The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-19

very old. 1t is probable that when the first
man thought of making his dress coat out
of two coon skins instead of one. there was
an cutlery against sumptuous and eXtrava-
CANT apparel. and when the first woman
discovered that articles of food might be
boiled in Kettle as well roasted In the
ashes, there first arose this alleged "obSta-
cle. the objection that the expenses of
housekeepins- including kettles were far
beyond the means of the ordinary man, and
that marriage was becoming an impossible
institution, In fact, the supposed extrava-
gance of women with their "brodered hair
and Jewels is the subject of denunciation
by the oldest of prophets and moral and
religious teachers.
The obstacle" be it old or new. has al
ways been there. but it is sincere pleas
ure to announce that il has never been un-
conquerabie Perhaps it has prevented the
course of true love from running smooth.
but ii has never stopped its flow. The world
has never yet become too poor for love or
marriage. and welded happiness has yet
been quoted as 'out Of sight.
Mr. Martin. in his survey of the ''obsta-
that it costs 5000 for small family to
live a year in New York in deeorous semi
comfort To two young people who are
looking forward to life together, with a
small family as an incident statisticians
do not amount 20 much even when they
tell the truth. the whole truth and nothing
but the truth. and the truth is that there
are many more families living in New York
and in sufficient comfort, according to their
IDEAS, who pay less than $4,000 year than
who pay that sum or more. and, taking the
country over. S60C0 a year is not considered
a prerequisite to marriage and small fam
lily by any manner of means.
Love affairs. such generally in
tended to terminate in marriage. will be
cont inued from this date to the end of the
world without reference to the financial
question. The currency supply, the prevail
ing rate of interest. and the condition of
the money market may have slightly de-
layed, but never yet prevented the union of
two hearts that beat one. And when two
souls have determined on a single thought
they will keep on thinking. no matter what
1t costs to keep house And ii is singular
that all the statistcans have not yet set
tied what it does cost to keep house in this
country. Mr.. Martins statiSticianS figure
$4,000 as the cost of domestic felicity But
plenty of other StatisticianS might be found
who would make the price $500 There was
once q learned man in Massa chusettS who
lived a year for $50. He lived and died
bachelor. but probably he would have esti-
mated the annual expenses of a small fam
lily at 800 per annun.
There are no new obstacles no more rea-
sons and arguments against the promptings
of the human heart than there have been
before, and in this country al this time
their plans and expectations may have the
consolation of knowing that what money
they chance to possess. be the amount ever
so small, viii go further in buying what
nothing, they do not belong to the poor
VINO are said to be growing poorer. If they
nave anything they are richer than people
VINO nad the same amount fifty years ago
Inc iack OF great deal OF money is less
an obstacle now than at any time in the
past: The talk of the extravaganza of mod
ern housekeeping is largely tWaddle People
buy more because there is more to buy
ana increasing cheapness has made it ac-
cessble. If love in a cottage" was ever a.
reality it still remains so with good deal
better cottage for the same money Let us
hear no more of obstacles