Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-09-10

The French nation is not alone in the
evident decline or failure. OF marriage
in many places. That alarming fact
may be found elsewhere than among
the Gauls. While II may not be true
of country life in America, our cities
furnish many illustrations of the fact
The conditionsafor marriage In Atlanta
are perhaps as favorable as can be
found elsewhere; and yet II is hardly
an extravaganza estimate to say that
there are fully 5000 unmarried young
men in her population. BY young men
mean bachelors. and no bachelor
who intends to find his mate ought to
be regarded old, although singleness
OF state Is favorable to rapid aging.
There is a field here for the press.
as we'll as. for the pulpit. This is not
subject for fiippant treatment. AS well
deal with the great facts of life and
death and destiny after that manner!
Marriage stands closely related to all
of these Incidents of human life. Pa
triotism. peace and happiness are
bound up In this union. which is both
a human. privilege and divine ordina-
ton. Next to a neglected gospel, a
neglected marriage counts most for
mans deterioration and wretchedness.
II Is a talent committed to men for
safe and faithful Improvement: and
most OF such as hide II in the earth
are excluded from the heaven here its
wise use would assure. And in general
marriage so uplifts man, and brings
into wise exercise his nobler feelings
as TO greatly predispose him to a re-
turn to his Maker. Whatever is help
full Is channel for the stream of grace
to flow in its man-seeking movement.
The pulpit and the press alike, then,
- a14,. de IL.
a revival of marrying, until every man
shall have his wife and every woman
shall have her husband. @ ~
There are few exceptions from the
obligation to marry. Confirmed disease,
vileness OF living, habits Of alcoholism
ought to bar men out of this benign
provision Of Providence for the races
pefpetuation and Improvement. But
industrious, healthy, clean men can
not put aside this obligation or need
lessly postpone its assumption without
offending God and bringing damage or
loss upon themselves. It issnot cross
TO be taken up with trembling and
fear. A woman's heart Is richer than
hidden treasure. and whoever worthily
wins that Is rich indeed. and surely
finds favor with the Lord"
The cost of running a home without
dOhbNs 0CACAe many a man AAOAA
riage. His salary is not large enough,
he feels, to meet the increased de-
mands upon his purse. and leave any
margin of unexpended means for I'M
usual occasions. But there is less dam
ger Of embarrassment in a marriage
made union of lives than IN the reck-
less. extravaganza of a. majority of
bachelors. at4F
Not one man in fifty, at least II he
lives in city circles, Is saving anything
from HIS wages. After fifteen or
twenty years OF clerkships and toll
not more than that proportionaof wage
and salary earners have enough saw
ings to decently bury themselves.
Would Il have been worse, II they had
sought for a true woman to help them
lead economic and industrious lives
from the beginning? 1t takes more to
feed two than one; but two are usually
more successful than is one in making
the means for feeding. Besides the