Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-12-22
WHEN A MAN
MARRIES MONEY
(BY HELEN oLDFIELD.)


IL would be difficult to find any
one who would openly deny the
statement that marrying for money
is a despicable as well as a reprehen-
slblo thing TO do. Even those who
ara apparently guilty Of such action
are quick to deny the charge and anx-
ious to prove that. as the saying is,
they have merely been sufficiently
fortunate to love where the money
is. The fortune hunter is condemned
OF all In fact and fiction. as "a sordld
soul OF earthly mold" who seldom
has the grace to be honest. Indeed
he cannot afford to be. Few women
would give themselves to any man II
they knew that their money consti-
tuted tho chief, perhaps their only,
attraction In the eyes OF him who
wooed them. Therefore. the mercl-
nary suitor, perforce, felgns per-
sonal affection which he does not
feel, as n stepping stone to the wealth
which no covets. and
Love stands shudderng by
To SEQ his Ares lit for the shrine OF
gold"
Nevertheless, II would be gross In
Justice TO conclude that all men who
pay court To wealthy women are in
fluenoed by their money. The man
who really loves a woman does not
stop TO think of her dot. Moreover,
there are few practical and experl-
enoed middle-aged people, parents
and guardians for the most part, who
are firmly convinced and maintain
that it N almost as bad and fully as
selfish II not as wicked for any man
10 persuade woman 10 marry him
when m has no means of support for
himself, much less for wife and
family. For however oharmingly
poets and romanticlsts may talk OF
sentimental sorrow. it Is only TO the
few that mental suffering exceeds
bodily pain; and-there are not many
miserlea In life SO real and terrible
as existence without food, the shelter,
and tho comforts which make II not
merely pleasant but possible, No
man. however much In love he may
be. has any right TO ask the women
whom ho loves 10 be his wife unless
he has the wherewlthal 10 make her
comfortable physically The man who
Is unable TO earn his own living has
mo business 10 marry; and he for
feits all claim TO respect when no
seeks a wife In order that she may
keep him In idleness and luxury, even
though he may do no with tho full
purpose OF repayIng by courteous at
tontlon aud watehful care.
The risht sort OF man will insist
that his wife's fortune, be Il large or
small. shall be settled absolutely up-
on herself before marriage, las tight
as the law can tie it'--so tightly that
she cannot give it TO him, however
much she may wish TO do SO, True,
Il may well be that wife's fortune
may be the nucleus OF a mans sub
sequent wealth. but none the less II
ls more manly and wiser to take no
risks: better by far. for his sake as
we'll a. hers. 20 leave her money un-
IL behoovea him TO re-
member that Il win be extremely
hard for her 20 refuse him the use
of n. II no should see nc TO ask IL.
when once the money has been set
lled upon her he had best have moth /
ng 10 do with Il. except to exercise
, judlclous lookout against the pos
,iblllty OF loss or swindle.
No solf-respecting man Will be
silling 10 assume the position OF =
lspendent upon his father-in-law; he
IA. of course. wish 10 earn living.
lven though he u obliged (for their
lieasurel % live with his wife's par =