Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-01-07


A comparativ" record of marriages
in the State of Ohio has been compiled,
which shows remarkable decrease in
the number during late years in pro-
portion TO the population. During the
year preceding the War there were
over 20. 600 marriages out OF popula-
ton Of about 2, 340.0D0 The War re-
duced this number 10 an average of
about 1880. and the return of peace
ran up the number to 30,479. This
large increase denoted that there were
a good many faishful girls who waited
patiently Tor the young men to whom
they had pliehled their troth. After
that the average number of marriages
was about &c, 600 a year for number
OF years; but following the panic of
1873 there was q drop to %. 489. The
revival of business ia 1882 Was marked
by another increase to 30, 600, but the
succeeding depression OF 1884 again re-
duced the number to %, 100
While these statistics indicate pretty
Clearly that good times promote mar
riages and hard times depress tho ma
trimonlal as well as other markets, il
is still more significant to note that the
number of marriages in proportion to
the population is very much smaller
THAI formerly. The annual average
before the War MAS about one marriage
to 100 inhabitants; the same proportion
now would give -, 500 marriages per
aanum, whereas the average for the
last five years has been only little
more than $4,000. Fewer births are
recorded than twenty-five years ago,
though the married population is %
per cent larger.
These marriage statistics of Ohio may
De accepted as denoting an appreciable
decline in the family life of this country.
Ohio occupies middle ground be-
tween the ihickly settled Eastern States
and the newer States and Territories; it
is one OF the most prosperous States in
the Union. and there is certainly us 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 Ohio in proportion to the
population the same is true of other
States and even to q greater rxtent in
some of them. The tendency is GER
tainly to be deplored. Hard times will
account. for falling-off in the number
OF marriages in certain years, but will
not explain the decrease in the general
average. The drift of modern civiliza-
ton in the crowded communities is to-
ward celibacy. The influences are nu-
merous. Among the classes who are
in comfortable circumstances and
ought TO maintain modest happy
homes there is 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,
with its attendant expenses of family,
is = formidable affair. Many other
conditions could be named which are
deterrent in their influence on mar
riages. The anti-marriage tendency is
especially to bo'deplored because it i'm
plies increased immortality. 1t can
only be counteractcd by the cultivation
OF more moderate modes of family life
and the repression, so far as possible
of social vices. Chicago Tribune.