The herald., 1894-07-22
SHOULD POOR PEOPLE MARRY
Abstention From Matrimony
Considered Pro and Con.
Some Advice rendered to the Masses
on the Subject.
The Rich and the Poor and TIL cir Place
in the Social Systsm-What
the Poor Must
Learn.


! The rapid increase of population Il
our humber ranks of life is held b,
many thinkers to be prolific of socia
evils. As a rule the poor have larg,
. families. Rural industries are few ant
their wages low. Hence there is con
slant influx from the country to tn,
towns, so much go, that writer re.
Gently asserted that no Londoner borr
and bred could trace for himself three
generations of London ancestors. Town
occupations are thus overcrowded and
thousands unable to find employment
To remedy the miseries arising from
this state of things, numerous schemes
have been from time to time proposed
es emigration, Malthusianism and alb.
etention from marriage. Without dis.
cussing at present the remedial value OF
the two first, we address ourselves to
the last named. Especially SO the i'm
neral and baleful doctrine-ss we con-
slider it-is widely held: That marriage
is luxury to be INDUCED in bv the
! well-to-do only.
The question, then. whether the poor
ought to marry or not is bound to in
terest many readers. A few observa-
lions on the subject may therefore be
acceptable, particularly as many things
have to be considered before lust
decision can be drawn. For an act NAV
be legally right and morally wrong, or
morally right and legally wrong. 1t may
be good for the individual and bad for
the community. or vice versa,
1t ie impossible to lay down any def
mite income to indicate what ia meant
by poor" because what would be pov-
erty to one would be wealth to another.
Any man. no matter how much he pos-
sesses who is pinched and harassed bv
his requirements, and whose reasonable
wants exceed his means of supplying
them, is really poor. The stole philoso.
phels OF old time taught that the way to
be rich was to reduce our wants, to
dispense with everything which was not
necessary to healthy life. And thus.
as the story goes, the cynic Diogenes,
who restricted himself to tub to dwell
in and wooden bowl for drinking from,
threw the latter away when be saw a
thirsty soldier drink out of his hands.
But we are none of us stoics and very
few philosophers. We are mostly prac-
ticsl. matter OF fact people, who run our
wheels In the common ruts and copy the
ways OF the world. We want to live,
and to live respectfully, after the fashion
OF our fellows, and the question really
intended is, Would people OF very limited
incomes be better or worse for marry-
ing?
Before we could answer this we should
want to know what sort of people thev
are. If they have small incomes and
extravaganza habits or tastes, or if they
are deficient in energy and business apt
itude. or even in moral principles, then
they had tar better remain single. But
il they are the converse of all these,
marriage will not only be suitable but
highly desirable. Paradoxical as it may
seem, a good and thrifty wife would
make the late bachelors income go far
Their for two than for one. Her deft
and ready fingers would at the same
time multiply his comforts. Her thrifty
and careful habits would prove the safest
guardians of his humble store.
We presume, of course, that the mar
riAge is prompted by love, otherwise it
is likely to be failure. Only rich
people cen venture to marry without it,
as they have other corporations OF
which we do not approve, but which
they often seem to imagine suit them
just as we'll.
To our thinking loveless marriage 10
not only an unnatural union, but is
sheer folly or downright wickedness.
People will sometimes say, "Oh, but
love will come after marriage" Never
The chances are too many against it.
An intelligent and mutual affection,
however. lie in itself marriage, and we
must not be led away by supposing that
ha =
than ceremony.
people Of suitable dispositions, as men
toned. should marry. Marriage Gala
forth all the latent good that may be in
them. 1t enlarges their sympathies and
their hopes; it gives incentive to action
and solidity to character; it steadies
the wavering, and saves those who
would otherwise be lost. The home may
be poorly furnished, and wanting in
many things; but love hrightens and
cheers the humbleat cottage. And, after
all, it is a real home where two brave
souls cherish and comfort each other.
And when the children come, the
parents have lipened by experience,
and have discovered the means whereby
to provide for them. Often, too, they
come rs Gods angelo, to heal wounded
heart or to strengthen a weak spirit.
Thus, poor and rich are not absolute,
but relative terms. For man is not
nourished by bread alone, but by
thought and action, and innocent pleas.
ures, and above all, by sympathy. The
confirmed bachelor is apt to develop
hard and selfish creature; the old maid
is too likely to become sour and crusty.
and not because their characters are
worse than those of others, but because
their circumstances have not been favor.
able for the growth of their higher feel
ings. True marriage ia often like
Moses rod which smote the hard rock
and refreshing waters gushed forth.
They were hidden, pent up. waiting for
the friendly touch that should free
them.
OF course certain measure OF pru-
dence should be exercised before en-
gaging in marriage. A man should see
bis way to fulfilling all reasonable re-
probabilities, and in go important
matrer-the most important of his life
should weigh we'll what no is about to
do. As rule, the character of his wife
is OF more consequence than the amount
of his income. If the latter would be
sufficient in the hands of prSdent and
domesticated woman, and he is attached
TO such a one in mutual love, then the
sooner they marry the better. Let them