The herald., 1895-04-10
WHY THEY DO NOT nARRY

"Of all sad words of tongue or pen.
The saddest are these: where are the men " >
So sings a charming young lady with
manageable qualifications. For almost
decade ordinary observation, reinforced
by carefully collected statistics, has dis
covered the alarming fact that the rate oi
marital alliances is diminishing. And the
why and the wherefore of this has be-
come the subject of speculation with So
biologists and philosophers, as we'll as
with uIalled maidens. Certainly the
average of the latter are no less attractive
than heretofore. Art and science have
both been enlisted in the task of assisting
nature to amplify their charms of person
and no one possessing any degree of ac-
quaintance with them, will dispute the
assertion that in grace of manner, and in
the diversity and utility of their accom-
pllshments they have commensurately ad-
vanced And nobody will contend that
the general run of tine young men of to-
day are less interesting than their pre-
decessors. The average of intelligence
among them is higher than that of their
sres. They dress better have fewer
vices, are more refined in conduct and
speech are more widely endowed with
entertaining qualities. ana even seem
to be just as viruently afflicted as
their ancestors, with the old, old
habit of lowering around the gentler
sex. The elements of affinity are SEEM
ingly present. And yet the men and
maidens do not wed-enough. 1t may be
that the success and facility with which
women have invaded the industrial and
commercial fields formerly monopolized
by men has disinclined them to enter
upon a relation that seems TO mean the
merging of their individuality into that
of another. This is unquestionably true
of that class who before married a man
because they "had to have home" And
while the participation of women in
those callings that were so long consid
cred purely masculine, may have the ef-
feet of subduing or altogether eliminating
some of the most lovable features of fem
inine character, it is immeasurably pre-
ferable to marital relations enforced by
necessity. Marriages of the latter class
are as immoral in principle and as dis
appointing in results as the matrimonial
barters by which the daughters of A err
lean plutocrats acquire the clubworn
aristocrats of England and the continent.
There is but one consideration in the
contract of marriage that will endure the
test of time and scrutiny of the world,
and that is. simple, unalloyed; mutual
affection, Woman's ability to make
living nowadays outside the household
has largely obviated the need of her con-
senting to any other kind OF matrimony.
On the other hand certain social con-
ditions have operated to deter young
men from rushing too precipitately into
a state of wedlock. The rapid accumula
tion of large fortunes in the last quarter
of century has altered both individual
status and social standards. We have set
up new standard of success. The stand
ard of things as a substitute for the old
one of virtues and character. 1t is the
ability to estimate possessions that counts.
and he who can estimate the longest
seems to be greatest. In the race for
display, barbaric show often, is developed
the craze for wealth. and the latter be-
the goal of ambition. Happiness
seems to be found only in stately man
sions, brilliant jewels. costly apparel and
extrsvagant social functions, instead of
as before in comfortable homes, culti-
waited intellects, family affections and
and sinceIe friendships. That
the eyes OF large proportion of our
young women are set steadily upon this
latter-day standard is made evident by
the fact that it is almost as difficult for
an American bachelor of means to escape
net as it is for nobleman
of extraordinary title to miss an Ameri-
can heiress. Young men realize this alb
sorbing Importance that wealth has as
sumed in the estimation of the young
women OF the day, and quite
naturally hesitate at the assumption of
obligations that may swamp them.