The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-05-15
WHY DON'T HE MARRY ?"

There was small audience at the Nj.
e. church Tuesday night to hear Rev.
f. o. Holman lecture upon ':IWhy
Don't He Marry?" AS usual, DIR. Hol-
man was intensely interesting, and
the lecture was voted by those present
splendid one. He began by refer
ing to the well-known fact that the
young men of the present are disin-
cllned to marry, but rather choose to
live bachelor lives surrounded by such
comforts and luXuries as they can
gather together. They often fear the
expense of married life, when they
find their salaries, say of 81, 900 year,
barely sufficient to support one.
Their life makes them selfish, and
their existence is an imperfect one.
Then it is often the case that the
girls whom they would like to marry
can do nothing Of real Importance,
such as house work. They and their
mothers are to blame for this, for
while the Young man has been plan
ming and working from an early age
with the view of adopting certain
profession, the girl has learned moth
ing of practical value and has bent
her endeavors simply to getting mar
ried. In such cases the expense of
hired girl appalls young man. Yet,
this same young lady often soon de-
velops into first-class houSekeeper.
The girls should be taught those
things which will enable them to sue
cessfully assume the duties of wife
and maternity, than which there can
be nothing nobler. They should also
be taught some business, and the hope
of the country lies in the fact that the
girls now go to work down town in
the morning with the same independ
ence as their brothers.
There is another class of young men
who don't marry, for they have de-
stroyed the home-loving instinct in
! life of dissipation and lust. They
fear to trust a wife, which is sure
sign that they themselves cannot be
trusted. Their fathers are mostly to
blame for this state of affairs, for
while they have prepared their sons
in all other respects, they have not
guarded the one avenue where tempta-
tion is most strong, and in the whirl-
pools of lust which the young man en-
counters he is swamped. Some of the
fashions of the present day are also
responsible for this, rand society is
largely to blame. The decollete cos
tune, which originated in the houses
of prostitution in Paris, to help on
business, are a disgrace to the age.
The round dance, that most terrible
and wicked siren for the downfall of
youth, was started in the brothels of
the large cities as an attraction to
draw in men and excite their passions.
Both should have no place or counte-
nance in society. Society should also
look with she same disgust upon a
fallen man as upon fallen woman,
instead of eXcusing his life as sowing
wild cats" and welcoming him into the
company of the young daughters.
Other young men have loved and
have followed the loved ones to their
graves and ever afterward they pray
that their days on earth may be brief.
They are kind, gentle, noble, manly,
| and it is generally wondered at that
they do not marry. They ought not
to be asked the question, for they wait
and hope, oh, how fondly hope, for
the hour to come when they may be
released from this life. They have
been welded all these years, and their
brides await them at the gate of
Heaven.
There is another class of young men,
who are waiting for perfect woman.
When they find her they will-marry
her, and will lay all they possess at her
feet. But their entire possessions
comprise a swallow-tailed coat, dane
ing pumps, hair-oil and an empty
head. They will never find the per-
feet woman, but will marry a comic
actress in variety show, and will
find out that complexion can be pur-
chased in drug store for 35 cents a
| box.
Finally there is a class of excellent
young men who are waiting for the
! girl of their choice to come. They
are set of gallant young knights,
who are as valorous and noble as any
knight of the middle ages, and are
prepared to do as chivalric deeds for
their lady loves as those of the past.
They confidently expect the coming
of the girls who will conquer their
hearts and are waiting to serve them.
To such, 1 would doff my helmet and
bid success.