St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-23
The Ducats and the Daughter.

Kate Fields Washington.
( The unvarying law of demand and
supply affects even the matrimonial
market. 1t is i'll the countries where
man may have as many wives as he
pleases that he is forced to pay round
price for every separate object OF his
affections; and it in those lands where
homogeneous marriage fails to keep
down the supply of eligible young
women that the youth expects cOmpen
sation for taking his fair burden off the
hands of her unappreciative relatives.
A symposium to the North American
Review discusses the practicability OF
giving the young women of this coun-
try suitable dowries. Happily the
weight of opinion is in favor OF laying
10 such prize upon the matrimonial
altar, We may have reached the state
of civilization marked by supertuouS
women; but, if this is so, let them be
disposed of by the comparatively de-
cent method of drowning III infancy, and
not in this makeshift, prize package
fashion, which is as dangerous to a
young woman's self-respect as it is men
acing to her future happiness.
There is particularly little use for en-
couraging the dowry system in coun-
try where the laws of Inheritance in
sure a girl fair share in her fathers
estate. To be sure, this does not fall to
her. in the course of nature, I'D her early
married life: but is more likely 10 come
at middle age, when her children are
growing up and the expenses of their
education makes financial crisis far
more serious than any earlier one. One
very grave objection to the proposed
plan is found, too, in the nature OF most
American fortunes. They do not con-
Sist of land or permanent securities,
but are invested in business. 10 take
away from the fund in use num-
Der of respectable sums for the
endowment of family Of daughters
would emDarrasS many a man at the
very time of life when he has right
if he has been diligent and thrifty-to
look for relaxation from the severer
cares of trade.
A marriage which affords a young
man distinct financial advantages does
not always increase his comtOrt,as most
people have had opportunity TO observe.
Feminine nature is human nature, and
many an otherwise loving woman never
loses chance to remind her lord and
master that his prosperity is founded
upon the money she brought him at her
marriage. There is an old but pleasing
story of an humble couple who took Wig
orOus measures to avoid this inSidlOuS
danger.
"Maria,D asked John, as they left the
parsonage, nave you got any money?'
''Unly this,' answered his better half,
holding up silver quarter.
''Then come right down to the canal
and throw it i'll. don't want to hear
for the rest of my life of the money you
brought me. You're good woman.
Maria, but there are some temptations l
wouldn't set before you"
Who shall say that John did not get
his quarters worth of domestic happl-
ness out of the coin thrown into the
canal?
When young and vigorous man of
marriageble age-whicI is properly
anywhere from five to ten years after
entering upon buSineSS-cannOt earn
enough to keep two people i'll decent
comfort, there is something wrong either
with the man or with the state of So
ciety under which he lives. Ii the
parents of child reared in luxury wish
to give him-or her-a start in the
world, this is Unsuitable and permissa-
Die, but it is by no means necessary.
Many fathers continue their daughters
allowances after their marriage, and
this is lar better plan than that of the
dowry, though it may be bad training
for young husbands. IL is always
fortunate for young woman to go
at once to house of her own instead of
being exposed to the discomfortS of a
dwelling built TO rent OF to the hor-
rors of a boarding house, and modest
home may very suitably be her marriage
portion. These are all different matters
from the formal dowry, in that they are
gifts and can not easily be made .condl-
tions of the marriage itself.
For the browning sin OF the d0Wry
system is not It's failure to fit our social
and economic conditions. which is Sc
rious enough. but its unavoidable ten
dency to make marriages Of dlSlnter-
ested affection the exception rather
than the rule. With the best of inten-
lions, under such custom. sentimental
and financial motives will become
sorely mixed. Not only will young
men prefer those alliances which afford
them the most substantial assistance in
the world. but, curiOuSly enough. many
a father who would not hesitate to give
his daughter to the man of her choice,
however poor. would not be willing to
hand over the doWry to sutton who
could not show corresponding sum.
Now the marriage of affection has a
value apart from its promotion of mdi-
vidual happiness. 1t makes stable So
ciety, and it improves the race. Delhi
erately to introduce in America an in
stitution which would tend 10 diminish
such marriages would be foolish enough.
There should be a bet ter reason for the
step than that the plan has been found
userui under entirely different and on