The Penn's Grove record., 1885-05-02
marrying Daughters ON

In France the parents make the
match. If not as ostensibly, yet no less
really is this often done in England
1t is not the man, but the maintenance
which is uppermost IN the parental
thoughts. 1t is painful to reflect, while
taking a survey of the matches of fifty
years. experience, how rarely we. ever
could detect that the character of a man,
otherwise eligible, influenced tue paren-
tai decision. For the most part, all the
evidence offered of a man being a scamp
or a prOfigate is set aside as envy, ma
lice, and all uncharitableness; or else
with the remark, swell all young men
are wild; but they grow steady when
they aIe married" We once heard a
lady, in speaking of a matrimonial
event just coming off, say, "Capital
match; irst-rate chance for Ellen. Not
at all the sort of man we all know, that
she ever intended to marry; but not
one woman in twenty does get that"
Certainly in this men have an advan-
tage, for they al choose; the ladies
must submit to be chosen, saw in the
case Of some remarkable belle who has
admirers at command. But these ad-
vantages on the side Of the gentlemen
are less than they seem. Their choice
is anything but free, as far as reason is
concerned. They are the victims of a
natural illusion. They choose from the
charm and fancy Of the hour; or the
pride of possessing some Lady Clara
We're de We're, or some sfmperiDg dim
pied doll, while all companionable quail.
ties, and that sunshine of the heart
which relieves the darkest while it adds
warmth to the brightest days of this
checkered life, are rarely eve named
among men as the motive of their
choice. Truly marriage is the door
that leads deluded mortals back to
| earth" and, as with many a pretty bar
gain that has caught u fancy in a
shop-window, great is the disenchant-
ment when we have brought it home.
The married ladies in the ballroom
are the pests of the poor mammas. They
have attained the object of all balls and
dancing, and yet they have not the
grace to feel for and give place to young
girls who sit in rows against the wall.
Men prefer the married women and
| why? They can indulge in a kind OF
| conversation at which we should hope
that, in spite of French novels, the
single would turn away. 1t is strange
that the husbands should endure to see
their wives whisked and whirled and
dragged about, well knowing that the
so-called Waiting and galopading
| always, unless unusually well done, de-
generates into little better than unseen.
ly romping, indeed no one would be-
lleye even in its innocence if seen where
we seriously believe it would not be
tolerated, in a Piccadilly saloon. A
fact: a dressmaker who had seen from
an orchestra the dancing now In fashion,
when asked by a lady next day how she
had been entertained, replied: 81 sup
pose it is all right in high life, but in
our line of life no young men would
dare to take such liberties with young
women" No. madam, your daughters
prospects never can be the better for
being exposed to such genes as these,
least Of all in the new fashionable cos
tune of a skirt and a pair Of shoulder
straps. 1t is not the sensuous, but the
sentimental, that should prevail. The
free and easy dancer, not the graceful
young lady Of proper dignity and self
respect, takes the lead In a modern ball
room, and foolish it is for the really
modest and reserved to compete in such
a sphere. Granted they may enjoy it,
and you may enjoy it too. If so, be
happy in your own way. Only for sim
PRODUCING" your daughters, and looking
to the main chance, WI cannot recon-.
mend such society.