The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-09-05
MATRIMONIAL.
Why the Decline of the Estate Is So
Marked At the Present Time.


Marked at the Present Time.
The present extravagant way of living
probably has much to do with the pres
eat falling off in the matrimonial field.
Girls brought up to every luxury, men
with no idea of honest work, but only
Of pampering their own luxurious tastes,
are not the people to join hands for the
tremendous responsibilities of wedlock
and the vicissitudes of life. What in
the name of all that's reasonable could
the modern dude do to support family
in comfortable circumstances, or more,
to keep the wolf from the door? But
he has no thought of matrimony; he
puts all his small brain upon the fit of
his clothes and the insip:dity of his
drinks. He enjoys the society of ladies;
oh, yes! he affects the girls very much,
but into his small heart there never
creeps more than milk-warm liking
for them. And the girls! Let them be
ever so idly brought up, let their minds
be carefully weeded of all germs of
common sense as they grow. yet there
is an innate love of the noble in every
girls heart that would forever prevent
her from falling in love with dude;
but if she did happen to. there is not
one dude in thousand would have the
courage to find it out. And again, the
higher education of women makes them
more independent, more capable of a
choice. With it their happiness is more
in their own hands, and thus it is
found that most divorces are among
the class of people who still
hold to the custom of an idle life
for women. In olden times, to marry
was considered almost as sure fate as
to die. The farmers rosy daughter
spun the flax or patted the butter into
shape with sweet smile playing about
her pretty lips, for soon she knew she
would in her own home pat her own
butter and spin her own flax. In the
city, the belle lounged through the day
among flowers and perfumed notes from
many adorers, unable to decide which
should be her choice, yet positively
certain of choosing one. But in '.ye
olden time" it was considered point of
extreme honor to be true TO ones sweet
heart. If one were false to every one
else. one must be true to ones lover. In
these days honor is almost a lost art.
To be able to deceive is considered an
evidence of greatest excellence. To
believe what one is told, to trust the
honor of given word, is considered as
almost imbecile innocence and SIM
plicity. To-day there is no considera-
ton but advantage. Will it be a step
further on in a worldly way, is the
question which presents itself. Some
times the answer is positively in the
negative, if l may be allowed the term,
and very often it is doubtful. The love-
after-marriage literature of the day Is a
fair sign of the times. To marry for
advantage or convenience, and after
ward to love ''for loves sake only" is
the most accepted plot of the more
recent works. And this reacts upon
society with subtlety equal to that of
the flower pollen which has been dis
covered by DIR. Mackenzie to be the
cause of hay-fever. One can not see its
action. yet the result is there. The want
OF trust and sanctity in the marriage
tie, the free opening to women of other
interests and sources of happiness, and
her increasing ability to stand alone.
are some of the causes which are filing
our land with single, but capable and
useful women.-Margaret Madden.