The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-08-02
Of Marriage in England.


One of the reasons that NAV be as
signed for the growing popularity of
marriage is the increased amount of
liberty permitted to both the parties
in the matrimonial contract. For the
lady, marriage is signal of emanGpa-
ton. For the husband itdoes not uni
formly mean the surrender of his lib
berty. Young unmarried women have
no chance against their married riv-
ais, and the consequence is that the
tone of girls who are ambitious of be-
ing wives is distinctly lower than it
used to be. The nymphS who desire
to don with as little delay as possible
the myrtle and orange flowers, the
lace and tulle, assume an eXtraordi-
nary faStneSS, and, in their toilets and
other matters, emulate the tactics and
wileS Of those who have already
invested their finger with the con-
nubial circlet. Thus it may be
truthfully said that the social
adyantal es which marriage con!ers
are indirectly not of unmiXed benefit
to the marriageable portion of the
feminine community. In other words,
because our wives enjoy themselves
more our daughters seek to con-
troll themselves less. The change,
no viewer, that has taken place
in the general estimate of
the conditions and obligations OF
marriage is due quite as much to ex-
tra-matrimOnial as to matrimonial
causes. The whole domestic system
of the English people has changed
during the last three or four decades.
There is no kind of domestic tie
which has not, to some extent, re-
Taxed its hold. Families undergo the
inevitable disintegrating process at an
earlier period in their corporate eX-
istence than used to be the case. Pa
rents find that, in the crush and lever
of social competition, they can see
comparatively little of their offspring
The duties which fathers and mothers
were once careful themselves to
discharge are now Vicariously
performed by governeSses, nurses,
SchOolmasterS and tutors. Yet,
greatly as life has multiplied its ex-7
elements, monotOny is still one of its
banes. Because the claims of society
are more numerous and exacting, it
is not, unfortunately, that society it
self is more enjoyable. In this way
it comes to pass that husband and
wife, in an ever-increasing degree,
pursue independently their own
course, and the principal of conjugal
liberation is guilty ated at the expense
of conjugal fidelity. The augmenta-
ton of cases in the divorce court is
said to be due to the popularity of the
tribunal, not among the upper, but
the lower, classes of society. Hence
it is argued the former are, notwith-
standing any appearances which
might seem to Warrant a contrary
conclusion, officially superior to the
latter. Would it not, as matter of
fact, be more true to say that the we'll
TODD understand better and practice
more consistently the doctrine of re-
ciprocal forbearance?
Under these circumstances moth
ing can be more unlikely than rat a
political refOrmer will be tempted to
lay sacrilegious hands upon the
institution of marriage. The subject
is one which does not come within
the purview Of legislation. There is
no specific benefit to be conferred or
grievance to be redressed, and any
attempt to lessen the responsibilities
of marriage, WoulC be fOiled by the
public opinion Of country. Mar
riage in the prese day means the
extension and the, emphasis of the
opportunities whic are at the diSpo-
sal of two persons to be comfortable
or uncomfortable, happy or miserable,
as the case may be. A REIMBURSEMENT
of the law in the sense which radical
ism is said to contemplate could not
produce any compromising good.
A ter all. it is not merely
the fear of scandal, but
the humiliation of publishing to
the world that two people have hope
lessly bungled existence which keeps
number of men and women other
wise well qualified for it out of the
divorce court. Once make that tri-
bunal easier of access han it now is,
or provide fresh machinery which
will accomplish all that this tribunal
does, and a positive premium would
be placed upon matrimonial feudS of
the most irreconcilable and, as theV
would frequently prove, of the most
fiimsy kind. Some husbands and
wives continue lovers throughout
their life. Others are mutually en-
raptured at first and mutually bored
afterward. Others, on the contrary,
failing during the early years of their
partnership to accommodate them
selves to each other, hit off an admira-
BILE modus operandi little later. but
in no one of these instances can it
be supposed thas any limitation of
the matrimonial contract would tend
to improve it's terms while it was in
legal existence. For the majority of
husbands and wives wedlock is a So
cial and moral discipline. The quail
ties which it develops in either are
exactly those that are useful. and in
deed necessary in other relations of
life. This is not the romantic view
to take Of marriage, but it is sound
and practical one, and so long as mar
riage remains good working insti-
tuition, no attempt to curtaiI it or to
shear it of any of its honor is likely
to be made, or, if made, to prove eff
fectual.