The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1885-04-26
More aud More Bachelors.

A Hartford correspondent gave US the other
day very striking account Of the spread
OF cclibacy among tho Connecticut men.
Formerly a bachelor OF thirty or more was
n marked individual, and especially in tho
smaller towns was subjected to both ridicule
and ccnsure. Public opinion was offended
when a man went much beyond tho mar
rlaGeable age without taking q wife, and he
was pretty sure to become n butt or an object
OF suspicion among his nciRhbors.
But now oil that Ia changed wherever
there are not many foreigners In a commun-
ty There Is IN actual and a proportionate
decrease In tho number Of marriages, and
tho falling or WAS greater last year than
ever before. The town clerks sny that Mt
least ohc-half OF tho young men between 81
and 30 arc unmarried, whereas formerly uine
In ten married before they were &c.
or course tho reason for this disposition to
put OF marriage Is the conviction OF tho
young men that they can accumulate more
money or get more personal comfort by 30
delaying. They do not want to DO hampered
by wife and family while they are laying
the foundations OF fortune. but are waiting
until they Gct incomes largo enough to en-
able them to 1.-Two nicely. The longer they
walt. tho less are they disposed to assume
matrimonial responsibilities, for few OF them
get the amount OF money they think they
need to support q family, and their per.
sonal wants are likely to 70 on increasing
with their incomes
This state Of things is not at all peculiar to
Connecticut. Throughout Now England the
ago at which mon marry Is growing greater,
II tho foreign population DO excepted, and
the number OF those who remain single
through life Is large, and continually In
creases. Tho towns are full not only OF old
maids, but OF bachelors too; aud instead Of
being tho butt OF rdlcule, young man who
rcfrains from marriage until he Is we'll settled
In life is looked upon as sensible and pru-
dent fellow.
The same disposition to delay marriage or
to keep out OF 1t altogether Is strlkingly dis
played In New York, where tho number OF
clubs and OF club members has greatly In
creased OF late years because Of 1t. These
young men are able to get luxurIes and ele-
gances at their clubs which they could
not expect to provide at their own
homes II they were married, and they
would rather forego marriage than give them
up. 1t would DO all very well II they could
get wives with portions which permitted the
continuance Of such self.inlulgence, but few
OF them are able to do that. Al bachelors
they can 1.-Two OF the fat Of the land, dress
with elegance, and enjoy social gayeties, to |
which they know that they are welcomed
with the more eagerness because they are
single. As married men their incomes would
force them to live with the closest economy,
or what they would regard az such.
Tho consequence Is that the number of |
bachelors is proportionately far greater than
formerly. And yet how can young men with
stand the Incompatible loveliness OF the girls |
OF this day2 What Is tho sacrifice OF a few |
superficial luxuries compared with the glory |
OF winning such enhancing beings as brides? |