The Irish standard., 1888-02-18
MARRYING FOR MONEY
A Charge of : Which = Many Are
Guilty, But Few Will
Acknowledge.
GIRLS WHO HAVE MARRIED WELL.
Some Plain Facts For Fortune-H Hunt
ers to Ponder
Over.
GIRLS WHO HAVE MARRIED WELL
Copyrighted 1883. J

copyrighted 1882
! Some things which are done by repu
table people are acknowledged by no
body.
When Thackeray, with his character
istic violation CT conventional expe
diency> made Henry Esmonde say
with naive seriousness, of Lady Cas-
tleton, 'sShe had been listening at The
door," a howl of reprobation arose
from critics of both sexes, professional
and amateur. He had lowered the oh.
iect Of his alteration below The average
OF common chambermaid, or so it
was declared. When Mrs, Cando1
AYERS unblushingly, ''my eye caught a
sentence in the open letter that
aroused my curiosity, and [ read the
whole Of it's her bosom friend, although
delectated by the scandal revealed by
the act, must look shocked and mur-
mur deprecatingly, or suffer in her own
estimation, When Amelia caonot re-
frain from whispering to Rosalie the
secret conided to her under solemn
promise OF secrecy by Eugenia, she de-
tends the betrayal to ner conscience by
saying, ut was told to me in strictest
confidence, but you know, dear, [ don't
consider that [ violate my pledge by
limiting it to you, from whom I hide
nothing
The queer part of the laboriousy
acted farce is that the only person de-
ceived is the sinner herself. Lady Cas-
tleton's eavesdroppjng did not burden
her sweet, white soul. Mrs. Cando1
says boldly, Anybody else would have
done the same under the same circum-
! stances.' Ii she be shrewd she adds.
| 1.-THE only difference between people
with characters and without is in the
amount they confess" Amelia does
not avoid betrayed Eugenia's eyes at
their next meeting. says her prayers
with a heart as single and a voice as de.
vout as il Rosalia were not privately
conyicting her OF perjury.
| So-who ever did marry for money?
The thing is so odious, the treacbery
cheat, sacrilege- $50 abolninable that
no man or woman who cares for repn-
tation, or has even a nominal regard
fer social decenc1es, will admit the
charge at the tribunal OF self-conscious'
ness. The title of ':fortunn-hunter" is
as libelous as that of coward" and he
who deserves it exerts ingenuity and
glczes over circumstantial evidence in
introspectiye reflection to clear his soul
Of the stigma. -..
The heiress of his selection has really
no present future, as the daughter Of a
rich father may inherit nothing in the
long run. Or, If she held her wealth
in her own right, she would be a prize
were she pennlless.
In that unlucky event he would have
controlled his manly affections, as the
whole world knows aud says sneeringly
behind his back, however he may hood
wink himself. Ihe 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 enc
turn as another. In the teeth of the
doughty assertion, the world continues
to shrug significant shoulders.
To shrug and sneer and suar|, and
vet become, with the parents and
friends, accessory to the unholY COM
merce.
"Dinna wed for silier's sake. 'Twad
be unco' sinful, ye ken," said a pious
Scotch father to his sou. But see to
it that ye gae whtre siller isl"
We may feel twinge of regret, but
We haYe ceased to be shocked when we
hear the marriage of two ardent young
people spoken of as "a genuine old
fashioned love match, such as one sci.
dom hears of in this day." Nor are we
righteously indignant at the compas-
sionate smile that accompanies the I'M
piled slur.
One direct question will prove the
truth Of the assertion. What do we
mean when we say that a girl has "mar-
ried well?" Given tolerable suitable
age, fair character, health, and dispo-
sition, the commentator has but one
generaly.accepted Interpretation, as
any candid reader will admit.
heard an eminent theologian use the
words the other day, in answer to con.
gratulations on bis daughters g marriage:
s'She has, indeed, married magnid-
centlyl'' he subjoined aside to an inti-
mate friend. II could ask nothing bet
ter for her thank God?''
Meeting the son -in-law subsequently, !!
/ : 80. - + Z 2 i 2 ) 4