The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-28
The Season of Meddinga.

The number Of weddings that are to follow
Easter will be unusually large this year.
Both the grand weddings in the society OF
fashion and the unions Of brides and grooms
outside OF that narrow circle will be many
during the next few weeks.
A multitude OF successful SWANS have
been waiting impatiently for the close Of
Lent to obtain social and religious
sanction OF the wedlock to which
they have looked forward so eagerly
Dealers are advertising garments suitable
for the glorious occasions and gifts proper
for the lovely and beautiful brides. The
shops are thus made all the more brilliant
In their display at this Easter season. The
cleygymen are rejoicing over the prospect
OF rat wedding fees. The sections are
getting ready to ring the wedding
bells In daily succession. The choirs are
practising wedding music Expectant brides
and grooms are rehearsing with their at
tendants the ceremonies through which
they are so soon to pass. The florists are
looking forward to rich harvest OF dollars
for the flowers with which they will deco
rate wedding festivities. Wretched bach
elors who have not yet been able to
win a bride. or who are prevented from
marriage by the hardship of their cir
full preparations with envy and despond-
ency. Timid SWANS who have not yet
dared TO risk the momentous question are
melted by such examples Of happy conquest
to cast aside their faintheartedness and ask
for decision OF their fate. Thus the Easter
weddings and their publication serve to
stimulate the laudable desire for marriage
which Is In the heart OF every bachelor
deserving OF consideration. Hardly a
wedding occurs which does not lead TO
others: and hence we expect that the in
crease OF matrimony this spring. already
made evident. will be multiplied by the
happy marriages it will provoke.
Statistics have been published to show
that the marriage rate is decreasing In civ
ilization; and 1t has been argued that the
over-rehnement OF this period is making
great numbers Of men and women too SEN
sitively critical In their tastes for the ex-
pertinent Of wedlock. 1t Is said, too, that
the growing independence OF women has
bred In them repugnance to sacrificing
their individuality in marriage. But. so far
as there has been any actual decline In
the marriage rate. 1t is not explaina-
Bile by these alleged causes. ObvI-
ously wedlock is as popular as it
ever was. Mrs. MONA CARD. herself a
happy married woman. writes from her
head and not her heart when she laments,
ridicules. and eriticises marriage as 1t now
exists. as decaying institution. speaking
OF Its bondage as narrowing to the soul
and destructive OF the full and healthy
hawya 90 81.
sensitive and hypercritical people who
are keeping aloof from marriage, ac-
cording to the assumption OF the pessl-
mistic philosophers. include the men and
women who are least likely to be con-
tent with single life. They do not know
when they are happy. but they know that
there Is no happiness In mans being alone.
People who talk that way are the most
probable candidates for matrimony. They
are the quickest TO fall In love and TO find
their real or imaginary Compliments and
aftinlties. They can't get along alone with
out distress. They need sympathy or the
stimulus OF contrast and eontrariety In the
marriage relation.
Neither Is there any indication that the
growing independence OF women in seek
ing to carve out careers for themselves Is
having any tendency to dlssuade them
from marriage. The great majority Of the
most radical Of the womens rights adyo-
Gates Of the last forty years have been mar
rled women: and II they were splnsters
when they began their agitation. usually
they have entered into matrimony during
its progress. The present remarkable
movement in this State to induce the com
ing Constitutional Convention to strike out
from the Constitution the restriction of
the suffrage TO men. originated among
women. almost all Of whom are married,
none Of whom has expressed or eounte-
nAneed the specious arguments against
which have been so frequently
aud so inslneerely proclaimed at this Pc
rod. This movement has gathered 80
much force that 1t is sure TO exert a power
full influence on the members OF the COnsti-
tuuOnAl Convention. many Of whom al
ready and in advance Of the deliberations
have declared their conviction that the
granting Of woman suffrage is a measure Of
simple Justice. IhsreYolution. apparently.