The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-04

prints recently given utterance TO Sentt-
ments conveying the conclusion that
young people should not enter upon the
responsibilities of marriage unless the
bread winner has an income greater than
eight or ten dollars per week. The di-
vorce courts with their long array or
legal separations have been pointed tc
and the statement made that tho primary
causes OF q majority Of divorces are
traceable to the inability of the man TO
support his wife properly.
AS In most instances where the public
generally is concerned. there Is var
lance of Individual opinion. Many Will
not listen to any abridgment of the right
or any question of the inclination of the
individual be hts income great or sinaH.
TO enter into matrtmony. Others believe
that the question. strikes right at the
root of great social problem, While
those in different walk of life express
inability to see 1t In that light, declaring
the will of the Individual will always
prevail oil. the perplcxing questions raised
by entry into matrimony, without refer
ence to problems growing out OF tt and
OF primary Importance to the great social
body.
From the fastness of her farm abode
In South Africa, Olive Schreinef hurts
down the gauntlet in behalf of woman
urging her to enter more freely thar
heretofore into the pursuits Of Industry
and by her wage earnings work out her
own salvation. From the emfnence of his
pulpit In st. Paul, a noted divine thun-
ders against the employment of women Id
the professions of industry, declaring the
whole social fabric to be In danger.
Then, there are others-many others
who, by reason of their varied surround
TyiGJ yuIf
considered as those Of the fndlXfduaI.
have lust as much weight as those of the
autheress or the preacher. For the beHe-
fit of those interested in the subject the
Globe has made requests for express
sions Of opinion thereon from various III
dividuals the results being given here
with:
MERCHANTS OPINION.
Theodore L. Sehurmeier, wholesale dry
goods merchant: 1.-The only opinion L
could express Is one based on the little
personal knowledge 1 have. I know that
men have married and are living on sal
aries of from IS to 81 per week.
DO YOU see any cause for diseouragfng
such marriages.
t'None suggested by my personal OBJ
= servation In general way would en-
courage marriage and home-makfng. 1t
makes better men and women. Without
to see wherein 1t is part of the great
social problem of which so much has
been said and written recently"
DIR. ANDREWS VIEW.
Rev. Charles D, Andrews, rector OF
Christ Episcopal church:
after great many years experience
of observation I think the early marriage
of the young man and young woman Is
B. to- be encouraged. This Is the young
mans age, and it Is largely the young
mans fault If he does not reap the bene-
fits of this advantage. Few young men
who are fit to marry at any time but
what can find place that will pay them
enough to live on If they are content to
live as economically as their parents did
when they began life; and the sensible
girl (Ehe is more numerous than is gen
orally supposedly Is willing to begin life
with the young man who IS not all Sentf-
n1ent in his weoing+ but shows capacity
to take care of his reputation and his
wages But If this same sensible girl Is
NOT asked to become the wife Of some
good sensible man, she has right to
look after herself In any honorable oc-
cupatfon that is open to her And as
long as she behaves herself, as a lady
should, she has a right, at all times and
I'm all places. to demand the respect and
protection which the chtvalry of all Amer
lean manhood ought to feel bound to show
her.
cit is far better that young people
should make homes for themselves early
in life. and to learn by frugality and mu-
g.. tual experience how to keep them; but
as the state cannot legislate ON this mat
ter and force young people TO marry, do
not let us make it uncomfortable and
disagreeabIe for the woman more than
the man to find employments that will
give her a chance to live in freedom and
self-respect."
AS A WOMAN SEES IT.
Miss Grace Beckwith, clerk at the Gold
en- Rule:
'-My inclination would be toward the
encouragement Of marriages where the
wages of the husband do not exceed SO
or S12 per week. At the same time, my
opinion Is that the question is one for
the consideration of the Individual It Is
undertaking great deal to advise, dis
courage or attempt to influence the inc l.
nations of people on the marriage queS-
ton My belief Is that not more than
one-quarter Of the marriages made on $40
per week are really successful. Govern
ing conditions are so varied that It would
be difficult, probably impossible. to lay
down rules or establish customs that
would work any Improvement in the sit
uation. and, to tell the truth, my belief
Is that 1t does no good to advise or at
l.,stempt to regulate the Views OF fnclfna-
tons of others on the marriage CUES
ton"
= "Wherein does the subject bear upon
the social problem
''In many ways. 1 can readily see cause
for objection to the encouragement of
marriages on small salaries, but am IN
able to see wherein public discussion viii
have any effect. Public opinion has
weight and influence in all things, but 1t
will not bear down grim conditions. I
would look to betterment of industrial
conditions for q solution of the problem
The romantic sentiment of love in a cot
tage is all right as far as 1t goes, but
the expenses of housekeeping or home
sustenance are more potent factors In the
social problem"
PRINCIPALS POINT Or VIEW.
Principal Margaret Corcoran, of the
Douglas school:
az think the question is closely allied
to the social problem. 1 have read news
paper and magazine discussion of the
tonic I do not agree with Olive Schrein-
or that more general employment Of
women in the professions and pursuits
will dispose of It. Pubic opinion will new
or discourage the home establishment. On
the other hand, it Will applaud the sue
cessfuI and sympathize with the unfortu-
nate marriage ventures.
ssThe solution? The time Is not 1fpe for
IT. The dispositions and tenperaments OF
.neople make it impossible to Judge clear
~. Some couples would succeed where
others would fail. The only thing that
can be said is the general statement that
a woman should not marry unless she
betters her condition
ssOur cosmopolitan population prevents