The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-11-12
Decrease i'm Marriages.

A comparative record of marriages
in the State of Ohio has been compiled,
which shows a remarkable decrease in
the number during late years in pro-
portion to the population. During the
year preceding the War there were
over $4,000 marriages out of popula-
ton Of about $780, 900. The War re-
duced this number to an average of
about l9, 500, and the return of peace
ran up the number to 80. 479 This
large increase denoted that there were
good many faithful girls who waited
patiently for the young men to whom
| they had plighted their troth. After
that the average number of marriages
was about &c. 600 q year for number
of years; but following the panic of
1878 there was drop TO %, 4S9. The
revival of business in 1882 was marked
| by another increase to 80, 600. but the
succeeding depression of 1884 again re-
duced the number to 2S.720.
| While these statistics indicate pretty
clearly that good times promote mar
riages and hard times depress the ma
| trimonial as well as other markets, it
is still more significant to note that the
number of marriages in proportion to
the population is very much smaller
| THAI formerly. The annual average
! before the ar was about one marriage
| to 100 inhabitants; the same proportion
now would give 80, 500 marriages per
annum, whereas the average for the
| last five years hiss been only little
more than $4,000. Fewer births are
recorded than twenty-five years ago,
though the married population is 25
per cent larger.
| These marriage statistics of Ohio may
be accepted as denoting an appreciate
decline in the family life of this country.
Ohio occupies a middle ground be-
! tween the thickly settled Eastern States
and the newer States and Territories; it
| is one of the most prosperous States in
the Union, and there is certainly as much
encouragement for domesticity there
as in any other portion of the country.
| 1t may be fairly assumed, therefore,
that if marriages and births are de-
creasing in Ohio in proportion to the
population the same is true of other
States and even to a greater extent in
some of them. The tendency is GER
tainly to be deplored. Hard times will
account for falling-off in the number
of marriages in certain years, but will
not explain the decrease in the general
average. The drift of modern civiliza-
ton in the crowded communities is to-
ward celibacy. The influences are nu-
merous. Among the classes who are
in comfortable circumstances and
ought to maintain modest, happy
homes there is desire Tor display and
an indulgence in extravaganza which
warn young men against the response
bilities of a family. Among the wealthy
classes large proportion of the young
men acquire habits which divert their
attention from marriage. As our cities
grow in population the proportion of
poor people increases. and marriage,
with its attendant expenses of family,
is formidable affair. Many other
conditions could be named which are
deterrent in their influence on mar
riages. The anti-marriage tendency is
especially to be deplored because itim-
plies increased immortality. 1t can
only be counteracted by the cultivation
of more moderate modes of family life
and the repression, so far as possible
of social vices Chicago Tribune.