The Washington times., 1894-04-18
The Reason Why so
Many Men Are Single

Grant Allen, an Englishman, has been dis
covering why men do not marry. He has put
himself on record in the Westminster Budget
as enlisted on the woman's side. Women are
SO accustomed to bearing the blame Of things
that for long time they were quite bluiled
into believing that it was their extravaganza
and independence that was hindering young
men from rusning into the tolls OF matrimony.
Then, you remember, we women retailated py
accusing the men OF selhshness anu ciups anu
coy bachelor quarters, etc.
Now Grant Allen who has never advocated
the advancement Of women, because he De-
j.. lieved that the gradual extinction OF the race
y was due to their higher education, has de-
cided, and in logical train of reasoning set
forth, that women are not in it at all. It's all
the Young mems fault, speaking of whom Mr..
Allen saws: Il don't think young men OF
to-day have the same feelings towards women
us formerly. In most ways the modern young
man is great Improvement on you and me at
TWENTY-FIVE. But l believe there is really
among Young men in towns less chivalry, less
devotion, less romance than there used to be.
That, / take it. is the true reason why young
men don't marry. l think the present crisis
in the English marriage market is due not to
clubs or the comfort of. bachelor quarters.
but to the culminative effect OF nervous over
excitement"
Thanksi
While we are on the subject, t,-have you
heard that the question of a tax on bachelors
Is being agitated in Boston. where all inter-
esting subjects begin tluttering! In Massa-
chusetts, where the female portion of the
community is in the preponderance. it would
not be half bad idea, especially if the money
thus received was converted to the use OF in
digent sDinsters. Think of all the unmarried
ladies who would thus be provided with in
comes or husbands. for men are SO proverb-
tally anxious to avoid their taxes that many
would get married to get out OF paying them.
Says a Boston paper:
LET US give every man chance to look
about for himself until he Is so, say. and then,
if he is neither married nor can produce an
affidavit that he is about to be and is only
waiting for some one 10 die. or to the effect
that it is not his fault and that he has tried
earnestly and failed, let him be taxed like any
other luxury"
Personally am not sure that the boarding
house is not the root of all evil in this matter.
Too many young married people are afraid OF
the trouble and expense OF a home OF their
own. / never hear of young couple going
to boarding but think of what Ingersoll said
in a speech on patriotism. 1t was to this ef-
feet: '.We can never hope to recruit patriots
from boarding houses. What man could be
expected to get up and fight in case of war
for his boarding house? While from instinct
men will fight for their homes"
Go to housekeeping, young people. It's
ever so much better than boarding; much bet
ter than living with your folks or hers.
To those who have tried earnestly and seem
about to succeed. word of warning. Every
sensible girl will protest against the extrava-
giant purchase made for her by an admirer of
only moderate means, but she likes the sug-
gestion of economy to come from her. II the
lover himself shows ''coseness'' in this mat
ter she is seldom pleased.
And a word to the girls. If you are sad
and don't know why, stop gazing in wistful
way into the dark and take dose of sulphur
and molasses twice day.
Has it ever been considered that the women
who claim marriage is failure are usually
those who have never had a chance to try it?
If it is true that in union there is strength
how can the fact be accounted for that the
strong minded women are always single?
Marriage is the poorest possible trade at
which to make living.