The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-09-16

Men and Marriage.

Phemising that, bachelor though We
be, we quite alive to the value OF a
good wife, apfreciating to the full the
heaven which such a one can make OF
home, and admitting that by nature
there is void in mans heart which can
only be adequately filed by the advent
less confidently assert that the fair sex
OF the. middle and upper classes are
themselves very largely responsible for
the present falling off in the worship OF
Hymen. Thus writes a bachelor in the
Westminster Review. and continues
me irrevocable step is one not high
" to be taken by those who would de-
serve matrimonial happiness. and vet
how many men and maidens change
Their condition without and prior in
quiry into mutual Observation-Disclosures
they would not purchase a blood horse
which they could get off their hands
without much trouble without scruti:i-
i,zing closely the pedigree-with scarce
ly thought for the future. only in too
many instances. thencefOrth to wander
uneasily through labyrinthian nazes in
Se ;eadsi 4I heart arts s-ease and content!
mesucated. OF good physique. and in
every way calculated to become t,rIe
helpmates. though unfortunately in a
decided minority in the girl-world to-dav
ana careful intelligent research will
Hsc0vTr quite Il sufficient choice for
M1Vuid-4e penedlcts But such jewels,
certain extent by most. are too good for
the average run or men. and if the seek-
81 az " WlIe De not Bayard in mini
ity or Il refusal and seek his divinitv
among those who will not decline 70 ~,
cept nm with his not too scrupuIously
Though married life Is not without
IT'S cares, the case OF the average bach
elor Is OF too pitiful and lonely a char
acter for him not TO be very willing 10
escape from 1t by entering the matrino-
NAL moose could he only depend ON some
maiden TO whom his heart flies ont prov
ing real helpmate. But, unfortunately.
ne mas no guarantee that such will be
the case. The playfulness which charmed
before marriage sometimes deyelopes
into temper after the knot. which no
Efforts Efforts OF the teeth can unlooose. has
Deen ted fast by the tongue-having
merely been assumed for the moment
as part and parcel OF the equipment re-
quisite FOR the capture of the fish matri-
monial-while, i'm other cases posf-nup-
tial experience demonstrates that FRA
gdllty and the proper rule Of a household
are absent virtues. Thus the presence
OF mahy snowy limitations of the genuine
article renders the task of the searcher
after a true helpmate no light one. b1f
perseverance will usually meet with is
due reward. To deserve a wife OF wort p
however. the would be benedict must
choose his divinity for what she is not
Tor what she appears to be.
There would be some prospect OF a.
Improvement in succeeding general o..
physically. mentally, and morally If taa
majority. or right thinking men (ard
women, for that part too contemplate
marriage avoided as a pestlence the M e.
hilarious crew Of fast, brazen-faced .e-
representatives. Of the opposite sex who.
II appearances go FOR anything. hay.
lost all power TO appreciate whoiesou, .
nome life. Their talk Is OF the sewn o
OF life, and among them even Womcr
who ought TO be examples OF betta-
things. listen without n blush to d0uh' e
entendres, and seem to take positive
pleasure In the discussion of sub'e I ;
OF more than doubtful character. OUT
wardly. not few Of these women ma
be fair TO look upon. though all to-
frequently close investigation goes e.
prove that all is simply another version
OF the old tale regarding the white out
side Of the charnel house. But an0thc~.
and vastly different type of woman
hood. call forth the praises even OF tho
cynic. Regard with feelings akin to those
with which you welcome the COMING o
spring in the sight OF the first snOw-drop
lin which pleasure and admiration blend
into something near akin to veneratiOnl
any girl in whom maidenly modest
and unsullied purity are fifty framed IN
good physique. and a fair modicum o.
that self-sacriicing disposition which
has the effect of causing her to think
twice before speaking once, Jest In by
so doing something might Gnwittng,v
be said that would hurt the feelings OF
some other person."