The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-05-07
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BRSELENA'S PRATTLR.

Especial Correspondence of Record UnionO
PORTLAND (Or), April 26.-It is
getting to be well-knOwn fact that the
number of marrying men is growing
beautifully less year by year. Mothers
of manageable daughters, chaperOnes
and guardians are noting these symp-
toms with growing alarm. why is it,"
they ask anxiously. Are men growing
scarcer, or are our girls less attractive
than formerly?'
1 do not think that the latter ques
ton is worthy of consideration when
one looks at the blooming maids of to-
with the girls of any age or country.
The real reason of the lack of marriages
lies in the fact that both the men and
women of to-day expect too much Of
each other. Both sexes are equally
guilty; that is the reason that old
maids and bachelors are increasing
daily with alarming rapidity.
In these modern days a young cou-
pie are not content to start out in the
battle of life, as did their fathers and
mothers before them, with only love
and hope and ambition to help them
on the upward way; the man looks for
money and the woman for social posi-
ton. 1t is not their fault; it is the
fault of their bringing up. From the
first a woman has been taught that
love is thing of the past; that it is
old fashioned and quite out of date to
be sentimental that wealth and social
position are what she must look for.
ha no oh ha
same thing, consequently when he
makes up his mind to marry he does
not think of how good she may be, but
he gives serious consideration to the
length of her purse and how many of
her fathers hard earned dollars she
will bring him as a dowry. Just what
has caused this deplorable state of af-
fairs | am not prepared to say; per-
haps our cousins across the pond may
be able, should they feel so inclined, to
answer the question satisfactorily.
When a young man looks about him
for wife, in nine cases out of ten he
Will select woman with a pretty face.
He never pauseS to consider that the
pretty face may adorn a frivolous and
empty little head or cloak a demoniacal
temper Young men in love, or who
think they are which amounts to the
same thing, never listen to reason. Ex-
perience can be their only teacher.
When they find they have made mis-
take they either get a divorce or else
settle down to an apathetic existence.
Personally, l do not think such ex-
perienceS are harmful; that is, to
sensible man. Of course, there are
some men SO weak that when the hour
of adversely or trouble comes they seek
consolation and forgetfulness in places
and with companions that they never
dreamed of before-for men such as
these such an experience does more
harm than good; but for the man who
can rise above his troubles, keep his
head cool and steer clear of pitfalls and
temptations, the experience is not only
broadening but ennobling. 1t takes
sorrow and trouble to bring out the
best and noblest in every man or
woman'S nature.
When an older, more experienced
man of the world resolves to give up
his beloved freedom he does not give
second thought to beauty or physical
charm as he does to her bank account.
There is a strange blending of senti-
ment and worldly motives in the make
up of the average man of the world.
His contact with the world has brushed
off the finer edge of his nature; he
views the world not through the rose