Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1893-02-02
WOMAN'S PORTION.
She Should BE So Situated That Marriage
Would BE Choice, Not a Necessity.

She Should BE SO Situated That Marriage
Would he a Choice, Not a Necessity.
During the late SILLY season" of the
London newspapers-and the English
journalist takes his Stiffness with con-
scientious thoroughness, as he does his
politcs-one. of the chief papers de-
voted many columns to letters from
readers on the question why young
men do not marry. Most of the writers
agreed in thinking that it was because
of the fear of the expense of married
life, which is plausible enough, and
nearly all of them agreed that it was a
great evil, in which opinion | do not
find myself able wholly to join. But
whether it is an evil or not, there is no
question that there exists, in England
and here, class apparently of increas-
ing numbers, of women who either do
not marry at all or do not marry so
young as their mothers and grand
mothers did; and it seems to me
that fathers Of sense do not quite rec
ognize the duty that this fact imposes
upon them-the duty of making such
provision for daughters that they shall,
as far as possible, be free to marry or
not, and shall not be impelled to do so
from the mere need of home and sup
port. Of course this provision must
vary with the means of the father. 1t
may take the form of an adequate in
come, secured by proper investment
or it may be q training in some occu-
patton that will yield an income, or it
may be in part one and in part the
other. The main point, so far as the
daughters are concerned is that mar
riage shall be matter of choice, that n
fairly comfortable and independent life
shall be made possible without it, and
that no woman shall feel forced, or
tempted, not to put too fine a point
upon it, to become wife to secure such
a life. know that the problem is not
a simple one, and that its solution is
not easy, but ease and simplicity are
not the prevailing characteristics of a
many duties to his children of either
SEX This one is none the less impera-
tive on that account.
do not ignore the fact that for the
greater number of women marriage is
the happier and better condition, and
know the objection to my suggestion
that it would discourage marriage. But
it remains true that certain number
of women do not marry, and the duty
to provide for the greatest attainable
happiness for them is as clear as any
other. Another consideration, and one
which is worth thinking of, is that the
chances of happiness and good life
for those who do marry will plainly
be increased if their choice is as free as
nature and the perversity of fate per
init. Nor should ! withdraw the pro
slsion for daughters in case of marriage
| would, in tho reasonable ratio o.
means-whith a little self-denial by
fathers would increase-continue it
We men are not such miracles of un
selfishness that the possession by a wifi,
of independent resources, proportional
to station, is a wholly vain title to re
spect. The essence, think, of the in
telligent Americans idea of marriage i:
mutual affection, and to that | believe
that certain undeniable and lasting
equality contributes. All social legis
| lation for forty years back, in thu
United States, has tended toward tina
end. 1t would be well if social habits
and methods took the same direction. -
Seribner's Magazine,