The Portland daily press., 1882-12-23
Matrinony.
Some Things, New and Old, About
Match-Making.

1t is recorded of an ancient sage, says
London correspondent, that on being asked
at what period of his life a man ought to
marry, he replied: 'When he is young, it
is too soon; when ;he is old it is too late 2
Discouraglng as such an answer may be con-
sidered, it still leaves the question open as
far as middle-aged individuals are concern
ed; whereas the matrimonial aspirations of
these, as well as juvenile and sshors d'age,
would-be Benedicts are summarily and an
compromisingly checked by the oft-quoted
prohibitory monosyllable siDon'tp' That
marriage is lottery more suggestive of
blanks than prizes, is, we believe, generally
allowed and the possibility of this drawback
being admitted, it would be admitted, it
would be unreasonable to blame the candi-
date for the happy state if he looks before
he leaps, and weighs well the pros and cons
of the undertaking ere he irrecoverably
commits himself. Every one is not so for
tunate in his choice as the painter Charlet.
who tells us that on his first interview with
the woman destined to become his wife. he
found her engaged in the homely but prac-
teal employment of darning stockings,
"Mine are always in holes,' he reflected,
and his Renaissance of bachelor discomfort
decided the matter, he proposed, was ac-
cepted, and as he conscientiouslv adds.
never had cause to regret it.'
1t is, moreover, melancholy fact that
young men of the present day are less i'm
pulsive and more calculating than--if tradi-
tional reports are to be credted-they form
erly were, and are rarely inclined to barter
their liberty except for proportionate "quid
pro quo" Love in cottage has long been
an exploded myth, and the pleasant fallacy
that where one can dine two can, only re-
quires few months trial. to be at once and
forever disproved. We are gradually-al-
though not perhaps without protest--adopt-
ing the usage in vogue among our neighbors
across the channel, and accustoming our
selves to regard matrimony as an 'affair''
not to be entered upon lightly, but demand
ing the fullest and most mature elaboration.
like Tallerand, we are inclined to distrusJ
first impressions, although not precisely for
The reason alleged by that astute diplomast
Many youngimen who willingly succumb
to the attraction of pretty face, and plunge
unhesitatingly into a filtration on every
available opportunity, yet, however closely
they may fiutter around the candle, take es-
pecial care not to burn their wings, while on
their side, the fair ladies, we may be sure,
are equally cautious as to the amount Of en-
couragement they may safely venture to be-
stow. When we read in the Morning Post,
or Court journal, that marriage has been
arranged between Lord Fitz Ararat and
Miss Pamela Geldwechsel, only daughter
and heiress Of Ezra Geldwechsel. ESQUIRE,
of Lothbury and Mayfair, we may be NOR
ally certain that some matchmaking duen-
liza has had finger in the pie; and by her
persuasive reasoning has induced the noto-
riously impecunious patrician to regard
with favorable eye the somewhat shabby
acquired dowry of his affi..nced bride. With
out her aid lie would in all human proba-
bility have continued to vegetate on an in.
come barely sufficient for his "button- holes''
and cigarettes; while Miss Pamela, notwith-
standing her half-million, would in equal
likelihood have forever remained outside
the social pale, beyond which for an unac.
credited parvenue there is no passing