The Clifton clarion., 1885-05-20
MATRIMONY.
Marriage iu America Has Higher
 Basis Than in Europe.


 published damaging to our repu- tation for social decency and high morality, I have a most fixed and unchanging conviction that we are the cleanest, sweetest and holiest people socially on the face of the earth. It would be no more than the truth to say that this social purity is one of the results of our social customs. Our young people are the freest and happiest of the worlds youth. Our boys and girls are thrown together more in school, in society and in public places than the youth of any other country, and the matter of sex is less considered in their amusements and recreations. Growing out of the free life of our young people is the immensely important fact that marriage in America, especially among the middle classes, has a holier basis and motive than is certainly the case in any country of Europe.
 The lowest classes of Germany marry very generally, and with but little regard to the advan- tages and outcome of wedlock, but simply because it is the GUS tom and because it is convenient and desirable to have their own homes. The French are a thrifty people, and thrift is an element entering into all they do. They seldom leap into matrimony. In deed, among all classes-even to some extent among the peasantry marriage is a matter for ar rangement, the parents for the most part making the matches.
 Society in England is one of castes and classes. What applies to one caste or class does not apply to the other castes or classes. For instance, the lower and artisan classes are the most improvldent of all working people of whom I know anything. When in England no aspect of its social life is so ever-present to me as the unthriftiness of the working people. They marry and are given in marriage as though it were only a matter of a days lark. They have children born to them without the least regard to number or provision. They stick religiouslJ to the creed that God makes the children, and that He will not send mouth without food to fill it. The poorest couples seem to take pride in multiplying their offspring and replenishing the earth. The average family of a workingman, I should say, would be about elght children. I speak from observation, and not as giving statistics These children are usually as well taken care of as the means of the parents will justify. They begin to work in their tender years and become bread winners, and are out in the world on their own account, while yet the children of all American working people are in school. The great body of this class of English children are very inde- pendent, and early form their own associations and rush into matrimonial engagements and all dances with but little concern as to the future or the fitness of things.
 The middle classes of England do not quite go to the opposite extreme, but considerations enter into the matter of marriage that we in this country would, at least affect to, deem most unworthy and mischievous. Whatever else we may consider in forming mat rimonial relations, we always put forth but one supreme motive We hold it to be the only true and enduring law of marriage that no other element should largely enter into the motive on either side. If we think other wise than this we never give artic- ulation to our thought.
 But this does not hold true in England. Love may be taken for granted. Perhaps it usually is. But it is not a matter that is dis cussed either between the con- tracting parties themselves or their friends. Much is said, and openly said, about the families and the relations, the capacities of the man for getting on in the world, and the amiable and house. wifely qualities of the woman. It