Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-11-01
MATRIMONIAL MARKET.
Business Has Been Growing Dull
Of Late.
The Demand for Life-Partners Not Fully
Up to the Supply-SOme of
the Causes of the
Stagnation.

1t is estimated that there are three
million young men of manageable age
in the United States who obstinately
neglect to provide themselves with
wives, and this implies the existence of
at least an equal number of young
women of manageable age who are
waiting for proposals that never come.
The fact is important as indicating one
of the social tendencies of the period.
1t cannot be doubted, says the st.
Louis Globe-Dcmocrat, that the popu-
larity of matrimony has materially de-
clined in recent years, and that a kind
of general hesitancy seems to prevail
respecting the negotiation of such ALI
ances. There was a time when the
young people of the country fastened
to pair themselves with bird-lilxe eager
ness and delight as soon as they were
out of school; and society not only en-
couraged them, but practically COM
manded them to take that course. They
were considered superduous and bur
densome until they got married. The
true work of life could not begin with
them, they were taught so long as they
remained single; it was their duty to
become yoked without unnecessary de-
lay, and it was disgrace to miss rea-
sonable opportunities in that relation.
But it is decidedly different at the pres
ent day. The practice of wedlocl< is no
longer imperative, nor does discredit
attend the minated state, even when
prolonged into the thirties. There is as
much advice given against marriage as
in favor of it by the wise and expert
enced of both sexes, and the result is a
steady decrease in the proportion OF
actual weddings to possible ones.
The causes which have produced this
marked change are not sufficiently
definite for satisfactory analysis. 1t is
probably true that our extravagant
style of living, as compared with that
of former times, is one of the effective
Influences The cost of supporting a
wife and raising a family is much larger
than it used to be, and this feature of
the,mattcr often gives pause on both
sides We have come to measure SO
many things by money that matrimony
has not escaped the rule. The young
people are disinclined to start in a hum
bic way and gradually improve their
situation; they want all that their par
entS have without waiting and striving
for it. Many proposals are unquestion-
ably delayed or rejected on this ac-
count. Then it is we'll known that the
new avenues of employment open to
women have made them more independ-
ent, and probably also more exacting
as to the qualifications of husbands. 1t
is not nearly so common as it once was
for girls to marry simply in order to Sc
cure a home and q living; they are
- hln tn GOOD on6 fn
take their time about assuming the
duties of wives and mothers. We may
safely believe, moreover, that the prog
ross 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, it can
not but be that the abundance of criti-
cism to which the marriage system has
| been subjected by writers of pro-
nounccd vigor and skill has served to
weaken it in the popular estimation,
and to disparage the quality of sacred
ness that Is its highest claim to respect
| and honor
There is no reason as yet, however, to
lament the prevailing tendency as a ma
tional misfortune. The amount of mar
~ liz IL sun IL 1oI XII VI vi
nary purposes; and it may be that less
rather than more of it would best pro
| mote the interests of society. Such
| unions should be formed with some other
| object than that of merely propagating
the species. They involve the most
serious obligations and responsibilities
of human life, and if people are learn
ing to be slow and careful about
1 L.. -, e l.
Importance it is hardly a sign OF
decay or threat of calamity.
| Whenever any two persons care sc
much for each other that they cannot
happily live apart, they will be welded
in spite of all opposing influences; and
perhaps those are the only circum-
stances under which a wedding ought
ever to take place. 1t would not do tc
say with Hamlet that 1--WE will have no
more marriages." and that all who are
now single shall keep as they are
but we are justified in thinking that the
ratio of matrimonial happiness is likely
to be increased according to the meas
ure of marriages that are brought about
> by rejecting instead of emotional
means. The system with which the
critics find SO much fault is not perfect
but it is much better than they repre-
sent it to be, or it would not have sur
vived so long. With all their faw-picl1
ing, they have not been able to devise
an acceptable substitute for it; and un
til they are able to do so it will con
tinue to stand as the most bene6cen
of those great agencies which regulat
and control the affairs of civilization.
Mining in Bolivia and Mexico.