Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-05-06
Marrying Daughters OF.

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 man,
otherwise eligible, influenced the paren-
tai decision. For the most part, all the
evidence offered of man being scamp
or a prOfiigate is set aside as envy, ma
lice, and all uncharitableness; OF else
with the remark, swell, all young men
are wild; but they grow steady when
they are married" We once heard a
lady, in speaking of matrimonial
event just coming off. say, ''Capital
match; hrst-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 can choose; the ladies
must submit to be chosen, save in the
case of some remarkable belle who has
admirers at command. But these ad-
yantages 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 simpering dim
pied doll, while all companiOnable quail
ties, and that sunshine of the heart
which relieves the darkest while il adds
warmth to the brightest days of this
checkered life, are rarely even 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 pretty bar
gain that has caught our fancy in a
shOp-window, great is the disenchant-
ment when we have brought 1t 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
why2 They can indulge in a kind Of
conversation at which we should hope
that, in spite of French novels, the
single would turn away. Ii is strange
that the husbands should endure to see
their wives whisked and whirled and
dragged about, well knowing that the
so-called waltzing and galopading
always, unless unusually well done, de
generates into little better than unseen
ly TOmping, indeed no one would be
heye even in its innocence if seen where
we seriously believe it would not be
tolerated, in Piccadilly saloon. a
tact: dreSSmaker who had seen from
an orchestra the dancing now In fashion,
when asked by lady next day how she
had been entertained, replied: II 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 scenes as these,
least of all in the new fashionable cos
tune Of skirt and 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
4 sphere. Granted they may enjoy it,
and you may enjOy it ton. If so, be
happy in your own way. Only for ''in-
PRODUCING" your daughters, and looking
to the main chance, we cannot reeOm-
mend such society.