Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-04-30

III ~ Sily \ ~ nsidsn H.
~ - single not because they have
otheva Dependent upon them Tor sup
port: not because they are 50 absorbed
IN other walks in life that marriage be-
comes secondary thing: not because
they look with disdain upon the mar
rage tie; not because they wouldn't
get married II the right opportunity oc-
Cured, for they frankly say they would
be glad to unite heart and hands with
somebody else upon the highway OF
life.
ONE-SIDED SOCIAL CUSTOM.
Why then? Partly because they are
victims of social custom, which, for
one, ] should like to see modified to
considerable degree. AS things are
now men do the picking in the field of
matrimony and women must wait to
be picked. Yes, wait like berries on
the social bush for somebody to come
along and pick them. Abominable Gus
tom, and one which has led more than
one woman to take up with somebody
whom she knew was not her social and
intellectual equal, and instead of whom
she would have preferred another if
she could have followed the instincts
Of her nature without fear of being
called forward, bold, unwomanly and
in a hurry to get married.
SCIENCE AND LOVE COMBINED.
Where lies the remedy for this thing ?
Some readers will not agree with me in
what | am about to write, but l am
free to say that l think that rightly
conducted matrimonial bureaus would
be a blessing. Do not misunderstood
me- l do not mean these match-mak-
ing concerns which, fear, leave people
worse off than they find them, and
which are operated in order to get the
money of the over-credulous and the
foolish. Look about YOU Take into
consideration the thousands Of unmar-
womanly character to bestow on other
lives, when right opportunities come.
Contemplate the marriages in which
women have taken up with men who
were their interiors, thing they would
not have done had conditions bsen
different See the lack of reason dis
played in the too young and silly mar
riages that are made. In word. see
the people who come together at the
marriage altar without any reference
whatever to the great laws of body and
mind.
l would have a bureau which should
be conducted for the welfare of its APP
plicants, that is, honestly and intelli-
gently, the purpose being to assist men
and women who are mentally and phys
ically fitted for each other to become
acquainted. Persons whose profess
sional skill would make them compe-
tent to do so should examine each ap-
plicant and upon the books of the bu-
reau should appear the statements re-
garding both the weak and the strong
points of the body and mind of the PEI
sons, together with a record ST his or
her preferences concerning nationality,
religion, family standing, age, stature,
learning, occupation, knowledge OF
household affairs, complexion. features,
disposition and financial condition.
Surely there is nothing in such an
idea to cause the most refined man or
woman a shrug of the shoulders. And
could we have such bureaus people
would register at them and have their
charts filled with no thought whatever
that they were doing anything unman-
ly or unwomanly. and many woman
who will not be united with person
who is her inferior, just for the sake OF
getting married, would then have o2-
portunity to become acquainted with
somebody whose nature would blend
with her own.
For one / believe that, taken as
whole, marriages made under such in
telligent direction would be as truly
love matches as the matches made I'M
der the present social arrangements.
Such plan would also be a blessing to
a great number Of lives and make OPP
portunity for a truer expression of wo-
manly nature.
~ n Ar