St. Paul daily globe., 1888-02-19
THE WHY AND WHEREFORE''
"A Young Man Speaks of the In
disposition of Young Men to

"A Young Man Speaks of the In
disposition of Young Men to
Wed.
TO the Editor of the Globe.
In last weeks issue of the SUNDAY
GLOBE | noticed an editorial entitled
'"The Why and Wherefore" rejecting
very deeply upon the general ineffi-
cheney of young men to make suitable
husbands. Although the article was
not partial in its criticisms, yet it ap-
peared to me to be slightly preiudiced,
and for that reason l shall strive to
make (perhaps weak) defense of the
young mans position. 1t has come to
be very common thing in these days
to read long communications in the pa
perS, and to listen to One-Sided lectures
from the pulpit On the follies of
young men, their fast habits and nu-
merous other sins, which, if we would
believe the words of editors and minis
ters OF the gospel, girls are guiltlesS of.
Your article was sound in many re-
spects, but was not the first Ole l have
read where the writer seemed to be
halting between two opinions.
Why does not my friend marry,
when he might win any young lady
for his bride? is a question one hears
asked very often, and l have thought
long and deeply on the subject myself.
Why do not young men marry
as they did in the generations
gone by? Mr.. Editor, it is not,
as you say, because of their inability
to settle down to married life? think
it is as you say, but in another sense.
Very few young men possess the ability
to settle down to the kind of home life
which most girls expect to lead. The
exalted idea which girls have of how
they should live in this fast age is
enough to forever put to flight any stray
thoughts of matrimony which may enter
the mind of the average young man.
Money is indeed at the bottom of the
whole question. Give young men more
money and there will be more mar
riages. When l say give men more
money l refer to those who work,
for it L am not mistaken it is
in the ranks of the toilers that we find
the least inclination to marry. A man
must earn large salary to support a
wife in these days. If man gets mar
ried he must hire somebody to keep
house for him. This is undeniable in a
majority of cases. We're l to marry,
should insist that my wife's own fair
hands prepare the tea table or the meal
enjoy it the better. l am a firm be-
lever in the powerful influence which
woman may WELD over man for
good OF evil-just as she wills it
therefore l believe the destiny of
the young men of to-day lies in
the hands of the girls. Where woman's
influence leads society, there man will
follow every time. Just as long as
woman's every want is supplied, every
whim gratified, just so long will mar
riages decrease. Then throw not the
blame on the young men of to-day; they
are blamed for enough, God knows.
Were the girls of to-day themselves
willing to make little sacrifice and be
content with less expensive clothes and
less jewelry, and give up little of their
passion for balls, theaters, and so on, a
man might find courage to look for wife
who knows something beside playing
piano without going into the country.
AS it is he has no home, and must find
Solace in something, so he seeks the sa-
loon, the club room OF the comfort of a
pipe or cigar.
AS society exists now I believe it to
be detrimental to the happiness of the
sexes to encourage matrimOny, and until
girls are willing to make some sacrifice
at the matrimonial altar and become
wives in fact, as well as in name, / be-
lieve it to be my duty, as we'll as the
duty OF every one, to discourage matri-
mOny in every sense of the word.
have written this with an honest desire
to defend the position of young men
from the attacks of the press and pulpit.
ii. 2. LAWRENCE.
Minneapolis, Feb. 5.