Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-06-19
pERNloIous READING.
Danger Larkins in Psn.,. 49,
matrimonial Advartt.s

tf ~SciNSs
oA.ssr Larsins ia Paper. n.vo... :.
| matrimonial Advertislnr.
The publisher of matrimo,;., -
vertising sheets sends us = conv na -,
which he has written the followipo
memorandum: Over five hundred
.eading newspapers have occupied
from one to twelve columns each in
discussing (many in ridiculinp) wbila
very lew understand it Please
read" a'o
ms is SO fair-seeming a request
that in spite of the pressure on our
tme-a pressure which the publisher
OF a weekly like the one referred to
can not probably comprehend--w
nave complied with it. We have
read; and we think we can under.
stand why 'many" OF the five hun.
ared leading newspapers have occu-
pea some space in ridiculing the pub
,cation referred to. lfthey had read
'a little more carefully they would
nave found it too serious for ridicule
and would probably have condemned
Inc paper in question purports to be
devoted to seekers OF domestic happi-
ness What it is really devoted to
seems TO be the making Of money out
u the silly. the foolish and the cranks
who believe in matrimonial adyertis-
ing, and the wicked who find in sheet
which does such advertising an oppor-
unity to ensnare the sillv and foolish.
1t Is filled. with the exception of few
columns devoted to self-exploitation
and specious pleading in behalf of this
miserable method of bringing marriage
about, with advertisements, or what
purport to be such, Of men and women
who want partners in wedlock.
The descriptions which the adver-
Users give of themselves have all the
popularity of bill of sale or a chattel
mortgage. and are quite as devoid of
sentiment One. for instance, de-
'cribes herself as "a widow of 80, s feet
I inches in height. dark eyes. light
hair. weight 100 pounds. well educated,
tair musician and fair housekeeper.
She admits an incumbrance in the
shape of lone boy"-age. size and
weight not given-and wants to CORE
pond with "a Western gentleman over
40, widower or bachelor" She closes
with the suggestion that she will be "a
1utiful wife to good man." Another
says she is "a neat little housekeeper"
who lis willing to display her abilities
in making home happy but how can
she (she asks unless some good. true.
temperate man over 45 whom she could
love proposes?
Another, on the masculine side of
the paper. describes himself as '.gen-
tleman of 81 years, five feet seven in
ches, fair complexion. not much money.
but true and honest heart" He
neither smokes. chews or drinks
whisky; and does not say what vice he
does patronize in place Of these. Still
another is "a widower of 45. having
property and income sufficient to sup
port wife, owoing a well-ostablisheu
business in n town where he is we'll
known and can give the best of refer
ences." He wants 1.-THE acquaintance
of lady of suitable age who has no
CHILDREN"
1t can hardly be necessary to say to
intelligent, right minded readers that
this whole notion of advertising for a
wife or husband is degrading and de-
moralizing Our system of marrying
and giving in marriage is bad enough
at its best resulting as it so often does
in ill-sorted unions, which the courts
are compelled to break. 1t is infinitely
better. however. than system which
has its foundation in the matrimonial
bureau There is pretense at least
in all cases-and the fact in great
preponderance of cases--of mutual ac-
quaintanee and of liking, if not of ro-
mantle attachment. ltmay be lottery,
out there is n chance at least of drawing
prize, and, as matter OF fact the
majority do draw prizes. In system
of marriage upon the bargain and sale
theory embodied in the advertisement
plan it is inevitable that the vast ma
jority must draw blanks.
No woman of real refinement with
right views of the married state, its
meaning and its responsibilities, could
content herself with man who would
answer mn advertisement describing
the particular kind of a husband want
ed. as one would describe a carriage,
horse or pug. No such woman in
deed would advertise for husband.
What is true of the woman is true OF
the an.-DetroR Free Press.