The evening world., 1911-02-25
Prevents Many Young
Men from Euen Con-
sidering the Cost of
Mafnnony, Says Editor
Arthur T. Vance.
Parquet Seats, Taxicabs
and Suppers Take the
Edge Off Romance for
a Man Nth an SIS or
S2S Salary.
BY Marpueric Mooers Marshall

up along rith the price Of eggs aud
carrots and poricrhomss steak.
- oiri to-day hates 20 have pso-
pie thiak her ddtcc ~ cheap. There
orc hundreds whose pride stdnds
Jetrecn them and Inexpensive at
fcHfions.
yet counting n really not a
matter 81 cost-bn 81 the otri"
Arhur r. Vance. Editor Of the Pie
torial Review. speaks these words or
twentieth century wisdom In a current
issue OF his magazine. Yesterday
asked Mr.. Vance for the why and the
wherefore OF his discoveries OF Cupid's
high tariffs.
1--WE heard some curious comments
since ] wrote tina article on "rhe Cost
Of Courtship.' lie unused. seasoned
New Workers. have told me, with "A sort
OF sad pride. that such conditions only
obtained In New York. on the other
hand. / have had letters from people
in small towns all over the country
saying that / had exactly described the
situation IN their own locality.
PERSONALLY, ! am inclined TO be OF the
| opinion that while the cost OF counting
is greater hero than elsewhere It has
nevertheless assembled by leaps and
bounds all over America, except In the
remote rural districts. And It is one OF
the most disturbing of all our social
phenomena.
zone hears much about economic
ha rdship OF marriage and OF family
life. II is said that young men shrink
apprehenslvely from the Increased cost
Of maintaining q home. with tho gen
oral rise In price OF various necessities.
/ think there Is truth In the assertion.
When a man marries . girl he BINDS
himself TO support her for life. TO say
nothing OF the children that may come.
On even as small 4 salary as Us u
week he can maintain q very comfort
able bachelor existence. With q wife
and family. he must scrimp and con-
triys and deny hhmsei: not only luxur-
les but comforts. ~ ne lives In . large
city. at least.
"But there 10 many . young
mar who nsvsr gets ~ Far ~ .
consideration OF the cost Of matrt-
nony. He II staggered BY the more
prelude to h show, the cost Of
courtship.
'He tries going with one or two
girls n draws back In panic. lie
simply cannot afford the acquaintance
of the elias OF young women In which
he would care TO marry"
please illustrate" said I.
He nodded easily. Suppose a young
man here In New York wants TO take n
girl TO the theatre. First he must send
her flowers, no little 5o-cent bunch o.
violets from a street boy. either. but a
box OF roses from n gilt-edged shop
lie can't get out Of this for less thar
81. Then only the best seats In the
theatre will do. which means at leasI
81 more,
'If the young man Is a real sport h'
will cal for his beloved In a taxi-an
other expenditure which may be any
where from 81 TO 80. Finally. after th'
show. there Is supper In a popular res
taurant which must break IA big holt
IN a iye-doilar bill. Altogether. tn
Young fellow will be compelled to spen'
between $40 and sl5 for an evening,
, entertainments, and that doesn't leav
much out OF an SIS to s25 a week sal
airy. does II?
Don't you think II rather takes tn
b bloom off romance added MIR. Vance
ito delegate II TO the parquet circle an
the taxicab? Yet for the sake OF attend
= ing fashionable theatres, eating In taN
I dry restaurants. wearing eNpensiy
49,. lHap1a N.py ptIhap-lanka1 hoy.
OF marrons glace. riding In taSls wit
z men above her financial class. or b.
! meath her intellectually. many n 81
/. will forego altogether the Joys OF cou
i ing"
"But I think a great many girls wou'
4. be perfectly willing 20 have less none
spent on them, only they don't kno
= how 10 speak about 1t to the your
men" ] remarked.
= THAT is undoubtedly true" he agree
A. You see tn trouble 10 it's a
game OF blun on both sides. rho
= young man 7ants 10 pretend lie
= has a bigger salary than 10 really
p corr to him. The girl desires to
q, convey the impression that she Is
used 20 all the iuxuries OF life. On
the one hand tie --e bluff OF bust
- ness position, on the other, that OF
t social position. Ana b,sween two
bluffs the pochsthooR falls.
"Ouly ! think tho srcltor rcEpousib
lty rests on She sul. The be,e uulr
A. tae average decent young chap is stlul
- ness. lie VIII do anything 20 avoid sl
~ an iwpgt3t.ou. hut even II ne does
tell me gal t.e s.4e of his salary. s.