The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-18
LOVE IN A COTTAGE,


where but In novels; that, however, IL
pure nonsense.
Ii is one of the misfortunes Of our
higher state of civilization, our higher
education, enlarged tastes, and so forth,
that the path in life for young men and
maidens Of the middle ranks OF life, TO
those who belong to the professional
classes especially, has become exceeding
ly hard.
Competition in all the professions, and
indeed in business too, has become 80
keen that it is next to impossible fopa
young man to earn eight hundred year
till he is we'll over thirty, or thousand
year till he is past forty.
And eight hundred year means a
cottage, or rather small, pretentious,
and yet shabby house, with twelve feet
by sixteen of garden in front, and five
yards by thirty of dismal Enclosure be-
hind.
To bachelor, on the other hand,
eight hundred a year is wealth. Ii
means comfortable, even elegant rooms,
club subscription, the power of paying
visits and mingling freely in the society
which he prefers, besides the power of
laying by something against the rainy
day.
If he marries on that income, Disguise
the truth as he may. all these comforts
disappear. His next-door neighbors will
be people respectable enough, but in
capable of affording him any relief or
amusement by their society.
Books, indeed, and an occasional con-
cert, may be had, but the club must be
abandoned, and with il not only some
luxuries, but the companionship of men
of his own class, which is, after all, the
chief meaus of enlarging ones knowledge
and views OF life, and of keeping one
from sinking into slough of petty cares
and self.centered thoughts.
The man who proposes to marry on a
small income ought, by way of testing
himself. to take dingy rooms in a small
house tor six months, 10 accustOm him.
self to crying children. TO dine habitual
ly off cold roast mutton and lukewarm
potatoes, to abiure cabs, theaters and
cigars. and then ask himself seriously at
the end OF the half year whether he is
willing to live that sort of life for the
sake Of the girl he loves.
He may be sure of this, that if he is
not capable of enduring it while the
romance of courtship lasts, he is not
likely to enjoy it more in the sober every
day light of married life.
And, having made trial of the life of
a poor man, our intending bridegroom
would do well to consider whether the
young lady who has charmed him is ex-
actly the sort of girl to be happy in
the dull life of third-rate suburb, and
the narrow rooms of cheap house.
Can she give up, not necessarily her
music, bu. all the little elegancies which
have done so much 10 make her what
she is? Can she give help, not occasional
assistance, but regular, efectusl aid in
the kitchen and the nursery?
Il she ready to spend her afternoons
darning stockings or cutting out chill
dren's clothes, instead of going to ten
MS court or picnic?
Can she give up not only her accus-
toned style of dressing, but her friends?
for she will find it practically impossible
to keep up mountaineering with those
whose ways of living are totally different
from her Own3
And yet, in spite of all, nature is
stronger than prudence; love laughs at
poverty as he laughs 1T locksmiths.
All the wisdom in the world will not
hinder the human heart from loving the
loveable, and when love fills the heart it
will find expression somehow. If the
love is returned the emu is certain, and
love in cottage is the inevitable result.
There can be no doubt that if the hard
| fight with poverty and with the personal
deterioration which poverty too often
brings in its train can be successfully
maintained, a speedy marriage is better
than long engagement.
Nothing In a prosperous existence can
give the sweet sense of cOmradeship, of
trust in each other, which they who have
weathered the storm can enjoy.
The harder the fight the closer will
true hearts be drawn together.
The love that flies out at the window
| at the VOLTS snarl must have been but 4
weakling from the first
| All we contend for is, that young peo-
pie ought not to plunge into life of
comparative poverty without fully real
iziDg what it means, and, If possible,
gaining some insight into the life which
they propose to enter.
They can then judge whether their
love and their courage are equal to the
| task demanded of them.