St. Landry democrat., 1888-05-05

PERNiClOuS READING.
s@ngeT Lurking in Papers Devoted to
Matrimonial Advertising.

Matrimonial Advertising.
The publisher of a matrimonial adj
vertising sheets sends us copy upon
which he has written the following
memorandum: "Oyer five hundred
leading newspapers have occupied
from one to twelve columns each in
discussing (many in ridiculing) while
very few understand it. Please
read"
This is SO fair-seeming request
that in spite of the pressure on our
time-a pressure which the publisher
OF a weekly like the one referred to
can not probably comprehensive
have complied with it We have
''read;" and we think we can under
stand why many of the five hum
dred leading newspapers have occu-
pied some space in ridiculing the pub.
Hcation referred to. If they had read
it little more carefully they would
have found it too serious for ridicule
and would probably have condemned
it.
The paper in question purports to he
devoted to seekers of domestic happi-
ness" What it is really devoted to
seems to be the making of money out
of the silly, the foolish and the cranks
who believe in matrimonial advertis-
ing, and the wicked who find in sheet
which does such advertising an oppor-
tunity to ensnare the silly and foolish.
1t is filled, with the exception of a 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-
tisers give of themselves have all the
popularity of bill of sale or chattel
mortgage, and are quite as devoid OF
sentiment. One, for instance, de-
scribes herself as 'a widow of 80, 5 feet
4 inches in height, dark eyes, light
hair, weight 160pounds, well educated,
fair musician and fair housekeeper. y
She admits an incumbrance in the
shape of zone boy''-age, size and
weight not given-and wants to corre-
,spond with "a Western gentleman over
40, widower or bachelor" She closes
with the suggestion that she will be ga
dutiful wife to good man." Another
says she is "a neat little housekeeper'
who "is 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 27 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 ga widower of 45, having
property and income sufficient to sup
port wife, owning well-established
business in town where he is well
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
wife or husband is degrading and de-
moralizing. Our system Of marrying
and giving in marriage is bad enough
at it's 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 a pretense at least
in all cases-and the fact in a great
preponderance of cases-of mutual ac-
quaintance and of liking, If not of ro-
mantle attachment. Itmay be a lottery,
but there is a chance at least of drawing
prize, and, as a matter of fact, the
majority do draw prizes, In a 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 @e
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 an advertisement describing
fhe particular kind of a. husband want
ed, as one would describe carriage,
horse or. pug. No such woman in
deed would advertise for a husband.
What is true of the woman is true of,
the man.-Detrott Free Press, 4a..s s.a
The True Housewife.
Among the things that. money can
Al. L e