Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-08-23
MODERN MARRIAGE,
AND THAT OF THE OLOEN TIME.
The Conditions Which Operate Against Ear
B Rariages-The Social Usage
in France-A Change for
the Worse.
From the New York Times.

were found, indeed, in every consldera-
BILE community, and they were often
marked by intellect, refinement, and
energy, but even these shining exam
pies OF celibacy were generally quoted
| in favor of marriage, and their loneli-
ness was taught to be sufficiently ex-
planned by the report and belief that
| they had been crossed in love, and that
therefore they remained single because
they could not helpit it. Marriages gener-
orally came very early IN lie, ana not
only sentiment but convenience favored
early wedding, since it was not easy LOT
a young man Of good taste and social
sympathy to find home at all to his
mind without wife TO be the heart OF
il. Hotels and boarding houses, as they
are now understood, hardly existed, and
| IL Young people wished TO leave the old
| homestead and 10 set up for themselves,
| the only way was by marriage and a
new home, where work was no harder
and the room and the prospects were
better than under the former dependence
and toll.
The dominant religion conceded with
the social usage, and the Puritan preach
ers never for moment suggested that
there is any peculiar sanctity in celibacy,
and they found the Scriptures from
Genesis TO Revelations full OF assurances
and symbols of the worth of marriage
as the legacy of Eden and the type OF
the mystical union of Christ with the
| Church. Literature worked upon public
opinion in the same direction, and Mil
ton and Cowper, Bunyan and Hannah
NJ 4 la nj
and saved our young people from the
corruption which went forth from the
drama and poetry and romance OF the
courts of Charles III. and Louis Nv. IN
the Old World, which made contempt
| for marriage to be the soul OF wit and
the life of fashion.
The habits OF society also favored early
marriages, and a young man who was
able to take good care OF himself could,
without rashness, ask young woman
of discretion to share his
| lot and TO take care OF his fru-
cal home. The wife, either by her own
industry or by her parents thrift, gen.
orally undertook TO furnish the house
with its simple and sufficient outfit, and
Gods providence, not in vain, was IN
voked to do the rest. In this way,
stout and powerful race was born and
bred, and the new generation went forth
rich in health and heart, and not poor
i'm the intelligence and pluck which are
the best means of living. The main
thing in the marriage was the character
of the persons married, and the public
opinion and conscience that did so much
to keep them strong and true.
II is not wise to cloak over present
conditions, vet who will deny that IN
certain respects our modern life has
changed ior the worse in its ideas and
usages, and that the change bears with
especial severity upon our American
people? In our time, habits OF expense
have far outgrown the means OF provi-
ding for them, and while women have
been constantly led TO give up the old
fashioned household industry and fru-
gality, thew have too often, with the
new gentility, formed tastes and associa-
tons which require an outlay beyond
the means of most of their own families,
and not encouraging TO young men who
are looking for wives TO help them for
ward i'm a reasonable home and an
honorable business or profession. Our
men, indeed, have q great deal TO do
with forming the expensive habits OF
women, for we have great pride In their
beauty and appearance, and We wish 10
DO everything in our power to make
them happy, and to bring out their
charms and graces. Yet the result often
works against them, by making homage
easier than love, and setting them up as
queens of fashion, while they would DC
happier and better as wives OF good nus
bands and homes.
Our American society has been rapid
w Europeanzed in both directions OF
married life, and our men and women
are seriously affected by the change.
Our men seem at first to be the greatest
sufferers, since the increased expense OF
married life makes it so much harder to
marry as early and cOngenially as they
wish. But our men do not suffer with
out having fair partners in their disap-
pointment, and the large number OF
worthy and attractive young women
who remain unmarried until their bloom
begins to fade might have had lot far
more To their mind, if the men who APP
preciate them had not been frightened
by the exactiOns of the fashion that pre-
walls.
To make the case stronger, we may
compare the old-fashioned American
marriage code with that OF French socle-
W. The American young man oil OLD
asked the girl whom he loved TO marry
him and to share his lot, alike IN its
sacri fees and opportunities. With due
thought and prudent preparation, she
consented and accepted the serious con-
ditions OF the new home, not expecting
any new round OF gayety or emanclpa-
ton. Both husband and wife expected to
work. and even il well-tO-do IN fortuLs
the wife never looked down upon the
cares of housekeeping or put upon ser
wants the sole charge OF Its economy,
either i'm sickness or in health. The
dominant idea was that the man mar
ried n a woman because he loved her
and she loved him, and they meant TO
stand by each other through lille. The
marriage of convenience, which Is COM
ing to us from European travel as well
as from French literature, is quite other
wise. 1t looks upon marriage in some
respects with Just caution, with keen
| eve to its cares and liabilities, yet with
more prudence than wisdom. 1t Is
more Ill lilt lllNClNSN VI iiiNAA NAis'h VI W.
men, since, while it offers to women
new liberties as wives, and frees them
from the bondage OF their girlhood, 1t
undertakes To insure men against the
financial risks of marriage, by requiring
sufficient dot from the vile to meet
her personal expenses, and sometimes
to maintain the husband himself IN the
style of gentility which looks upon all
work for living as degradation. 1t is
not difficult TO see the causes and, to
certain extent, the reasons, OF such
marriage code where life is made so easy
for unmarried men, and the economy OF
their expenses and the range OF their
indulgences tempt them to cellbacy that
il not chastity. But with all its gush
and frequent indiscretion, our Ameri-
can code is better, and We are not to
: -, Al, ,,,NJ oh conviction that