The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1904-07-08
EARLY MARRIAGE.
Interesting Discussion Caused by
PronounCementS of Lexing-
ton Educator.


lug a burning one In late years.
There is a tendency among to bache-
lerhood, club life, and complete iso-
lation from all matrimonial enthrall-
ment.
Such was not the case a century ago
especially In the West. 1t was nip and
tuck between cupid and our pioneer
fathers as to which could bring down
the most game. Matrimony was Sc
riously considered just as soon as the
boys could coax out their heard by
the application of grapevine juice to
their chins. And the little girls
just like their young of to.day-com-
menced talking about getting mar
ried and practical housekeeping In
one corner of the yard with broken
bits OF china. The results was that
early marriages were almost univer-
sal.
Between fourteen and twenty, and
often earlier, took place nearly all the
marriages In the West The result
was large families aud the increase In
population was rapid. People lived
plainly and simply, worked hard aud
were thus enabled to support large
families.
But modern conditions have large
ly changed. Through various intlu-
ences, the domestic affairs OF society
have also been more or less changed.
At first there was noticeable increase
OF bachelors, but still the charms OF
the fair sex were sufficiently powerful
to sequestrate a husband for nearly
every girl. But the tendency to bach.
elorhooi and club life grew stronger
each year, and into the equation was
then projected the modern movement
In favor of equal rights" and female
improvement In all avenues of bust
ness Ia stores and clerkship.
According to an eminent authority
who recently discussed the subject In
the press, this latter movement OF
millions OF women into the CONNER
cial establishment OF the country rem
dered worse the matrimonial problem. |
Said he:
"Iu the first place, every woman tax
ing a position In commercial pursuits
displaced a man, aud nearly always
at halt or two-thirds the wages that
he had received. The men thus dis.
placed had to hunt other pursuits, or
emigrate. His ability to marry and
rear family was seriously con tracted
or taken away. He either could find
little remunarative employment at
home or emigrsted west or to parts
where women were fewer and less
employed In business ranks. Now,
1t needs no keenness of discernment |
for any one to see that the young |
women who enter life OF clerkship,
or other business naturally drift into
the ranks of old maidsm. Their
chances of matrimony are thereby re.
duced, and the men whom otherwise
would marry them and make them
the heads OF happy homes and fami-
lies, depart other sections, where
they marry other women.
$50 you see this thing of modern
employment for women, as 1t Is term
ed, is working havoc with the martial
success of the American people"
The question OF marriage Is always
business question. The conhagra-
ton Is practically fierce between the
ages of fourteen and twenty. Past
twenty 1t begins to wane somewhat,
and to thirty still further cools of.
After that the aspirant. If a female,
begins to contemplate with some de-
gree of composure resignation the
AiuoANN hNiAio6S thot hduHo dDONC
the Death Valley of simple wretched-
ness. Philosophy and resignation
succeed the glowing anticipations OF
other days and she drops,placidly and
resignedly into the ranks of female
bachelorhood. And the ranks into
which she falls are rapidly inreasing
for various causes, to the hurt of the
social tide of our national life.
To come back to the matter as it
relates to this community and envi-
ronment 1t Is called to attention by
President Burris Tinkins, of Kentucky
University, and President Patterson,
OF the State College. Both of these
educators advocate early marriages as
best for the individual, socially as