The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-09-25

professional man. or onein a similar social
rank, $500 sterling. or even G2N sterling,
was not deemed an insufficient Income to
begin married life upon. This Is not 80 now.
To whom are we to impute the blame Not
altogether to the young man. Even II his
nancee were Of the right sort, and IL he and
she we're prepared to mako q stand against
the extravaganza OF their nge. fancy the
parents OF his Intended wife would have
something to say about the inndequacy OF
means, should he propose q marriage on
such a stipend"
This young barrlster unquestlonably hits
the mark, though he speaks not from per-
sonal experience, but from reflection upon
his observations. So far as the alleged
overweening expectations OF women are
concerned, his Judgment is confirmed by
one who signs himself Arthur Bacca-
laureus." but who. having been thrice
married. might fifty have described him
self as q doctor in connublal arts. my pres
emit age" he writes. :" Is forty-iive. When I
reached my twentieth year, married n
young woman Of eighteen. She was a
beauty. we'll brought up and educated. an
American. but capricious. selfish. and OF a
cold nature. although very pious. With
ltI L was uOU huppy ub Oil cho 'HSS
after being married to me for five years.
My second better half was q poor
English woman. about twenty-five years
old. handsome. good naturcd. with
some musical talent. fond OF dressing and
living In q superior style. She died at tho
age Of thirty. Was I happy with herP No
My third wife was an excellent French lady
OF twenty-five. very pious. pretty. edu-
Gated. but very egotistical. jealous. and OF
a hot. unreasonable temper. She died after
having shared my lot for twelve years.
Result: no happiness. except that she gave
me three children. What was the cause
My own poverty. After t%wenty-six years
Of matrimonial experience aud OF honest
labor in the struggle for life and in trying
to make three different poor women happy
and contented. I have been treated with
ingratitude and with complaints for my
being poor. Did my three better halves
love me? Yes. but they would have
loved me more II I had been richer.
Did I love my wives2 Yes. Then why was
I never happy Because. as I think. the
love OF modern woman is principally based
upon the comfort that money procures."
1t will be observed that this thrice-marrled
one attributes to his wives the whole blame
for his u~nhappiness and for the consequent
reluctance Of his unmarried acquaintances
to follow his example. The same view.
however, is taken by another correspond
ent. who signs himself "a Brute: Every
year English women seem to improve In
personal appearance. They are far health
Ter. far handsomer. and far more becom-
ingly dressed than they used to be some
years ago. But, although In my opinion
they look prettier md neater than they
ever did before, I regret to say that every
year I consider they are also growing more
mercenary. They are gradually getting to
be as hard and as selfish and rs rude as
man himself. While men are improving In
manners women are de~teriorating."
Both Of these correspondents seem to
overlook the possibility that there may be
shortcomings on the part OF the male sex.
They belong. we fear. to the category Of the
bridegroom who is said to have told the
bride Immediately after the wedding:
well. dear. now you and I are one. and I
am that one." This is. at all events. the
suspicion suggested by a female corre-
s%pondent In the following epistle. which
shows that the writer is not unacquainted
with the rhetorical force Of irony:
"Ths reason why my young man does not marry Is
because I have not yet educated him up to tho stand.
ard Of usefulness that I desire him to attain. In
the nrst place he must be thoroughly domesticated.
able to COOK my dinner. keep strings on my petticoats.
and neatly darn my %stockings. He must keep my homo
comfortable; not be too fond OF going out. but always
ready to greet me on my return from work with a
happy and eontsnted smile. OF courss he will take the
entire charge Of our children and nurse them and my.
self patiently in illness. lido not carethat he should be
intellectual Sufficient arithmetic to keep my &C.
counts and prevent my being cheated by shopkeepers.
taste enough 10 superintend my cooking successfully,
sufficient musical ability TO play and sing to me in tho
evening. sufficient love of literature to read aloud to
me when I am tired of music. and sufficient mental ca.
pacity to enable him to look up to mo and appreci.
ate my ideas: this will be all that l require of him
But he must keep young and pretty as long as possible,
or I shall tire Of him; he must be animated. but never
nirt. In return l offer him board and lodging. enough
monsyto dress himself - belts my husband, not quite
50 many perquisitss ~ an ordinary housekeeper. but
pocket money to buy himself Berlin wool to make inc
slippers or to purchase such little presents for tho chill.
drsn and myself ~ his h~usbandly heart shall dictate.
When I md . young man suitable In these respects I
will waive the question OF bis dot. as he win certainly
enable mo to live At . cheaper rate than now In my OK.
psnsivs lodgings and with my extravaganza landlady."
Whether the men or the women are to
blame. 1t is admitted by all the correspond
ents OF the Daily News that. as a matter
Of fact. marriages In England are growing
fewer and later. Cannot this state Of things
be cured2 From the various remedies
proposed we select two. the first Of which
comes from q lady. evidently Of experience.
who appropriately signs herself Common
Sense" She writes as follows:
-sincs the lords Of creation lay 20 much Stress on tho
cooking part of our sducstion. Of course every girl
reader viii at once purchase q blank book. II she docs
not possess one. for writing in recipes. May I suggest
the following for cooking husbandsf A good many
husbands are utterly spoiled by mismanasement.
Some women keep their husbands constantly In hot
water. othors lot them freeze by their carelessness
and Indifference Some keep them In a stew by their
Irritating ways and words; others roast them; some
will not take the trouble to cook them Al all; others
keep Thorn In pickle all their Lives. 1t cannot DO sup
posed that any husband will DO at for human natures
daily food when treated in this way; but they
are quite tender and good II carefully cooked.
In selecting your husband do not be guided by the
silvsry appearance. As in mackerel, nor by tho golden
tint. ~ In salmon. Select them yourself. rs tastes
differ. Do not 70 to market for him; the best are al.
ways brought to the door. It Is far better to have none