The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-01-06
Decrease In Marriages.

comparative record of marriages
in the State Of Ohio has boon compiled,
which shows II remarkable decrease in
tho number during late years in pro-
portion to tho population. During tho
year preceding the War there were
over %, 600 marriages out OF q po, ula-
ton of about $4,000 The War re-
duccd this number 10 an average of
about 1900, and the return of peace
ran up the number to 0,479 This
largo increase denoted that there were
q good many faithful girls who waited
patiently Tor the young men to whom
they had pightcd their troth. After
that the average number of marriages
was about 26, 900 year for u number
of years; but following the panic of
1873 there was drop to 23. 4S9 Tho
revival Of business in 1882 WAS marked
by another increase to $4,000, but the
succeeding depression OF 1854 again re-
duccd the number to 28, 72O.
While these statistics indicate pretty
clearly that good times promote mar
riagcs and hard times dcprcss tho ma
trimOni:li rs we'll us other markets. il
is still more significant to note that tho
number OF marriages in proportion to
the population is very much smaller
than formerly. The annual average
before tho War was about one marriage
TO 100 inhabitants; tho samo proportion
nov would give $4,000 marriages per
annum, whereas tho average for tho
last five years has been only little
more than 29,UOJ. Fcwcr births are
recorded than twenty-five years ago,
though tho married population is 25
per cent larger.
These marriage statistics Of Ohio may
be accepted as dcnotiug an appreciablc
decline in the family life of this country.
Ohio occupies a middle ground be-
tween the lhickly settled Eastern States
and the newer States and Territories; it
Is one oi The most prosperous States in
the Union, and there is certainly us much
encouragement for domcS;icity there
as IN amy other portion OF the country.
III may be fairly assumed, therefore,
that If marriages and births arc de-
creaSing In Oho in proportion to the
population the same is true of other
States "nd even to n greater ,xtcnt i'm
some OF them. Tho tendency is GER
tainIy TO be dcplorcd. Hard times will
account for ialiingoff in tho number
OF marriages IN certain years, but will
not explain the decrease in the general
average. The drift OF modern ciyiliza-
ton in the crowded communities is to-
ward coliDacy. Tnc influences are nu-
mcrous. Among tho CLASSES who are
in comfortable circumstances and
ought 10 maintain modest, happy
homes there is II desire Tor display and
an indulgence i'll extravaganza which
warn young men against the response
bili,ics OF afamlIy Among the wealthy
classes y largo 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 Il formidable affair. Many othor
conditions could be named which are
deterrent in their influence on mar
riagcs. The anti-marriagc tendency is
especially TO be dcplorcd because it i'm
plies Increased immortality. 1t can
only be countcractcd by the cultivation
OF more moderate modes of family lifo
and the repression, SO far rs possible
OF social wees. = Chicago Tribune