The herald., 1894-03-25


"Wishing each other not divorced but dead,
They live respectfully az man and wife"
-[Byron.
II one were driven in q corner for an
argument against the existing marriage
system, it would only be necessary to
refer to the records Of the divorce courts
during one short year. What q cGta-
logue of wretchedness is contained in
those files Those "human documents"
are more tragically pathetic than the
most startlingly realistic work Of the
imagination ever written in the past or
which can ever be penned in the future.
People of all ranks and all classes de-
YOUR their filthy details published by
the most respectable as we'll as the least
reputable Of the daily journals, and yet
turn up the whites of their eyes and
hold up their hands in hypocritical
amazement when any would-be re-
former Of the existing horrible state OF
things steps into the arena to denounce
unholiness and to endeavor to bring
about more holy, purer and more
natural condition Of things.
How often do we hear II said by
that marriage is lottery? The
proposition indeed is 80 self.evident as
10 be undeniable. A "lottery!" That
is precisely VI hat marriage has come to
be. For one marriage OF affection and
= love there are many unions Of what the
French term ''convenance"-th is to
say. marriages wherein the prevailing
and often the only element lie cash 1t
is all a question Ito employ the mordant
phrase OF the poet laureate) OF Prop
utty, proputty, proputty!" Now, how
is the modern marriage brought
About?"
For reasons which are so obvious that
they do not require 10 be specified,
will deal first with marriage as il is
known in what, by q polite fiction, are
styled "the upper classes" albeit some
OF those who 'live, move and have
their being" in that orbit have, by their
evil example, done more than any other
classes to bring the sacred institution Of
marriage into loathing and contempt.
Like most OF the other marts of COM
merce, the marriage OF modern Babylon
is open for all practical purposes the
whole year rounde-morniug. noon,
afternoon and night. Special activity.
however, reigns during the spring and
summer months; from April to the end
OF July the market place of society is
thronged by matrons and maids.
the latter decked out in all the
colors OF the rainbow, and fur
ther bedizened by the aid OF
''jewels rich and rare" No expense is
spared bv the matronly auctioneers to
make their property attractive and fAs-
cinating, and every inducement ia Of
kx.r h. i !. 4 h.
human flesh and food. The proprietors
OF all this beauty are their own auction
eeTs, and set up their rostrums Sc We
have all seen, and can see every season,
in every conceivable place; it may be
an at home in Mayfair, a dance in Bel
Rravia, or a royal strawberry crush in
Pail Mall. But no matter where it
may be, the procedure never varies,
but is always the same.
A goodiy aesemblage having been got
together, the auctioneer-motheF mounts
the rostrum. and the sale begins:
"My lords and gentlemen, the cata-
logue OF today's auction contains, as you
will have seen, an unusually choice &C.
lection OF youthful beauties, differing
only in age. height and color. Many OF
them can trace their family history back
to the days of Adam. They are highly
accomplished-able to drive, ride. swim,
row, fence and play tennis as we'll as
any OF yourselves. Some of them have
been taught, or, perhaps should cay
have taught themselves, to smoke, but
at present, grieve to say, these latter
are in the minority. And now, my lords
and gentlemen. with these few
preliminary remarks we will have
Lot | brought forward. Her age
is Is, and, as you will observe, she is q
magnificent blonde, as like as possible
to her female ancestress, the countesa Of
Ruffleton, whose portrait, painted by
Lely. you have all doubtless seen at
Hampton court. Observe her luetrous
eyes, the texture OF her velvety skin,
the roundness of her arms, the beauty
of her bust, her delicate hands and her
small ieet. Approach her more closely,
gentlemen; don't be afraid-ehe won't
mind your criticism. She lie the last of
six sisters, so don't let this opportunity
clip. The reserve price put upon her is
only Gl00,000. The purchaser need not
have any birth at sill. We ask no par
ticulars as to the existence Of grand
fathers; money is the sine qua non !;
100000 buys her Buyers name,
please. Mr.. Moneybsgs? Thank you.
The solicitors will wait on you in the
morning. Now put up the next lot"
And thus the sales OF human flesh and
blood proceed day after day and year
after year in the marriage mart OF the
modern Babylon. If am charged with
exaggersting the prevailing condition OF
things am content to call one witness,
and one only, in support of the accuracy
of what have set down in no spirit OF
uncharitableness. Let us bear "Canou
Liddon on the Marriage Market" for
that ia the exact heading which the
newspapers gave their reports of that
memorable discourse which the ever-to-
be-lamented divine delivered from the
pulpit OF st. PauPs cathedral short
time before his death. Canon Liddon
Il am now quoting textually from the
newspaper reports Of the period), preach
ing yesterday at st. PauPs on the para
BILE OF the rich landowner who had more
goods than he could stow away, said
there were many counterpRrts OF him in
modern society. Alter dwelling
on four considerations as to the use or
abuse OF property to be derived from the
parable, Canon Liddon said:
"The London season is approaching,
and bevy of mothers, like generals on
= campaign, will complain OF no fatigue
II they can only marry their daughters,
not to high-souled and generous men,
but to those who have O fortune. There
mil oil ha - ~