The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1907-01-26
LOVE AND MARRIAGE
WEDDINGS OF CONVENIENCE
AMONG THE POOR.
In Union Of Wealthy Couples True
Love is More Often the Motive
Than People Think, Declares
Margaret sangster.
nv MARGARET E. sANesTER.


BY MARGARET e. sANGSTeR.
downright, 1906, by Joseph B. Bowles;l
The marriage of convenience SO lar
as our country is concerned. is an ex-
otic Abroad. in those European coun-
tries where parents arrange marriages
for their children with financial con
alterations influencing the CONTRACT
such marriages are by no means un'
common. In the old lands OF the east
ancient customs still prevail, and al
though oriental parents may not know
the phrase, they have the thing itseh.
English speaking people, as RUE
care a great deal for sentiment. THOSE
who have had opportunities for Cd
servation, insist that Englishmen are
more romantic and make love WIN
more passionate fervor than Ameri-
cans. although there is greater pru-
dence on the part Of the English IN
arranging for the future in the matter
of settlements than has ever been the
fashion here.
For example, an English mother
takes for granted the fact that ner
young daughters will attract men VINO
shall desire to marry them. win
wise tact she does what she can to
bar the path of detrimentals and TO
insure her girls against falling In love
with men who may not be able to sup
mort them in comfort. II, however,
the love-making occurs in defiance OF
her precautions, she is not averse to
an engagement, with marriage some
distance in the future.
Young people across the sea OFTEN
wait patiently for years until the time
comes when they may marry with the
prospect of living and bringing up
family in responsibility and independ
ence.
With us, among very young people
there is often little discretion and lit
tie notion of what expenses marriage
may bring. AS years multiply, people
grow prudent. A man of 30 and VIC
man of 20 are much more likely to cor
slider ways and means than a girl o
IS and a youth of FL. To the latter,
twelvemonth appears big piece Gu
out of life, and they have no patienc
to wait until the man is earnin
enough to support wife and children
Perhaps this republic is the only spo
on the civilized globe where peopl
rush into marriage without the refie'
ton that marriage is the founding G
a family, and that children are SUR
or almost sure to come, bringing wit
them their claims and the manifol
expenses that will increase from II
fancy to adolescence.
While marriage should never be II
an instant thought of unless there
true love to bind the parties in unto
that only death can break, still love
itself will not build fire or pay rel
or provide meals. Love is enough II
happiness, and happiness cannot ext
without it. and yet there is alwa.
danger that love may wither like
flower parched and athirst, IL the stra
of poverty be too great
Speaking of the strain of poverty,
is less dreaded by the extremely poe
whose requirements are few. than
those whose standards are more e
acting. Thousands of immigrants a
contented with mere food and sheltt
A writer on social topics describe
a year or two ago, what she called
marriage of convenience in the Ea
80 a fvUC
people were a newsboy and an orph
girl. The latter had been turned adr
by an old woman who had brought b
up. She had nowhere to go, and Jof
who was her lover, had nowhere
take her, but he managed to secure
tiny lodging in a tenement and. wi
cot and a washstand, a second-ha
stove, and an empty soap box for
chair, they started housekeeping, hi
ing gone to a magistrate and be
married. This was a marriage of c.
venience on the lowest plane.
In society of different order q
higher type, marriages Of convenieI
are frankly spoken of by friends q
relatives, although delicacy may dr.
a veil over the revelations of famil
Immediately involved. There are
tates that, in the view of provid
parents, should be united. and wi
the heir to one marries the heiress
another an ideal consummation see
to be reached. Wealth, with some s
fimental exception. is attracted to ,
by wealth. The son of rich mar
very likely to pay his court to
daughter of another owner Of millie