The herald., 1897-06-21
MATRIMONIAL
Marriage Market Booming
During June
SOME ODD AN7'pA7HIEs
THE OLD TAX UPON BACHELORS
BEING REVIVED
Admiration for the Old Maid but
Condemnation Only for the
Tribe Of Bachelors

ways ioiidHtiC SupJeCI VI HidTTldBe. Dul
the f1end with a decided penchant for
figures has not been able to withhold his
hand, and long tables have been pre-
pared to prove truth vaguely but gen.
orally known.
1t has always been supposed that May
Is an unpropitious month for marriages.
and this view is sustained by the official
figures Of Los Angeles county as we'll as
of the tabulated statements returned
from other parts Of the United States.
While these returns are irregularly
made, an approximate estimate has
been made which shows that Of 1900
marriages in year the even average
per month would be 100. But instead of
this average being maintained, June,
the favorite month for marriages, leads
with 174 marriages, January comes next
with 100, December with 139, July
with 124, November with ia, and so on
down to February with 70, May bring
ing up the rear with 40.
The order of popularity of the several
months may be said to apply in the
various parts of the world where the
Anglo-Saxon stock is the predominating
influence. Climate seems to cut but lit
tie figure, but racial characteristics and
probably racial superstitions have
marked influence. In Germany April is
the favorite month and October comes
second. In France April is the favorite
month and January second. In Hun
gary February comes first and Novem-
Der second. In Italy February first and
November second. In Greece October
comes first and January second. In
Sweden November first and December
second. In Russia the curious fact is
noted that two months-March and No
vember, corresponding to our Easter
and Christmastide-are practically
barred from marriages. But in Russia
the average duration of marriages is
highest, with thirty years, and the
United States the least, with nineteen
years. This last is a mere estimate,
however, based on incomplete returns,
the least in Europe being Holland, with
twenty-three years.
And while there are fads in favor OF
the time for marriage, there are fads,
too, amounting almost to antipathies,
against marriage at any time.
Within recent years France has
thought it worth while to offer a bonus
to men embarking upon the ocean of
matrimony. and in various states of the
Union it has been proposed to levy a
tax upon all bachelors. 1t is somewhat
odd that statistics from all quarters of
the globe present annually a steady de-
cline in the number of marriages. The
lowest point Of matrimonial percentage,
however, has been reached in the Ar
gentine republic. and to combat this
state of affairs the following law went
into effect on the first day of this year:
Every male from the age Of 20 to 80
shall pay tax until he marries. and
shall pay it once every month. Young
celibates of either sex who shall, without
legitimate motives, reject the addresses
of him or her who may aspire to her or
his hand, and who may continue contu-
maciously unmarried, shall pay the sum
of 500 pesos for the benefit of the young
person who has been so rejected"
There Is nothing very new about this
bachelor tax, and, indeed, it is almost as
old as the hills. In the Mosaic time.
with only rare exceptions. marriage was
obligatory among the Jews. Lycurgus
treate bachelors with infamy. The
lashlng of bachelors was an annual cere-
mony, publicly performed in the temple
of Juno by the women of Sparta. In
other republics of Greece there were es-
tablislhed penal laws against celibacy.
At Rome a penalty was imposed, and
after the seige of Veil Camillos the
single msm were forced to- marry the
widows of those who had fallen in de-
nf f1tIa.iy II
gustus enacted law known as the Lex
Julia ct Papia Poppoca. By it various
penalties We're imposed upon those per-
sistent celibates who refused to raise
children for the use of the state.
III former times there were numerous
Instances in Great Britain of additional
or higher taxes being imposed on bach
elors or widows, but this was done, with
an eye single to an Increase in the. rev.
enue rather than for any other object.
But while bachelors have been at the
best regarded as very selfish and use
less members of society, defenders and
admirers of single women have not been
lacking. Their aptitude for single, bles-
sedness has not been denied, but is being
conceded It1lasi ever been pop-
ular to attempt to frighten men into
by telling them that no man
ever remained bachelor without sooner
or later regretting it. Such well mean
ing people forget the words of the grand
old bachelor, st. Paul, who does not ap-
pear to have been moved with regret
when he said: " Iwould that all men
were even as myself. 1t is good for them
IL they abide even as T."
. When 1t is remembered that Michael
Angelo, Bishop Kerr, Isaac Watts, Top
lady, Montgomery, Horn Tooke, John
Randolph, Washington Irving, DR.. Muh-
lenberg, Baron Humboldt, James Buch-
anan. Samuel Tilden. Thadd'sus Stevens.
John j. Whittier and Phillips Brooks
were bachelors, and that many people
lived to bless them for remaining so, the
warning respect that special tax upon
them is calculated to engender returns.
Many great men have completed their
best efforts before marriage, and the
union added nothing to their laureds.
The divorce courts indicate that ordinary
averaging them up, do not fare
much better The trouble is not with
but with the selfishness that
instead of being bred out appears to
be being bred into people. They think
marriage can take the place of change Of
heart and character, whereas the char
acteristics that make them mfsera BILE
single wall enhance the unhappineps in
the married condition.