The record-union., 1893-10-21
BEOSELENA'O PRATqLE.
She Mourns Over the Fate of the Man
Who is Single.
Takes Upon Herself the Task of Find
ing Him a Wife That
VIII Suit Him.

had just finished reading one Of the
latest books, called "When Mans Sim
gie," and naturally we were discussing
It's merits and dement's, and from the
pook our conversation finally wandered
TO the vital question of whether a man
could succeed better in life alone or when
ourdened ~ with a helpmate, one to
share his joys and sorrows, to give en-
couragement and sympathy. The man
VINO says he will never marry spoke first,
and, needless to say, he was against mar
riage. Quoth he:
when mans single, he is free, for
bachelorhood is freedom. He can belong
70 half dozen clubs if he wishes and
nave rattling good time with the boys,
and when he returns in the small hours
OF the morning, perhaps, he will not be
haunted by visions of fearful, reproach-
ful wife, or one who meets him with a
stony stare, which BODIES no good for the
morning. When the single man goes
nome from a pleasant little evening he
can seek his downy couch with or with
out his boots, and in fact he can dispense
with the ceremony of donning his robe
de 1altlt altogether, if he so pleases, and
there will be no to say him nay. In the
morning, if his head feels little elon-
gated, he can sip his brandy and soda
peacefully in bed, and read the morning
paper al the same time; there is no one
around TO make him feel uncomfortable.
lie IS wholly and solely his own master.
Then look on the practical side of the
case. a bachelor can live twice as
cheaply as married man. Why? The
answer is very simpIe-he has only him.
a6l fn nrf of,.o Na.1foF
pei him to live in sky parlors, he doesn't
feel guilty every time he goes home with
brown-paper parcel, the contents of
which he cooks over cOal-Oil stove, be-
cause some delicate woman has to share
the pangs of poverty with him. He can
smoke his after-dinner pipe in peace and
gomfort and see the world all rose-colored
through the curling rings of smoke
Some men have said that wife is good
article to have around for attending to a
fellows wardrobe, keeping it in repair,
and all of that; but find that patent
buttons beat the hand-sewed ones all hol-
low, so l don't see where the immense
advantage comes in.
"a fellow has more liberty, too, to
travel about" continued the irredeem-
able bachelor. "If he suddenly makes
up his mind to leave place, all he has to
do is to pack his grip and be off; when if
he had wife it's to be supposed that he'd
have home for her, and it's not easy to
break up housekeeping and go travelling
about the country with a dependent
woman. If a fellows single he can pack
up at moments notice and go any place
from the North Pole to Africa. My senti-
ments are with the fellow who wrote,
'Give me liberty or give me DEATH l
don't suppose he was thinking of mar
riage when he wrote IT,"
When each of us thought over in our
minds the words we had just heard and
spoken, then the married man spoke. He
eyed the speaker severely; he straight
ened up; he opened his mouth, and the
first words he uttered were total denial
OF all that his unmarried friend had
said. Quoth he:
Your argument, my friend, won't
hold water. When man is single he is
not living; he is merely existing; he
doesn't begin to live until after he is mar
ried. OF course, it is supposed before
hand that man who finds it hard
enough to get on by himself will not take
upon himself the care of wife until his
circumstances are altered for the better,
but while he is striving in that direction
he should not allow himself to become
cynical. If a fellow sets his heart upon
a woman and works and strives in an
effort to eventually gain her hand and
heart he'd be surprised to find the stimu-
lus such an ambition has upon him, and
how hope will buoy him up when all
else fails. AS for bacheldorhood being
freedom, as our worthy friend says, ac-
cording to the construction l put upon his
statement, l think ii the worst kind of
moral slavery-yes, sir, slavery" said
the speaker, bristling with indignation.
''Ihis friend says be can belong to clubs,
stay out all night with the boys and come
home in the morning. Now, ask him,
how is man going to last who goes at
such rapid pace? In few years he will
be physical and mental wreck, and he
will have no one to blame Tor his condi-
ton but himself in gratifying an inorGi-
nate selfishness. a man who has a wife
to look after him lives longer and better
than the bachelor. If you don't believe
me. consult the statistics: they don't lie.
AS for cheaper living. don't know about
that. l think our friend is all at sea
there, too. A bachelor receiving salary
OF 500 or $50 per month who is at all in
clined to pleasure, as I1hink my friend
is, will be very apt to spend his salary in
pursuit of pleasure and having good
time. He thinks there is no cause to lay
anything away for rainy day; he counts
upon the fact that he is young and strong;
he does not dream that there will come
day when his youth will desert him and
his strength ebb away and he will be a
penniless, decrepit old man before his
lime Would it not be better for bright,
energetic young man who holds good
position and Is sure of his monthly sal
airy to marry some woman who would
keep his house for him and help him
save his money, which would otherwise
be spent in riotous living?"
We all nodded our heads in token OF
our approval. The bachelor looked un-
comfortable. "As far as patent buttons
are concerned, know nothing whatever
of their merits or dement's. l have al
ways had mine sewed on by the fingers
OF the only women l ever loved" and the
speaker cast an eloquent look at the
small woman who sat beside him. 1.-THE
good Lord didn't intend man to live
a,one," continued the speaker. 'W oman
was created to be his helpmate, guide and
director. Her wisdom and advice often
helps fellow out Of q difficulty when all
other help fails. The presence of a bright,
cheerful woman is very soothing TO a
mans nerves after the work of the day;
home comes 10 be a haven of refuge
eagerly looked forward to. The very
fhOupht OF mans wife and home keeps
many q poor fellow from committing
some crime upon he spur of the moment,
which he would afterwards regret to the
last moment OF his life.
"a great many men know Will say
that thew are not ia financial position to
sunport a wife, but if the right kind Of a
woman is selected there is not particle
of truth in that STA atement. The happleSt
marriages are those in which there was
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