The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-03-19
MARITAL ODDITIES.
MOST Widowers and widows Renarry
Sonae6HiTaeS Twice

Most WidoweFs and widows Reaarry
= SonnstIfnes Twice
1t has been remarked that times of
speculation are invariab bly, accompanied
by an increase OF marriages. DR.. Farr,
the eminent statistician, hazards,
therefore. the suggestion that it is the
spirit of speculation itself that leads
many to embark on matrimony at such
times. Another reason, which he is
careful not to ignore, is the increased
prosperity that induces and sometimes
seems to accompany what he calls the
periodical epidemies of speculation.
A great war. after it is over, is good
for marriage. So is a good harvest, so
is the establishment of new indus
tries or the extension of old ones
The reason is the same in all these
instances; the increased prosperity
of the general body of the people.
So intimately is matrimony associated
with national wel1-doing that it has
come to be styled the barometer of
prosperity. Its indications, however,
are more for the future than for the
present, dealing rather with the ex-
pected and anticipated than with the
actual. But this only goes to SUBJ
stantiate what was said of marriage as
a speculation.
The nation is sometimes extraordi-
narily sanguine, and when this is the
case marriages are plentiful. Great
popular leaders inspire this feeling
A statesman of genius at the head of
affairs perceptibly increas es the mar
rage rate.
In word, the great fluctuations in
the marriages are the results of peace
after war, abundance after dearth, high
wages after want of employment, spec
ulation after languid enterprise, con-
fdence after distrust and national tri-
umphs after national disaster.
The marriage returns invariably
show corresponding increase for any
augmentation in the duties paid upon
malt, wine and spirits They in the
same way keep pace with the con-
sumption of tea, sugar, coffee and to-
bacco, and with the imports of raw
silk, cotton, wool and timber. The
one increase is not, however, the cause
of the other; both are but effects of the
same cause-increased national pros
perity.
Marriages after banns are five times
as numerous as marriages after Ii
censes. When the price of wheat is
high the diminution in the former
class is comparatively much greater
than in the latter. They are the first
to be affected by high prices, licenses
and banns being regarded as the pros
pective badges of capital and labor
not without important exceptions, how
ever.
Autumn is the favorite season every
where; with few spring is preferred.
Half the weddings throughout the
country are celebrated on Wednesday
and Thursday. Saturday has more
than the average number. Friday is
not a favorite, as few marriages. are
celebrated on that day.
Widowers are more inclined to marry
than bachelors. Widows are more in
elined to marry than spinsters. Both
facts are eloquent in favor of the COM
parative advantages of matrimony.
For one bachelor that marries between
the ages of fifty and fifty seven
widowers remarry between these ages.
These are marriages out of equal NUM-
bers of each class; the actual number
of bachelors married will be greater
only in proportion as they exceed by
seven to one the actual number of
widowers living at these ages. Under
the same conditions, for every spinster
married between thirty and sixty-6ve
two widowers are remarked. IN. Y.
DiSnafoh