Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-31

which would be deemed suilcienI ioi
dissolying the marriage contract. con-
slider that person who breaks an en-
eaeement through caprice should be re-
| garded as an individual from whom any
escape would be lucky, and l am eA-
tremely averse to an engagement entered
upon after short acquaintance.
Mrs ROGER A. PRYOR.
"The Married Man and the Bachelor"
RICHMOND, VA, Oct. n, 1870.
To the Editor of the Dispatch:
A large family was seated the other
day at dinner, and the host said TO bis
bachelor friend who was visiting hlin
&c You see am rich seven fine, healthy
children. J. Gould could not buy one
of them. They are worth millions upon
millions to me. They are part OF myseii
and as dear to me as my own lie. a
twelye-year old boy, who heard the re-
mark, his eyes kindling with delight al
the value put upon him, said with eager
ness "What would we take for papa
There was silence, but the young hearts
beat quicker as they knew that to them
papa was food and raiment, protection
and safety, house and home, and they
dared not tell how precious he was to
them all | entered parlor the other
day and saw happy company IN hand
some costume. Two pretty girls OF
twenty. two young married women, seve-
raj pretty children, and two gentlemen,
and | knew that all these happy people
we're the children and grandchildren OF
a once happy pair now in Hollywood.
While engaged III conversation my
! imagination ran into coming years,
when multiplied 10y hundreds and
| thousands this little company should
spread itself on the earth and engage III
the active and useful duties OF life. How
much happiness they would enjoy how
much sorrow they might assuage and l
blessed the married state. BY the way, L
was much surprised in reading Isaiah a
few DAYS ago to find these words: 1.-The
children of the wicked shall not be re-
nounced." ] had never heard them
| quoted from the pulpit 1t IS IN keep
ing with many old passages IN the ola
Testament and in the New. but the word
renowned" Ga rather modern phrase
with us) don't think occurs in any sim
liar connection in the Bible. | have
myself seen goodness inherited, but II Is
not, think. common. But some one,
probably a bachelor, will say your illus
trations are all on your own side OF the
question. How about the misery often
following tie married life The shame
and disgrace that bring the parents gray
hairs 10 an untimely grave? This, 1t 10
true, is the "other side" But L would
advise no one to marry should such
prospect present itself. / would advise
no man of bad habits to marry.
No man that cannot master him
self or who is wanting IN the wisdom
and courage to manage his household.
have met quite a number OF men who
were unfit to marry, not on account OF
the want of money-that is really one OF
the smallest disqualification. If a man
has what Dr. Laiferty calls "spunk,
PUNK, and grit" heneed have very little
money. Some years ago L was riding
out with member of Congress IN his
neighborhood, who was then rich man
and he said to me, 800 you know that
when got married had not decent
suit of clothes (my pants had patch In
them), but those were the happiest years
of nv life. This is the experience of
thousands and tens of thousands. That
riches do not bring happiness Is not only
the testimony of Solomon, but OF multi
tudes to-day.
THE BACHELOR.
And what shall / say of him How
lonely and desolate! | was called one
night at 2 O'Clock to bachelors house
who had by industry and hard work
earned hundreds of thousands of dollars
and who was highly respected. He lay
dead in the floor with an old negro wo-
man beside him. 1t was sad sight.
All the furniture was ill-kept end the
bed such as no decent woman whose
husband gets dollar day would tole-
rate. This is not solitary picture. !
know of others like it. This man had
made plenty money, but there was no one
10 take care of it. There was hardly any
motive TO save it. He was no miser, mol
did he love show and parade. de was
not much at home, and home bachelor
really has none. He has a place to
sleep, but lodg1ng-place can't be digni'
fed with the title of home, "sweet
home" of which the poet sings. Home
is where the dear wife is, where the
sweet voices of children are heard, II
"where the heart is" l was once q
bachelor and had al that heart Tor the
heart OF a bachelor) could wish-horse.
and carriages, servants and many kind
friends, and as much money as | needed
But had no home OF my own. There
WAS no one to greet me at night and M
sweet salutations at the breakfast-table
The sick bachelor is pitiable object
Some die before their time. Many
mans life is saved by his wife. WhC
can nurse like wife ? But this letter II
getting too long.
Being a strong friend to matrimony,
am sorry to sec in this community {
tendency 10 substitute "club life fol-
mstrimony. The clubhouse is in ne
sense a "home and never can be.
was very much amused some year:
ago on meeting wealthy friend from
Albemarle county, who told me he HAD
called to see an old friend at his store
and he had invited him TO meet him al
, the CLUB house." Said he, with much
feeling: 81 had just leif he had in.
vited me TO his stable. When am in
Richmond / expect to be invited to a
, friends home, where | may see his wife
and children, and feel like | am at home.
Club house, indeed won't go there. "
| My friend was right.
What does bachelor live for?
NOTHING.
Who viii perpetuate his name and
, keep green his grave?
NOBODY.
. Exit poor bachelor. p.
Jewellers Weekly,