Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-04-17
MATRIMONY Y.
MARRIAGE IN AMERICA HAS HIGHER
BASIS THAN IN EUROPE.
Our Young Folks the Freest and Iappiest
of the worlds Youth-Wedlock In
Germany English Working
People-Sordid Matches.
Robert Laird Collier. !

Robert Laird Collier
However much is believed and pub
lished damaging to our reputation for So,
cial decency and high morality, | hav, a
most liked aud unchanging convection that
we are the ceanest, sweetest, and hottest
people socially ON the face of the earth
1t would be no more than the truth to say
that this social purity is one of the results
of our social customs. Our young people
are the frecst and happiest of the worlds
youth Our boys and girls are thrown to-
gether more in school. in society, and in
public places than the youth of any other
country and the matter of sex is less on.
sidered in their amusements and re rea-
tons. Growing out of the free life Of our
young people is the immensely important
fact that marriage in America, especially
among the middle classes has a holicr
basis and motive than is certainly the case
in any country of europe.
The lowest classes OF Germany marry
very generally and with but little regard
to the advantages and outcome of we'd
lock, but simply because 1t is tie custom
and because it is convenient and desirable
to have tier own homes. The French
are thrifty peo.le, and thrift is an ee.
ment entering into all they do. They sell
dom leap into matrimony. Indeed, among
all classes even to some extent among the
peasantry--marri is a matter of ar
rangement The parents for the most
part making the matches
Society in Eng land is one of castles and
classes. What applies to one caste or
class does not apply to the other castles or
classes For instance, the lower and
artisan classes are the most improN ident
of all working people of which | know
anything. " hen in England no aspect OF
81 F..
the unthriftiness of the working people,
though it were only matter of Il uay s
lark They have children born to them
without the least regard TO number or
provision for them They stick reliyiousy
to the creed that nod makes the children,
and that he will not send mouth with.
out food to ill it The poorest
couples seem to take pride in multiplying
their offspring and in replcnishng the
earth. TAe average family of u working
man, l should say, would be about eight
children. | speak from observation and
not as giving statistics These children
are usually as well taken care of as the
means OF the parents will justify They
begin to work in their tender years and
become bread winners and are out in the
world on their own account. while yet the
children OF all American working people
are in school The great body of this
class Of English children are very indie.
pendent, and early form their own asso.
Citations and rush into matrimonial ell.
gagements and alliances with but little
concern as to the future Or the fitness of
things.
The middle classes of England do not
quite go TO the opposite extreme, but con
siderations enter into the matter of mar
riage that VIC in this country would al
least affect to, deem most unworthy and
mischevOus Whatever else we may
consider in forming matrimonial relations
we always put forth but one supreme mo
tive We hold it to be the only true and
enduring law of marriage that no other
element should largely enter into the mo.
tive on either side. If we think otherwise
than this we never give articulation to
our thought.
But this does not hold true in England.
Love may be taken for granted Perhaps
it usually is But it is not matter tina
is discussed either between the contracting
parties themselves or their frinds.. Much
is said and openly said, about the familie.
and the relations, the capacities of tn,
man for getting on in the world, and tn,
amable and housewifely qualities of thu
woman. 1t may be matter of love, ant
| should say that it is universally helt
that il ought to be matter of love. but
all the same, marriage with the middle
and upper classes of England is also
matter OF business.
Courtships in England are short and en-
gagements are long. No sooner is it un
derstood that young man and younl
woman are in love than it is given out tha
they are engaged. The American custom
of leaving young men and women free t
associate together and to keep company
with each other for an indefinite length O
time without declaring their intentions, i
almost unknown in any country OF Europe
1t is not long after young man begins t,
show the daughter attentions before tn
father gives intimation that he wishes t.
know what it means and either the you'll
declares his intentions or is notife,
to "cut sticks Whatever the advan
tages of the English view of this matte
may have. 1t has, at least, one most OF
vOus disadvantage, and that is it leads t
engagements upon too short an acquaint
ance, and it makes of the engagement til
counting time rather than as mere prepa
ration for marriage When once engage
the young people are thrown together il
the freest fashion, and may he left t
themselves at all times and in all place
almost as though they were man and wife
In the general society of America mai
rage is deemed the vitality important even
in this life, but in English society the Ell
gagement is looked upon as the most i'm
portant and really is a sort of first stag
In matrimony, or the personal uniting O
the lives only awaiting the legal cere
mOny.
Care of a Watch.