The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-22
The CAUSE OF WOMAN.
uOMEN VINO MARRY AND WOMEN
VINO WON'T MARRY.

matters To-day Would Make Her Of .
Generation Ago Cape Wide-Eyed-
she OF To-day Has . ChOice-siar-
rage and MotherhOod-Th Mississippi
Floods DO Not FeaZe the sufYragists.
t,ne is e. a loss to decide which is richer
I, humorous features of the two discussions
now gayly pursuing their way in the daily
nress, one on the growing disinclination Of
women 10 marry. the other on their failure,
when they do marry, to produce large
number of children. More or less learned
editorials are being written on these two
subjects, and the readers Of both genders
are carding the papers with overlooking
and unabating zeal Women in general
are pursuing the even tenor OF their way.
sustained by the consoling thought-sI
don't have to- In the good old times the
woman who did not marry was unanimously
declared TO have made failure OF life and
was regarded with pity not unmixed with
contempt. The airs assumed by her
married sisters, no matter what sort Of
husband they had drawn in the matri-
monial lottery. were CALLING in the extreme.
while the -old maid was the favorite sub
Jet Of the masculine gibe and jeer and the
y
Wit Now 1t is very often the unmarried
sister who puts on the airs and is an object
Of envy to the wife tied down with family
cares and financially an absolute dependent
on the husbands bounty, while the clever
sayings and smart doinRs Of the bachelor
girl are the delight OF the space writer's
on the daily papers.
With what joyful amazement would the
women Of even one generation ago have
opened their eyes could they have foreseen
tie present day when from press and plat
form, from pulpit and legislative halls,
comes a cry Of distress be cause women
will not marry. In at least dozen Legis-
latIres bills have been introduced to inn
pose a tax on bachelors, in the hope that
to escape its provisions they would coerce
the maids into marrying them. As in no
case. however. did the proposed annual
tax equal the expense for one month Of the
average household, it was scarcely cal
culated to cause a stampe de to the mar
rage altar. But such bill can never pass.
for men, as a rule, are magnanimous to-
ward their sex and most of the legislators
are themselves married. Now such papers
as the Chicago Tribune and Washington
Posi- are urging that the shoe be tried on
the other foot and that the spinsters be
taxed. Are they not encouraging the
bachelors to live unto themselves'' asks
the Tribune. IF so, ought they not be
taxed, too2 II they enjoy celbacy. why
should the bachelor not be allowed to enjoy
it also?" LET us give the bachelors a
rest says the Post. and try the effect
Of a threat. at least. on the fair ones"
The gist OF the whole matter is that for
the first time in the history Of mankind
woman is in position TO exercise a choice
as to marriage So long as she was con-
fronted with three alternatives-to marry,
10 starve or to live in endless dependence
on relatives-she took the one that prom
ised at least a chance Of happiness. Men
being then an absolute necessity 1t is not
surprising that they rated themselves
away above par, lords OF creation. sum-
mum bonum. sine qua non and various
other choice things in Greek, Hebrew and
Sanskrit. In their hearts, however. they
had always a doubt-almost a certainty
that there would be a very big slump OF
their stock il women outside OF marriage
were not practically helpless. And 80 at
their very frst move toward Independence
the attempt to secure an education-they
raised the cry, IF you educate women they
will not marry Their effort TO enter the
wage-earning occupations was met by the
chorus. If women are made financially
independent they will not marry. And
thus when it is proposed to grant them the
suffrage in order that they may have a
voice on their taxes. guarantee OF fair
wages, some control over general condl.
tions, there arises a mighty refrain, III
women are given liberty and power they
will not marry.
What is ali this but confession by men
that ignorance and dependence on the part
Of women are essential To marriager Does
any self-respecting man want a wife on
these terms? On this point United States
Labor Commissioner Carroll ID. Wright
said in an address last week:
As the woman has power given her to
support herself She viii be les. inclined to
seek marriage relat ions simply for the puT-
pose Of securing what may seem 20 be a
The necessity under which many young
women live Of lOokin to marriage a. a
freedom from the bondage OF some kinds
Of labor tends. in my mind. To the worst
form ~ prostitution that exists. ] cannot
sec much difference. except In degree, he
and her somi 10 a man for life because he
furnishes her with certain conyenienoe- and
one who sells her temporary freedom ana her
To nv own mind one 81 the greatest boons.
ard one Of the surest prophecies ] cAn oher
a. 90 the industrial smanfi patton 81 woman;
,hi,alric men that IA. u the sole, rightiul
oNnsf - her own being Ia every reslrci
,x.n ss1 md man shall 10 a. thoroughly
honorable Co her a. q" him
ia mar wishes 10 he married for com
mercisl PURPOSES he should uphold the
"a rkgime N he prefers to ie married
l.oaus- he 10 loved resp"cfed aud his
ooupanionship 10 dssired for life, let hun
.r.r, mo inhusno. Ia hAV. women edu-
Gated. srN-r.iiant. free and independent
in every regard Thon, II they wish GO
marry A. ihs vast maJoni, slh y" We .hh
~ tinl.. the relation all tE one ~ honni
~ tsah panl.s N the agitation iof s"in'
Ars ushls' dunns the Ilasi hiiy yeafs
Lad baI un oiief feruli than 90 lbftns aipui
0 froosnition ~ ibls id"al anh 81 aIH'f"t.'
nation iowaId a. u you'd 10 fally worth
all i hAs u"rl
N,u 60 tl.r alleged disins command
thai Ell sufilsn muri marry lao ,t'iis lils
,ftsi unr that LAsihF doe 80, ilsai ",.'f
,-sii,ai.in hsi.s.'isrtl Should u ihbii
.Fns aHd fslilsitrlinS tls nsfth A.
; l.aIlri ~ fass ihs lsiisi d'-f-r sii.pld
,.ius hfsi faf a. 40 Old 90 siissiii slii.h
alis ,sui unlb ansla"d l'stifd ~ ~
CO., nsrlaiiun ~ tiinr ~i,sil its lss
700 Lai i-fs.ii,al t,it.sn iaiii.ailsih Shh
1r..tsh uiafrlasf sas - a., nasahr
l#Hf.j llHiii q nuiiilabtif aiid friAHiii.ii