Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-02-23
The American
Daughter Should Have a Dowry.

UqucS-rpceutIY opened its columns to a
discussion on the question, Whether
giving a dowry to girl on her marriage
is immoral
More than 10000 replies were sent in
to this query and almost all OF them de-
clared that the giving of dowry was
not only the parents duty to their
daughters. but an untold blessing to the
new couple just starting ont in life
This Is an opinion SO cmuenty same
and practical that it seems to admir- of
no argument, and the one custom If
seems to me. that Americans could bor-
row with most profit from their French
npighbors is the dot system
Many people will take issue with mo
on thus subject. They will say fbat If
YOU give Il girl a doWry you will rncoilI-
age the mcrcenary rather than the Seuti-
mental in matrimony. and set fortune
hunters. big and little, on every Womans
Trail Moreover. they viii add concu-
SiyclT that American girls do not need
d0Wry, They are SO attractive thar men
don't have to be hired 10 marry them
All of which is a pretty theory and
true enough, for the American man is
not fortune hunter, and it is matter
of record III every community that the
poor girls usually marry better than the
rich ones Women become old maids be-
cause they happen to live i'll 4 place
where there are no single men, because
they are ugly. because they are stupid.
because they giggle. because thew don't
want To marry, and for many other rcH-
sons: but no girl was ever left to wither
in this country simply and solely because
She was poor.
1t is not therefore. necessary TO give
dowries with our daughters, as one gives
chrome with Il package of cheap tea to
get rid of them, but it is necessary for
the girls own protection ana welI-beiny
in married life
To begin with il eases the first tension
of married life. for the girl not to come
10 her husband quite empty handed
Marriage is. after all. simply a mariner
ship of . man and Il woman where they
pool their affections. their means and
their abilities. and start ont Ia do bnSi-
ness on Il Joint account
ANYBODY can see that between the firm
where both chin in with n little money.
and the firm where only one OF the part
ncrS nut in the cash. the chances of sue
cess go with the firm where both part
ners are able To furnish their share OF
thp canitaI
This is eSnpcially the case where pco-
ple are moor
1t is n beautiful theory that love is
enough for n Young co(lDlc 10 marry
upon hut we all know flint this is very
FAR from being the ease. Even if they
are willing to live anon bread and cheese
and kisses the bread and cheese have to
come before the kisses. or else there *
mighty little OSCILLATION in the home, for
sentiment does not thrive in an atno4-
phere of worry and anxiety over the
bakers and the grocery account.
If "A girl has Il dowrv. il enables her to
contribute to the family SuuDur1. and il
safeguards her as far ms possihle against
want. Certainly, if parents have any
duty in the world. If is to protect their
daughters. and every father nngbt 10 sci
tie something. no matter how little. upon
his daughter when She marries in such a
way that ii will be impossible for her
husband ever 10 touch ANYTHING but the
income from it. and thar net unless the
wife chooses to give il to him.
1t would also add enormously Ia do
nestle ncace and nurmony If every wife
had a little income Of her own. and were
not Obliged 10 20 Ia her husband for
every cent she needed for her sunport