Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-11
(For the Dispatch.)

u OF the DlSpatcn.J
LONDON, September IA book, writ
ten by a quartette of well-known wo-
men on the ever interesting subject OF
marriage has created sensation here.
The title has been changed from the an
tique one Of advice to Those About 10
Marry" that has done duty for so long.
The new book comes into the literary
field under the name Of 1.-THE Modern
Marriage Market" and it certainly is
causing a greater amount Of talk, and en-
countering a fiercer amount of criticism,
than any market volume ever printed.
THE LITERARY QUARTETTE.
The writer's are women prominent here,
and their names are sufficient guarantee
to Americans that the book is by no means
an ordinary volume. The quartette OF
writer's are Lady Jeune, Mrs. Flora Annie
Steel, Miss Marie Corelli, and Susan.
Countess Of Malmesbury. There has evil
IDENTIFY been no getting together of the
distinguished authors for the purpose df
comparing notes before writing the book,
for the opinions differ widely. and the
writer's do not hesitate to speak their
minds freely regarding the writing Of the
rest Of the four.
One fact concerning the book that
has been seized upon with avidity by It's
critics Is that the only one of the writer's
TO take Cupid in her arms and pet the
little god is Miss Marie Corelli, who Is
also the only unmarried one OF the four.
This strikes the critics here as being
peculiarly rich bit OF irony, and they are
making the most of it. Miss Corelli re-
fers with lofty scorn to the ideals OF
some of her married friends, and has
such advanced ideas on the subject her
self that It seems a pity that she should
ever spoil these by practical experience
Of married life.
SET EACH OTHER RIGHT.
The other three, Lady Jeune. Mrs. Steel,
and the Countess of Malmesbury. under
take TO set each other right in the con-
descending way peculiar to the high-boIn
British dame, who patroniZes the world
with unruffled good nature, and Is sell
dom disturbed in her self-conceit Lady
Jeune," says Susan, Countess Of Malmes-
bury, writes from the practical stand
point of a woman who has wide and
Intimate knowledge of the Special class
which she describes, but she confines her
self to do that alone" Mrs. Steel. again,
Is snubbed by the same controversialist
and told that she is more conversant
with the matrimonial affairs of our east
ern than our western sisters
The antagonist that Miss Corelli finds
most worthy Of her steel is the lady OF
that name. Mrs. Steel takes the stand
that marriage is as much devoid of ro-
nance as the most ordinary business or
life. Mrs. Steel looks at the world oil
women through lorgnettes that have been
turned on much misery, matrimonial ana
otherwise, I'm their time, and the conclu-
sion she arrives at is this: Compare it
0he love match) with the position which
our present system condemns, which nine
ont of ten women would be ashamed TO
confess. / do not expect intense per-
sonal qualification, but / wish 10 marry,
to have a home and children, TO take my
share in the glory and toll, and here Is
my chance. IL you come to analyze this.
you will find not only that 1t brings with
it far higher ideal of life, but that 1t
leaves us with something more OF foun-
dation for marriage than a mutual physi-
cal and mental attraction; an attraction
which the individual experience Of nearly
every man and woman in the world
teaches them is evanescent.'
MRS. STEEL'S VIEWS FAVORED.
1t is only right to say that the common
sense critics side with Mrs. Steel. How
ever much it may crate on the sensitive
nerves Of the romance-hunter, 1t is felt
by the majority of people in practical
England that where the choosing Is left
TO the man, and the girl has no voice
in the matter until she is asked 70 use
her voice--in saying Eyes" or mo-
that the girl is apt, after waiting
reasonable time, to say 20 herself: Here,
IL don't accept the first offer that comes
along, I shall DO left in the race al
together" So she goes 10 the altar with
a man for whom she has little regard,
and, the novelty OF marriage gone, she
Is left with nothing but the loveless life.
AS 10 the poor man who is carried of in
this unprincipled manner, the four ladies'
who write "The Modern Marriage Mar
ket' are silent. He seems to have been
left out of their calculations altogether.
The mans side Of the question is now
awaited with interest by those who have
read the woman's advice to women.