New-York tribune., 1907-01-14
AVERSE TO MARRIAGE.
Men Made Bachelors by Luxurious Clubs and
Woman's Extrsvaganee

Is aversion 20 getting married really on the
increase among mer2 And II 50. why? And IL
So what can parents and the girls themselves
do 10 convert men TO a sense OF their priv
Heges in this direction
These are some OF the questions which Olive
Christian Malvery has set herself TO answer in
the January number OF The Ladies' Realm"
Two OF them are, at least, for she assumes at
the very start that. while no would
choose 10 work for her living II she had any
chance Of marriage men themselves show an
increasing disincIinatIon TO assume matrimonial
obligations"
Admitting at once that there is such s. thing
as the marriage market and that woman suf-
fers many q handicap IN entering II. she men
tions first among the difficulties the fact that
there are to-day in the United Kingdom
100000 more women than men" a man knows
that he can get feminine society whepsver he
chooses TO ask for it He knows that he IS 4
welcome guest, IL he be at al an eligible man.
with g decent record and fair income, In any
household where there are several unmarried
daughters. and men are not slow, it must be
confessed, to take advantage Of the facilities Of
fered them Of enjoying eoUpanionship and hos
pitauty without making any return
The club is a deterrent 70 marriage. "a man
with a modest income IS likely TO be far more
comfortable at his club, or at any OF the nur1er-
Gus hotels and first rate chambers which cater
for bachelors wants, than he is likely to be on
that same income with wife and a. coupls OF
babies to provide for" says Miss Malvery.
Club life. both for men and women. in these
days is extremely comfortable. one can set. at
a small cost, spIendidly cooked and we'll served
meals charming rooms 10 sit IN, tasteful sta-
tionery and the use OF all the papers and maga-
zines together with constant attention from
thoroughly well trained servants. II IS no Won
der, therefore, tla[ men-ay0, ana SOnetlnleS
women, too-nay hesitate before exchanging
these for the doubtful comforts OF a small home
in days when 1t is impossible to get an honest
or we'll trained servant So long as the proper
ton of women is in such large excess OF the
men Just so long viii men remain lords Of crea-
ton. They see their advantages and are not
slow to benefit by them-and one can hardly
blame theTni"
Then there are the girls themselves with
their extravagant tastes, their ignorance OF busi-
ness or domestic life, their practical ineficiency
IN making a moderate income do Miss Nal
very draws a picture of the lot which may await
the average young professional or business man
with, perhaps, political ambitions a desire
TO attain fame IN his calling. who falls in love
with the daughter OF a prosperous family. She
has been taught nothing Of practical value,
etc, grow into veritable burden. man who
marries such girl on $4,000 or $1,000 year
almost courts matrimonial disaster.
And akin 10 this check on q mans natural
affections is the inability OF modern women to
provide their own pleasures and to find happi-
ness in simple things"
Women might face the marriage market"
with greater imperturbability If they were only
equipped more generously to enter the labor
market while every lad is trained for sOme
special work in life, educated toward that pur-
pose and given fair start in whatever calling
he has chosen, the girls training is generally q
haphazard affair, and there is no provision made
for the future on businesslike lines-she just
chances it. a."
"It is only in novels read OF editors who
sit waiting for the lovely girl who comes in.
radiantly attired. and accepts her first serial
instantly because of her indescribable charm
It Is only In novels that we SEQ the business
man suddenly look UP from his desk to behold
an exquisite form in an unimpeachable tailor
made gown OF some soft shade of dove gray
standing before him, pleading for appoint
ment at f5 week. and letting his eyes rest
the Immediately gloved hands in their pearl
gray suede, he Immediately places the charming
lady in charge Of his office at $3.50 year. As
actual facts, these things never happen"
Are men mercenary2 Often. But the atten-
ton they pay to wills, settlements, etc, may
not be mercenary, Miss Malvery charitably
fleets, so much as mot very unnecessary pre-
a young man would like we'll enough to marry
If he could afford TO do so, but he often feels
that he Is not justified in asking girl to share
his very small income. He therefore looks 10
see If she has any money herself"
In summing UP, Miss Malvery believes that
great Improvement might be wrought in the
marriage market IL women were educated diff
ferently. There is reason on earth why
every girl should not be trained for marriage
exactly as a lad would be trained for a profess
sion or a trade The calling requires as
much technical skill as the other