Morris tribune., 1892-11-02
LOVE AND DISCRETION.
Has the Temperins OF the One with tn
Other Affected NIatrimony?

Has the Tempering OF the One with the
Other Affected NIatrimony?
1t cannot be doubted that the popular
ity OF matrimony has materially de-
clined in recent years, and that kind
OF general hesitancy seems to prevail re-
speeding the negotiation of such alli-
ances. There was time when the young
people of the country hastened to pair
themselves with birdlike eagerness and
delight as soon as they were out of
school, and society not only encouraged
them, but practically commanded them
to take that course. They were con.
sidered superfluous and burdensome un-
til they got married. The true work of
life could not begin with them, they
were taught, so long as they remained
single. 1t was their duty to become
yoked without unnecessary delay, and 1t
was disgrace to miss reasonable oppor-
tunities in that relation. But it is de-
cidedly different at the present day.
The practice of wedlock is no longer i'm
perative, nor does discredit attend the
minated state, even when prolonged in
to the thirties. There is as much adj
vice given against marriage as in favor
OF it by the wise and experienced of
both sexes, and the result is steady de-
crease in the proportion of actual
weddings to possible ones.
The causes which have produced this
marked change are not sufficiently def
mite for satisfactory analysis. It is
probably true that our extravaganza style
of living as compared with that of former
times is one of the effective influences.
The cost of supporting a wife and rails
ing family is much larger than it used
to be, and this feature of the matter
often gives pause on both Sides We
have come to measure s&smany other
things by money that matrimony has
not escaped the rule. The young people
are disincliIed to start in humble way
and gradually improve their situation.
They want all that their parents have
without waiting and striving for it.
Many proposals are unquestionably de-
layed or rejected on this account.
Then it is well known that the new
avenues of employment open to women
have made them more independent, and |
probably also more exacting as to the |
qualifications of husbands. It is not |
nearly so common as it once was for |
girls to marry simply in order to secure |
home and a living; they are able now |
to earn good wages and to take their
time about assuming the duties of wives |
and mothers. We may safely believe,
moreover, that the progress of women |
in education and in social power has led |
them to look less favorably upon the |
connubial condition by subordinating |
their hearts to their heads, so to speak. |
And finally 1t cannot but be that the |
abundance of criticism to which the
marriage system has been subjected by
writers of pronounced vigor and skill
has served to weaken it in the popular
estimation, and to disparage the quality
of sacredness that is its highest claim to
respect and honor.
There is no reason as yet, however, to
lament the prevailing tendency as a
misfortune. The amount of
marrying is still large enough for all
ordinary purposes, and it may be that
less rather than more of it would best
promote the interests of society. Such
unions should be formed with some
other object than that of merely propa-
eating the species, They involve the
most serious obligations and RESPONSE
bilities of human life, and if people are
to be slow and careful about
making contracts of SO much impor-
lance it is hardly sign of decay or a
threat of calamity.-St. Louis Globe
Democrat. l.