The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-04-18
THE NEW HwOUSEKEEPHR.
He Is a Man and He Is
Bound to Remain a
Bachelor.
WHY MARRIAGES ARE FEWER.
The Man Housekeepers Of New
York and Their Ways Of Life.

The Man Housekeepers Of New
York and Their Ways Of Life.
The Editor of the JERSEY CITY
NEWS presents his compliments to the
ladies of Jersey CITY, and respectfully
fnoites their cooperation IN MAKING
this column a feature Of general ante1-
est and utility. Information and sug-
gestions are earnestly solicited, and
ssuranc is gioen that all coDln1aaaa-
cations aoaU receioe immediate and
careful attention, and aDdW be regarded
as strictly confidential If the a0ffte1s so
desire.
1t is all very well living in the year
of grace 1889 and being on hand to
celebrate the Centennial, especially If
the weather, contrary to the predlc-
tions, turns out to be fine; but beyond
this it is a serious mistake. We ought
to be here a hundred years hence,
when matters become mor settled.
Everything now is in a chrysalls statei
old customs are dying out, and the
new order of things is not yet IN good
working shape.
Falling in love was n OF n ola
fashions. 1t was like the measles or
anything likely to be caught. There
was no use fighting against it. A
young man simply took the proper
remedies. He became engaged, ana
later on married; but this is out, or
almost entirely out of date. The higher
the position the fewer are the young
men indulging in this pastime. 1t is
considered a mark of verdancy.
This is attributed to a variety OF
reasons. The boarding house business,
as is well known, was spoiled in New
York by the owners of tenement
houses some years since putting up
their rents and notwithstanding them
French fats and apartments. When
people found they could live in a few
dark closets huddled around an air
shaft and be well regarded they gave
up boarding. When neat little rooms
were dubbed bachelors apartments"
Young men rushed into housekeeping
on their own hook. 1t is. not every
man that cares for a club, even when
he can afford the expense, but many
of them like home. They have no
trouble with servants. Why should
they? If they have a breakfast and
dinner cooked, and the fire is lighted,
what do they care OF know about the
dirt in the kitchen closets or the new
dish towels that are sent down in the
ashes?
Then, as the girls themselves are per
fectly independent and can be out all
the time, excepting when they have TO
be on hand to cook the meals, they
take more pains to give satisfaction in
these matters. Housekeeping is made
very simple. In a flat up town where
three young men are domiciled the girl
simply announced at breakfast that
she was going to leave during the day,
and another party was running the
place at supper time. The young man
of the period prides himself now on
being able to spend everything he can
make ON himself.
Now. the women finding that the
beaux are ready to walk OF firt with
them. but are not ON hand matri-
monially. are beginning to take an
extremely rational view of matters,
They are in all businesses. One woman
has made a fortune running q storage
house. Another in the cheerful I'M
dertaking business has her name on a
| sign going across the entire building.
| A third who runs several boarding
houses occasionally gives her husband
So. 600 to start in business. This
usually lasts him for a year or two,
and Keeps him out of the road, and
when he fails, as he invariably does
at the end of that time, she starts him
over again. Things are thus put on
a practical, pleasant footing.
Surprising a young man is in re-
| ceipt Of 81, 500 a year. He can hardly
| afford to give his wife more than $25 a
week if he pays rent, gas and coal
bills. as he must have something him
self for clothes, cigars and a fare.
Well, what object is this now to a
woman? Two o. three fashionable
dodgers who only want their coffee
and rolls in the morning would give
her this, and a few more would pay
the rent: so why, even if asked, should
she disturb herself by catering to some
mans whims who wants b earth in
return for a trifling outlay? When the
second centennial jubilee is being cele-
brated everything will be in good
shape. The women will have all the
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