The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-02-25
u. Crease in Marriages.

comparative record Of marriages
iu the STATE vi Olio has been compiled.
which shows y remarkable decrease in
the number during late years in pro-
portion to The roru.alion. During tho
year prccedin. The War there were
over %. GOO marriages out OF Il potula.
ton of about 2,34D.0 600 The War re-
duced this number 10 an average Of
about 19, 800, AMI tho return of peace
ran up the number To 1914 This
large increase denoted that there were
Il good many faithful girl, who waited
patiently tor the young men to whom
they had PHI ,htcd their troth. After
that the average numper of marriages
was about &c. 900 Il year for a Number
of years; but following the panic OF
1873 there was drop 10 IS. 1S9. The
revival of business in 1882 WIS marked
by another increase 10 80. 500. bit the
succeeding depression OF 1884 again re-
duccd the number 10 2S. 720.
While these statistic; indicate pretty
clearly that good times promote mar
riages and hard times depress the ma
trimouial rs well rs other markets, it
is still more significant TO note that the
number ot marriages in proportion to
the population Is very much smaller
thaa formerly. The annual average
before the War was about one marriage
to 100 inhabitants; the same proportion
now would give 1880 marriages per
annum, whereas The average for the
last FIVE years has been only little
more than 29,00) Fewer births arc
recorded than twenty-five years ago.
though the married population is rs
per cent larger.
These marriage statistics Of Ohio may
be accepted as dcnoting an appreciablc
decline in the family life Of this country.
; OHIO occupies u middle ground be-
tween the thickly settled Eastern States
and the newer States and Territories; it
is one OF tho 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 ONO in proportion to the
| population tho same is true of other
| States and even to greater oxtcnt in
some of them. The tendency is GER
tainly to be deplored. Hard times will
account for faliing-off in the number
OF marriages in certain years, but will
not explain the decrease in the general
average. Tho drift of modern civiliza-
ton in the crowded communities is to-
ward celibacy. The influences are nu-
merous. Among the classes who are
F.! in comfortable circumstances and
/ ought to maintain modest, happy
! homes there is a desire for 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.
I. with its attendant expenses Of family.
is . formidable affair. Many othcr
conditions could be named which are
deterrent in their influence on mar
riages. The anu-marriage tendency ID
especially to DO deplored because itim.
plies increased immortality. 1t can
only be counteracied by the cultivation
| OF more moderate modes of family life
and the repression. SO far Us possible
| of social vices - Chicago 7'ri5xae.