New-York tribune., 1891-12-20
THE THEORY OF FEEDING GIFTS.
THEIR INFLUENCE IN THE PROMOTION OF
MARRIAGES.

wedding present. Reminders OF the fact that OF the
semiannual seasons Of joy-from point Of view
woe from anOther-is upon us are all too FREQUENT
All the world seems mating. To be sure, the country
is prosperous the In the Western country are
magnilcenty abundant, and the prospect that a
young man will be able 10 support his bride IS
aerefore reasonably good but the foundation OF the
confidence which impels the masses OF young Ameri-
to take upon themselves the responsibilities OF
matrimony is after ell. the firmly fixed custom
OF giving wedding presents. The question may
offer difficulties to the wealthy they leave an
order with great jewelry house, and have IL
charged up, and then 60 20 the wedding and
feel repaid for their outlay Of cash or credit
by figuring prominently in the published accounts
Of the fashionable affair. Ii Is, however, npon
the unmarried young man OF toeraby wide acduaint-
ance whose income exceeds his living expenses by q
small margin. which he fan would save. but who
does not feel that he afford to get married.
that the custom bears with peculiar severity. For
him nature lovely in May and splendid in October,
has no charms for May and october are to him but
synonymes for wedding galore, each with Its oblen-
ton OF gift. The difficulty Of selecting something
which is not likely to be duplicated half dozen tunes
over is known 10 everybody; but 1t is not oneenth
so formidable as is the production OF the dollars
necessary TO buy that something.
There seems 10 be good ground for the theory that
wedding presents play welghter part than love
men having spent so much In these gifts that they
determine upon marriage IN retaliation; and the
rest discouraged BY the periodical and alarming drain
upon their purses, become msanthropc and conhrmed
I'm their bachelor mode of life Heavily as the bur
den hears upon certain class. however, that course
should be followed which is productive OF the greatest
good TO the greatest number and the wedding present
custom should zealously be defended on the ground
that it powerful incentive to matrimony, and. as
such force working for the benefit OF society. IL
Is a narrow minded critic that will that marriage
was befere wedding gifts and that ahecton Is
better starting point for welded life than revenge.
The conscious motive in making n wedding GIT 10
friend or acquaintance Is. according TO the enemies
Of the system either sincere regard lfinteest or
moral covardce If he had to spend his money Only
in cases arising under the frat head they saw
vonna man need have no fenr that his pocketoooN
yvould be nconvenienty depleted Those OF the
second sort are recognized by them as much more
frpuuent-of the sort Illustrated by the Iavsh pro
fusion OF costly gifts showcrod upon Tweeds daughter
at her msrrage: or. 10 take another example, by he
remark Of a young and not wealthy lawyer In IN
Eastern city, who had responded literally and pac'
cally to the Invitation sent him to be present ut the
brilliant wedding Of a college acquaintance In fasn
onable New-York church: al called on them Few
months after the wedding. and they couldn't do too
much for me- know my present had great deal 10
do with the warmth OF my reception The cases OF
destroy the benefcent custom-everybody can readily
recall instances OF them in his experience probably
within the last month. And the effect Of the custom
they urge IS no less deeterous the invited guest
confesses to himself that he wOuld albeit unwillngly,
have sent gift had It not been for absolute lack OF
money for his intention proves him to be wanting In
moral courage.
The wedding present CUSTOM while il tends to push
love into the inferior place which ii should occupy In
this busy nineteenth century world. powerfully a1s In
the upbuildlng OF valuable traits. among them thrift
certain young man expended a larger sum than
he could afford a present Of silver to bride. whom
he had long known. but with whose intended husband
he was only slightly acquainted. II was a pleasant
little home wedding and he of the few guests
month later he learned through friend in the store
where had made his purchase. that the bridegroom
getting his cew from seeing on the box which con-
tanned the silver the of the firm that had sold It,
had carried the present to the store and sought to
obtain in cash the amount paid for IL and, failing In
that. had accepted other goods In exchange. That
couple may still be wondering why their friend has
never called on them since the wedding. This method
of raising ready money for household expenses, he has
since learned. he declares IS by no means unc2mmon
but had before met with instance OF It, and
in unleasoning irritation, refused to regard the cashing
Of his gift Il pralseworthy display Of thrift
Manly independence Is another excellent thing fos-
tered by the muclmalgned custom. To give an ex-
most cordial terms. The eldest of the prepared
to take unto himself wife. and scattered invitations
broadcast The members Of the other branch We're
not sgGted Se ana the Win ser8RIy MRsb O sg sph irS s
house inspired in him so much Independence that
n he Son caTe TAV WHETHER ey Come s
the wedding or not but tell them to send along their
presents" =,
substance gifts for numberess intending couples,
determined to enter the married state himself and WITH
fptuty srlV a
to be enrraved on thc invtaons an lntlmanon thai
presents were ho' oesru m tnoun hI case stands
without precedent and without imitation. II seems
that any attempt to cheek T sue means 1ne
obstacles If yOu say "No presents or at Is
kindly requested that no presents b" "nt the mar
NO presents received" their tone Is too harsh and
epellan to harmonic re with m the 19yo ccaSn and No.
effort oi this young 6ridegSs2,m, gs,S, Il b o'Sr the eS
not be regarded as otherwise than misguided and
II is often said that the sowing Of invitations with
view 20 reaping plentiful harvest OF weddinggift
no business TO interfere with II, although, Gauned BY
the strength OF the opposition OF the selhsh 10 tle
wedding present custom, he may be inclined to DO so
lie need not worry himself however. for there Is
q, Eden and the psstcnce Of the bride on the keeping
No NJ Of a custom that has done much for society
ana for the development and strengthening OF char
acter, proves her TO be woman worth having as
wife.
DESTRUCTION OF GERMS IN wATER.-rhe ster-
uizng OF water is easily accomplished by keeping II
AT or near the boiling point for fifteen minutes five
minutes heat Is sufficient TO destroy all harmful micro
organisms still less time sufiices 20 destroy the
disease producing varieties which arc recognized as
liable 10 occur in water Thus, merely raising to the
boiling point a clear water containing the micro
organisms Of maara disorders, typhoid. cholera, dph
iberia or OF suppnratve processes. and allowing TO
gradually cool lnsures the destruction OF these germs
ney are also destroyed by keeping the water for from
a 0unrtAr to half hour at temperature OF 20 ue
eres f. though occasionally very resistant b, harm
less bacteria may get into water. The brief heaing
however renders them safe for drinking purposes
INF when Il is desired destroy every microogasm
mat may be present in a contaminated water II Is 70
=. heated for one hour, and allowed TO cool slowly,
when II may used for cleansing wounds or for aii