St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-05-04
GIRLS NEED NOT MARRY.

In recent lecture. Mrs. LIvERMoRE,
who has been for couple of decades or
more one Of the most practical and IA
tlonal of the women who teach from the
platform. took up the question, "Wby
do not more women marry?" The rea-
sons are numerous, but the generaliza-
ton would be that they fail to meet the
man that satisfies their matrimonial
mood. or if they find him he does not
manifest the needful reciprocity. Mrs.
LIVERMoEE finds that women do not
marry as they did century or less ago,
because the marriage laws are not
favorable. She says: 1.-The law abso-
lutely puts premium upon illicit rela-
tons, and i'll all but six states pats the
wife upon lower status than the un
married woman who is a mother" The
good lady must have her mind upon
the French school and the usages
in some of the less progressive lands
Her diagnosis Will hardly be taken as
the acceptable one for the United States.
Without exact data at hand it may be
taken as the fact that in this country
there is larger ratio of the unwedded
than in the earlier times. The lecturer
does moi attempt to show any support
ing figures. but is probably correct as to
the fact. The observation and expert
ence of the Individual, however, will
not agree TO her averment that the stat
uteS have any perceptible restraining
influence. The more complex conGi-
tons and less dependent status of the
young women are largely influential.
Young men shrink from the ordeal be-
cause they do not feel able to meet the
increased demands of the double
estate, caused by the modern re-
finements and social extravaganza
The simplicity of the early time
with its modest demands has given
place to more luxurious system with
which he finances of the average young
man have not kept pace. But perhaps
the most wholesome tendency in this
connection is the greater circumSpecton
of the young women. They do not marry
for subsistence, as in the older time.
Self-respecting and worthy women will
not accept the first apology for man
who is able to get credit from the tailor
and barber for the sake of getting mar
ried. They find avenues of Self-support
open to them On all hands, and social
blight no longer follows their activity in
any reputable sphere. They do not
need to take the chances of connubial
misery by becoming the domestic at
tachment of a worthless man. They
do not inquire into the legal status
of a woman in marriage, and are rarely
concerned to know the provisions of
the laws. So far as the statutes are con-
cerned, they make the way to marriage
temptingly easy, rather than repellant.
1t is well if girls are exercising more
sense in the matter, and prefer to make
their own way in life rather than to take
doubtful venture in matrimony. The
family estate is the basis of the social
fabric, of course, and for the great ma
jority of women it is the laudable and
proper relation. But there is little oc-
casion to impress upon the mind of the
young woman that it is her duty to
marry. She may regard her own welfare
and inclination to a Reasonable extent
in the matter Ethical and patriotic con-
siderations should have place at times.
But it is not demonstrated that the null
duplication of human beings is an i'm
portant need of the age. The world is
filling up so fast that seeTs look with
some alarm to densely crowded fut-
ure. 1t is to be looked at as a good
view that women may creditably and
with entire loyalty to the highest exac-
lions elect their path in life-that is, to
marry or remain single. If they prefer
to follow any pursuit open to them
rather than to take up the duties of the
household, that should be their unre-
strained privilege.