The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1888-02-15
MARRYING FOR MONEY.
MARION HARLhND ON MATRIMONIAL
FORTUNE HUNTERS.


Girls Who Havo "Married weII'--Th,
Folly of Marrying Upon Nothing uus
bands on Allowances from Wiyes--Th,
Sin of Marrying for Fortune.
Some things which are done by reputa
bic people are acknowledged by nobody.
When Thackeray, with his character.
istic violation of conventional expedien.
cy, made Henry Esmond say, with naive
seriousness, of Lady Castleton, "She
had been listening at the door," howl
OF reprobation arose from critics Of both
sexes, professional and amateur. He
had lowered the object of his alteration
below the average of common cham
bermaid-or so it was declared. When
Mrs. Candor ayers unblushingly, "My
eye caught sentence in the open letter
that aroused my curiosity, and / read
the whole of it," her bosom friend,
although delectated by the scandal re-
vealed by the act, must look shocked
and murmur deprocatingly, or suffer in
her own estimation. Whom Amelia can
not refrain from whispering to Rosaio
the secret contided to her undcr q
solemn promise of secrecy by Eugenia
science by saying: cit was told me in
strictest confidence; but you know, dear,
don't consider that l violate my pledge
by limiting it to you, from whom / hide
nothing"
The queer part of tho laboriously
acted farce is that the only person de-
celved Is the sinner herself Lady Cas-
tleton's eayesdropping did not burden
her sweet white soul. Mrs. Candor SAYS
boldly: "Anybody else would have done
the same in the same circumstances. 4"
If she be shrewd she adds: THE only
difference between people with charac-
ters and without, is in the amount they
confess" Amelia does not avoid be.
trayed Eugenia's eyes at their next meet
ing, says her prayers with heart as
single and voice as devout as if Rosalio
were not privately convicting hor of
perjury.
So-whoevor did marry for money?
The thing is so odious, the treachery,
sacrilege-so abominable that no
man or woman who cares for reputation,
or has even a nominal regard for social
decencies, will admit tho charge at tho
tribunal OF self-coLaciousness.
THE TITLE OF "FoRTUNE-uUNTEk''
is as libelous as that of "coward," and
he who deserves it exerts ingenuity and
glozes over circumstantial evidence in
intros. ctive reflection to clear his soul
of theh igma.
The heircss of his selection has really
no present fortune as the daughter of a
mi -, a
long run. Or, if she hold her wealth in
her own right, she would be prize were
she penniless.
In that unlucky event he would have
controlled his manly affections as the
whole world knows and says sneeringly
behind his back, however he may hood
wink himself. The right of a man to
fall in love with rich girl or the child
OF wealthy house, is as patent as King
Cophetua's to- WOO the beggar maid.
Cupid's freaks may as we'll take one turn
as another. In the teeth of the doughty
assertion, the world continues to shrug
significant shoulders.
To shrug and sneer and snarl, and yet
become, with parents and friends, acces.
sorry to tie unholy commerce.
"Dinna wed for siller's sake. 'Twad
be unco' sinful, ye ken," said pious
pCOtCn IhtDtT 10 Ills BOD. But SEQ to 1t
that ye gaze where siller is!'
we may feel n twiDge of regret, but
we have ceased to be shocked when we
hear the marriage of two ardent young
people spoken of AS ga genuine old
fashioned love match, such as one sell
dom hears Of in this day." Nor arc we
rightc ously indignant at the compasson-
ate smile that accompanies tho implied
slur.
One direct question will provo tho
truth of the assertion. What do we
mean when we say that girl has "mar.
ried well?" Given q tolerably suitable
age, fair character. health and DISPOSE
tion, the commendation has but one
generally accepted interpretation, as any
candid reader will admit
/ heard an eminent theologian use the
words the other day, in answer to con-
gratulations ON his daughters msrriage
"Sbe has, indeed, married magnin.
cently!' he subjoined aside to an init.
mate friend. ~ could ask nothing bet
tor for her, thank God"
Meeting the son-in-law subsequently,
the friend saw an uneducated man of
mean stature, ignoble visage, boorsh
department, and less than mediocre in
tellect. But he has inherited tho mil.
enough to turn them over to advantage.
Another bridegroom was SO repulsiye
in aspect that one revolted at tho con
trast with his fair, majestic bride. He
wore wig, and his senile grin would
have been less disagreeable had he en-
pioyed dental skill also; he was squat in
figure; his scanty beard was a griz2led
red, his face mottled and freckled into
tho complexion OF q gooseberry roley.
policy, and he was thirty years his wife's
senior.
eve feel very happy about our darl-
ing" said the tender mother, with glis-
tening eyes. "She has chosen more
iudiciously than do most girls of her
age"
The father, as well pleased, expressed
his satisfaction in different sort.
"Not much to look at" he admitted
to orony, "but he has at least ten
Ahnuaand 1nIiapa for auapu Gee akIaW