Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-01-06
NOT ON THE MARRY
Millions of Young Men Prefer
Single Life
TO the JOYS OF MATRIMoNY
There Are Plenty Of Wives 10 Be Had,
Eas Selfish Msn Cling ts the
10y Of Bzeh-lorhood-

I, l. estimated that there are three /
million young men of marriageable age !
In the United States who obstinately !
neglect 70 provide themselves with !
wives. and this implies the existence OF
a. least an equal number OF young
women OF marriageable age who are
waiting fo- proposals that never come
The fact is important, says the ST.
Louis Globe-Democrat, as indicating
one OF the social tendencies of the
period. IL cannot be doubted that the
popularity OF rnatrimony has material
" declined in recent years and that
kind OF general hesitancy seems 10 pre-
vail respecting the negotiations of.snch
alliance There WAS time when the
young people of the country hastened
% pair themselves with birdlike eager
ness and delight - soon as they were
out of school. and society not only en-
coursged them but practically COM
manded them To take that course.
They were considered superfiuous and
burdensome until they got married.
The true work OF life could not begin
as they remained single; II was their
duty ~ become yoked without I'M
necessary delay, and IL was disgrace
To miss reasonable opportunities IN
that relation But il is decidedly diff
fer~nt at the present day. The prac-
lice OF vedlock 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 IL by
the wise and experienced OF both scxes,
and the result Is 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 II IS
probably true that our extravagant
style of living Is one Of the effective
influences The cost of supporting .
wife and raising a family is much larger
than il used to be. and this feature of
the matter 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 arc disincnned 20 start in a hum
BILE way and gradually improve their
situation; they want all that their
parents have without waiting and striv-
ing for it Many proposals. are unques-
tionably 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 indie
pendent and probably also more exact
ing as TO the qualifications Of husbands.
II is not nearly SO common as IL once
was for girls to marry simply in order
81 secure home and living; they are
nble now 70 earn good wages and to
take ther 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 20 look less favor
ably upon the opnnubial condition Of
subordinatin9 their hearts to their
heads. 50 to speak. And finally It can
not but be that tho abundance of criti-
cisrn 70 which tho marriage system has
been subjected by writers of pro-
noanced vigor and skill has served TO
weaken IL in tho popular estimation
and 20 disparsge the quality OF sacred
ness that Ia its highest claim TO respect
and honor.
There il no rssson as yet, however,
10 lament the prevailing tendency as q
national misfortune The amount Of
ordinary purposes, and II may be that
less rather than more of it would best
promote the interests of society. Such
unions should DO 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 X people ara
learning to be slow and careful about
making contracts of so much Importance
it is hardly sign of decay or a threat
OF calamity. Whenever any two per-
sons care so much for each other that
they cannot happily live apart they will
be welded In spite of all opposing in
fuences. and perhaps those are the only
circumstances under which a wedding
or1rfrs ever 20 take place. II would not
do to say with Hamlet that I'VE viii
have no more marriages" and that all
who are now single shall keep as they
are but we are justified In thinking
that the rate OF matrimonial happiness
islikely 20 be increased according to
the measure OF marriages that are
brought about by reflective instead of
emotional means. Tho system with
which the critics find 30 much fault Is
not perfect. but it IS much better than
they represent IL TO be. or il would not
have survived so long. With ali their
faw-pic<ing. they have not been able
20 devise an acceptable substitute for
Il, and until they are able 10 10 so il
viii continue 20 stand a. the most
benefceut of those great agencies which
regulate and control the affairs of civ
iiizstion-