The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-08-18
YOUNG MEN AND MATRIMoNY

CFrom the Chicago Times Herald.)
A month or two ago Mrs. Kate Can
nett Wells in the North American Re
view asked the question: why do not
young men marry and answered it,
probably to her own satisfaction, that
it was largely due to their selfishness.
OF course, the majority of young men,
taking the country over. do marry, as
the license office and the divorce courts
assure US, but Mrs. Wells has in mind
a class of young men of 80 years and
upward, whose means or incomes would
abundantly justify their marriage, but
who refuse to enter the bonds. Doubt
less her indictment against them is
we'll laid. But what is to be done
about it?
Men a 30 have lost some at least of
their illusions. Love in a cottage is one
of them. a dinner of herbs, even with
contentment, has charms for them
They prefer the stalled OK and a liber-
al dowry, other name not so import
ant
AS these always do not combine in a
way to suit, the young men stay UNI
married.
That some men do not marry when
they are at the impressienable age and
still see plenty of ~rainbows in the fu-
ture is not altogether their own fault.
The young women who compete with
them for the ordinary clerkly positions
do two things They reduce the rate
of wages and they prevent young men
from obtaining employment where they
would ultimately grow into salaries on
which they could marry. There are, OF
course, thousands of young men VINO
take the chances and get married on
ten or fifteen dollars a week, but there
are thousands of others who Will not,
and who by the time they are in re-
ceipt of what they consider a sufficient
income have lost their inclination to
marry.
we are not saying that the social
condition that compels so many young
women to seek employment is not in
evitable. All we mean is that it is one
of the causes that prevent many young
| men from seeking the married state.
| Mrs. Charlotte Smith also has ideas
ON this subject and would cure the ev-
lis of bachelorhood by having congress
| pass a law compelling men to marry.
She would have a national commission
| appointed to make the matches and to
pick out men and women who would
| be suitable for each other.
There is much to be said for this
plan, apart from its practicability- 1t
was the law of Sparta, as laid down by
| Lycurgus, and we all know what
| virtuouS, robust and courageous peo-
| pie the Spartans were. Not only so,
but the plan had the high sanction of
| DIR. Johnson, for that sturdy mOraliSt
| believed not only in marriage, but in
| early marriage.
Talking on this subject one day, Bos-
| we'll inquired of him:
| B.-Pray, sir, do you not suppose that
| there are so women in the world, with
| any one of whom a man may be as
| happy as with any one woman in par
| ticular?
| Jay. sir, fifty thousand.
|. B.-Then, sir, you are not of opinion
| with some who imagine that certain
| men and certain women are made for
| each other. and that they cannot be
| happy if they miss their counterparts?
| ITO be sure not, sir. believe mar
| riages would in general be as happy,
| and often more so, if they were all
| made by the lord chancellor, upon a
| due consideration of the characters
| and circumstances without the parties
having any choice in the matter.
| There is a great deal of sound sense
| in these observations, and the time
| may come in the development of the
| human race when some such law will
| be adopted.
| Meantime we will whisper to Mrs.
Smith that she is only losing her time
! in applying to congress. Marriage
| comes under the laws of the states on
ly. Let her try her hand on Mas
| Sachusetts.