The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-08-21
The Decline Of Marriage.

clergyman, "who has declared his pur-
pose OF finding remedy-by lottery
II no better means can DO found" as
it marriage itself were aot lottery
already by all accounts. However,
the severend gentleman, whose ad-
dress 10 not stated, is reported as ex-
planning that his congregation Of a
thousand adults, which formerly had
g record Of eighteen marriages q year,
has now dropped 70 ses:, and in as
signing reasons for the lowered rate it
was admitted that one efthem was most
likely the lack of social intercourse.
That there are more women than
me. :: :ho ohhuTvhh, .ui tnat young
men go from rural places to centres
Offering better business opportunities
also accounts for percentage of the
decline. but, at any rate, It is assert
ed; Here are all these young people
OF manageable age, and some Of
more than manageable age. But
they are all very backward when it
comes to marrying" and the preacher
says of the condition:
"Down at the bottom of it all lies
the generally prevalent tendency to.
ward luxurious living. Girls are not
satisfied with the simpler style of liv-
ing. Instead Of that they look for
ward to having homes furnished ex-
travagantly and elegantly. And the
mon know they are unable to provide
the luxuries that are expected.
The Constitution regards that as a
startling" explanation, but appears
to accept it as valid one, and itself
remarks: "The demand for luxury
limits the girls ambitions to suitors
out Of her reach, and overlooks the
men who may be the masters ten years
later. 1t leads to miserable strife in
pursuit, and to miserable disappeint-
ment later on"
While there is doubtless much in
the clergyman's explanation; and what
che Constitution says is to be COM
mendcd to every girl who is docking
out for husband, for the reason that
the young man who appears most
"eligible" before marriage, because of
the possession of some money for iu-
stance, is not always the one who will
have and make the most money after
wards; it is to be remarked in a gen.
eral way that the question with most
young people is not so much one of
luxurious living" as Of having a
living Of any kind for two-or perhaps
more. Most sensible young men and
| women, we imagine. would be willing
to marry when SO inclined if they
could be sure of having homes fur
nished comfortably and neatly, only,
without waiting for those furnished
extravagantly and elegantly. Most of
those who hesitate about marriage
probably cannot see even very mod
est home of their own in the near and
sure prospect. The ''marriageable
age" begins with a young man at
about -21. What proportion of young
men is there in any Of our cities who
are prepared to provide house and
home, and maintain family, at tha
age or for ten years or fifteen later?
There is much in this question, we
are sure; but we need not dwell on it.
The points we wish to make rather are
two, which are not generally consider
ed in the discussion of the subject.
The first is that whatever decline
there is in the marriage rate is con-
fined, SO far as our observation goes, to
the cities and larger towns. The
young folks in the country and vii
lages, we believe, go on marrying as
fast as they ever did, regardless of
luxurious homes, or we'll content to
live ir such as they can make for
themselves, until they can get better
by working for them. There are not
many old maids and bachelors ia the
country and small municipalities.
The second point is that new fac
tor has entered into our national life.
which will probably go far, and fast,
to check the recent decline of the
marriage rate and restore it to its for
mer level. It is the difficulty Of max
ing comfortable and attractive home
in the city that deters young lovers
from marrying. When they can build
q pretty cottage i've or ten miles out
in the country, at fifth The cost of a
poor house in town, and have acres Of
ground and fruit and flowers, etc.,
besides, and yet have free and rapid
access to all the valuable adv cages
| of town life. thew will morrr .r;oL