The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-08-24

Some people have positive mania
for matchmaking Whether from
want of better employment, or because
they believe, like Mrs. Jellyby. that
they have great and glorious mission.
they are never happier than when
scheeming and contriving to dispose
matrimonially of one or other of their
young acquaintance. They regard all
their unmarried friends. especially
their unmarried lady friends, with an
eye of compassionate solicitude; and
their ingenuity is continually on the
rack TO discover what they can do for
this. that, or the other. in the way of
providing him or her with partner for
life Like most other busy-bodies,
these missionary match-makers, as we
might call them. DO world OF mis-
chief. They NEEDLE, and plot, and
manage where they have no right
whatever to interfere. and are seldom
deferred by a sense OF responsibility
which attaches to any one influencing
and encouraging young people in such
a serious matter. On the contrary they
think nothing of ignoring. and even at
tempting to override, the opinion of
parents and others upon whom the
direct responsibility ought to devolve.
Match-makers of this description are
usually less concerned about the future
of their young friends than about the
diversion and excitement of certain
sort which they themselves derive from
the part they play in experimenting
and promoting the negotiations. and the
subsequent Importance they will be able
to assume as the persons who have
been mainly instrumental in bringing
about the match. So long as they are
enabled to play out their favorite game,
they bestow but little thought upon the
possible consequences. II the match
prove to be an unfortunate one, they
exhibit q remarkable facility in dis
claiming all responsibility. They re-
call the many words of counsel and of
caution they had given; and to hear
them speak, one would suppose that
they had done every thing in their
power to dissuade the young people
from marrying, instead of having done
all they could to encourage them. If,
however. the marriage is happy one.
they are seldom slow to claim a full
share of credit for the part they have
played, and find constant opportunities
to remind the young couple and their
friends how much all this present
felicity is due to their foresight and
sagacity.
No sensible person does voluntarily
undertake the Office of matchmaker.
Mothers with numerous following of
daughters have the Office thrust upon
them to a certain extent whether they
will or not; but theirs is a very differ
ent case from that of the person who
takes to matchmaking as a sort of
recreation or pastime, or, still worse,
as mission. 1t may be said that
mothers would 0ften be much better
employed. and would really be doing
more for the best interests of their
girls, if they devoted the same amount
of time to their education and instruc-
ton in household duties as they spend
in ''trotting them out" for the inspec-
ton and admiration of possible sons-in-
law. The rebuke, wherever merited-
as il no doubt is in some instances-is
perfectly just. But when a mother has
done her duty otherwise. a reasonable
amount of managing and maneuvring
on her part to provide her daughters
with husbands, is perfectly justifiabie.
She may feel tolerably certain that,
with or without her cognizance, some
sort of matchmaking, or, at all events,
Irritation is sure to occur; and that be-
ing 90. It Is undoubtedly better that