The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-10-08
MATRIMONIAL MARKET.
Business Has Been Growing Dull
OF Lata

Up to the Supply-Sorae OF
the Causes of the
! Staguation.
It is estimated that there ere three
million young men Of marTeabie age
in the United States whe ~stinaselv
neglect to provide themselves with
wives, and this implies the e,.is.euee OF
at least "A equal nunbe1 Il young
women Of manageable a who are
waiting for proposals that rever come.
The fact is important as IN eating one
of the social tendencies Of the period.
1t cannot be doubted. says the ST.
Louis Globe-DemocTat, tia. the popu-
larity of matrinony has materially de
cnned IN recent years, and that a kind
of general hesitancy seems 70 prevail
respecting the negotiation of such ALI
ances There was time when {,
young people Of the country FASTENED
( to pair themselves with hird-like eager
ness and delight as soon IS they were
out of school: and society -, y c.
courased them, but practically com
manded them to take that course. They
were considered superfuous 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-
sonablc opportunities in that relation.
But it is decidedly different at the pres
ent day. The practice of wedlock 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 q
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 matter often gives pause on both
sides. We have come to measure 50
many things by money that matrimony
has not escaped the rule. The young
people are disinclined to start in 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 well 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 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 prog
ress 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-
nounced 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. 70
lament the prevailing tendency rs a ma
tional misfortune. The amount of mar
rying is still large enough for Ill or i-
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 II people are learn
ing to be slow and careful about
Importance it is hardly q sign Of
decay or threat of calamity.
Whenever any two persons care SO
much for each other that they cannot
happily live apart. they viii be welded,
in spite of all opposing influences; and
perhaps those are the only eircunn-
stances under which wedding ought
ever to take place Il would not 90 to
say with Hamlet that I'VE 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 70 the reas-
IRE of marriages that are brought abou:
by rejecting instead OF emotional
means. The system with which the
critics End so much fault is not perfect,
but 10 i. much better than they repre-
sent il 20 BE-, or it would not have SIT
vived so long. With all their faw-Pick-
ing, they have not been able 70 devise
an acceptable substitute FOR IL; and IN
Ill they are able to do so II viii CON
tinue TO stand as the most benefcent
ofthose great agencies which regulate
and control the affairs 0f civilization
Her Career.
THAT fortune teller said an awfni1y
mean thing 20 poor old Ai0 Me-idtsh-
What did he say?'
Told her be corld Go nothing for
- L. 81 A.