritans and the great centre
OF social and political agitation, Is especially
deplorable with respect tO matrimony.
The number of marriages has been dcclin-
ing steadily and largely in that State for
five years past, until now fewer weddings in
proportion to the population take place
there than in the principal countries of
Europe, even countries where impod-
ments are by law put in the way of matri.
mOnial unions. The returns Of the mar
riages in Massachusetts Tor the year 1877
showed smaller total than in any year
since the war, and even smaller total than
during the worst year Of the war-the year
1863 The whole number OF marriages in 1877
was actually less 10y l,73l than the annual
average for thirteen years hack.
After the war, the weddings which had
been prevented or delayed by the absence of
so many Of the male population Of the
State began to take place, and the number
OF marriages increased largely. Whereas
in 1868, only about II persons in thou
sand got married, in 1865, with peace again
illumining the country, more than 20 per-
sons in thousand were joined in wedlock,
and in 1869 more than %. But when the
hard times began to prevail In Massachu-
sets, the brides and grooms became fewer
and fewer, until in 1877, last year. there
were only n fraction over II persons mar
ried In the thousand Of population; but one
marriage took place to 1856 Of tho number
living. This is lamentablc showing, the
worst ever made by Massachusetts,, and
even worse than that which is made by
France, TO which we are accustomed 10 look
as furnishing very low marriage rate
In the country districts OF the State there
was even less marrying aud giving in mar
riage than IN the cities as n whole, though
Salem, the ancient abode Of the witches,
had fewer marriages IN proportion 20 popu-
latlon than any other city, AMI even fewer
than any of the counties. Berkshire county,
whose lovely hills present no end Of sites
for homes in which welded bliss might
soften or beguile the hardships Of its rigor-
Gus winters, il, however, just about as bad
place for weddings as musty old Salem
itself In Salem there was only one mar
riago to lG3 persons living, and in Berkshire
there were scarcely any more, while in busy
IDMfll Ail'Af MhN iilf ~ fNtA ~ anu III Iltil
and decaying New Bedford one to %.
This is Sad for Massachusetts, state
from which We had reason to expect better
things than an abnormal crop oil cclibatcs.
The women of the Old Bay State are not
only in the majority, but they are also re-
markable for their intelligence, and fair
proportion are endowed with physical
beauty al well as with the riches of mind
and heart Why are 50 many Of them hope
less spinstersl Are tho bachelors of Mas
sachusetts too timorous to venture on
matrimony or are they too mean to incur
the expense As the Secretary OF the Com
monwealth remarks, "a State cannot be
considered prosperous whose birth rate and
marriage rate fall much below q recognized
normal standard" and the births and mar
rlages in Massachusetts are fewer in pro-
portion TO the population than in the Euro
| pcan countries where the struggle for cX-
| istenco Is the severest. 1t is true many OF
the young men emigrate, but there are
enough Of them left to marry the majority
OF the spinsters who now wait in vain for
| husbands
But, turning from this gloomy view Of the
subject, we find in the returns OF the Massa-
chusetts marriages many facts Of roman
tic or a philosophic interest. We discover
that almost without exception. the month
OF November has bocn preferred by the
people OF that State as the one in which to
get married. The month of March has just
as invariably been the month most objec-
tionable to brides and grooms. Thus in No
vember OF last year there were l,6ll we'd
dngs, while in March there We're only jl5,
not third as many. October comes next 10
November as the favorte month for the
ringing Of the wedding bells, and August,
next to March, hears the fewest OF them
March is a cold and disagreeablc month in
New England. 1t is neither winter nor
spring in its temperature and the country
roads are flooded with the melting snow, or
deep with mud. Everybody feels gloomy
then, and the betrothcd share in the gem
era! depression and put of the wedding day
until the skies are brighter and the honey
moon may be enjoyed without fear Of nllu-
enza. But when April comes, tired Of delay
and satiatcd with the winters courtng, the
urgent and impatient groonIs insist on the
| prompt performance OF the ceremony, and
the gracious brides yield their consent IL
therefore happened that while only jlj we'd
dings took place in Massachusetts, during
March, 1,l30 blushing brides were led to the
altar in April. Throughout May the we'd
dings We're frequent and numerous, and
June, the summer having hardly begun tn
prove oppressive, witnessed as many bridal
professions as April. Next to October, Mo-
vember and December, April May, and
June were the great marrying months. But
when July and August called the farmers
into the field and set the people T. wiping
the perspratlon from their brows, the we'd
dngs fell OFF In number. The last three
months of the year were most propitious
for marriage Then came the second three
then the third and at the bottom Of the list
the first three months. This order CORE
spends with the experience Of England
The average age of the brides and grooms
also maintains remarkable uniformity in
Massachusetts from year TO yenr. In 1877
however, the average age Of men marrying
for the first time Is very little in advance
OF that OF previous years. This increase Ii