Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-02
WOMEN EXTRAVAGANT?
Social Conditions Make Matrimony a
Fiscal Problem.
From the Brooklyn Times.

From the Brooklyn Times.
There was a conference of the Society
for Ethical Culture held in Manhattan Mon
day. If fair criticism of it by mere men
is permissible, it proved to us to be very
breezy and entertaining symposium. The
leading topic for conference was women
in Relation to Household Economics" and
Mrs. Ellen 7. Richards who is star pro-
fessor in Boston institute, was very
largely in evidence as the chief speaker
The pith of her remarks appeared to rest
upon the everyday problem as to why the
young men of the times do not marry, and
one of the reasons assigned by Mrs. Rich
ards for this lamentable condition of af-
fairs was that usually given, i.e., $1,000
year is the least professional man or
clerk feels that he can safely marry on with
the hope of a happy result of the contract.
Mrs. Richards, in discussing the reason for
the solitary existence of SO many really
nice and companionable young men, was
quite frank enough to say that If 1t was
true it was disgrace for our young women
to be too extravagant.
With all possible Difference to the superior
wisdom of Mrs. Richards. and with a be-
coming modesty, we beg to differ with this
statement. Isn't it because of change in
social conditions, for which the average
young woman Is In nowiSe accountable, that
so many of our young men refuse to ac-
cept the responsibility of married life?
Isn't 1t because they are seeking a wife who
is possessed of all the virtues of a domes-
tic machine, well oiled and warranted to
go on forever, that these youths with mod
crate incomes refuse to take the important
plunge? And If such Is the case a large
ma jority of them will go to their graves
still in state of bachelorhood.
The average girl of the present day Is
not trained her mother or her grand
mother was A century ago domestic train
ing for girls was entirely in the ascendant,
and commercialism and the sciences were
relegated entirely to the more robust of
the sexes, those better fitted to stand up
before the hard edges and seamy sides of
the world. radical change has leveled
the surface of the gorlds living In these
latter days. Our girls have become ambf-
tious. They seek equality with in
mems work. They are being educated on
different lines. Domesticity is too tame
and commonplace and is relegated to the
background, with the result that housewives
are scarce and women clerks as plentiful
as fallen leaves in the autumn The Sit
uation doesn't disgrace the girls; it simply
changes the bent of their usefulness. 1t
may prevent them becoming the best of
domestic helpmeets, but it doesn't prevent
them being charming companions, sympa-
thetic and loyable. A lack of knowledge
or experience in domestic affairs must per-
force entail an increased living expense,
but will the husband drop his club, cigars
and liquor to make up for the Increased
it. and generally will not; hence the diff
ficulty. A scientifically educated young
woman can generally bring into use we'll
trained mind in the running of house,
hold, with resultant economy of expediture,
but in such cases the wife deserves and
should get the cooperation of the husband.
The result in such cases-and they are
many-should be satisfactory and convinc-
ing that marriage upon a limited income Is
justified.
Yet in spite of all our arguments pink
checked maidens are continually being led
n tha altar nv manly and
happy homes continue to spring up. If
there is falling off in marriages, the
blame rests equally upon both sexes. There
are as many women who refuse proposals
as there are men who neglect to make
them Woman looks for more today, be-
cause she can do more for herself.