The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-02-28
.L0vEMAK|NG IS TOO
EXPENSIVE FOR men
Cost Makes Counting Almost
Prohibitive and Fewer
Marriages Result.

New York, Feb. 2S.-"The cost of
counting has gone up along with the
price of eggs and carrots and porter
house steaks. A girl today hates 10
have people think that her fence is
cheap. There are hundreds whose
pride stands between them and mex
pensive attentions. Yet counting is
really not a matter of cost-but OF the
girl
Arthur r. Vance. editor of Pictorial
Review. speaks these words in a cur
rent issue of his magazine.
I've heard some curious comments
since | wrote that article on the cost
of courship'" he said Seasoned
New Workers have told me. with "A
sort of sad pride, that such cond-
tons only obtained in New York. On
the other hand, | have had letters
from people in the small towns all
over the country saying that | had eX
actly described the situation in their
own locality.
PERSONALLY. | am inclined to think
that while the cost of counting is
greater here than elsewhere, it has
nevertheless assembled by leaps and
bounds all over America, except in
the remote rural districts. And ii is
one of the most disturbing of all our
social phenomena.
"One hears much about the econom-
ic hardship of marriage and of family
life. IL is said that the young men
shrink apprehensively from the in
creased cost of maintaining a home
with the general rise in price of the
various necessities.
Il think there is truth in the asser-
ton. When a man marries a girl he
binds himself to support her for life.
to say nothing of the children that
may come On even as small salary
as S25 week he can maintain a com
Portable bachelor existence. With a
wife and family he must scrimp. con-
trive and deny himself not only the
in a large city.
Staggered by First Cost.
But there is many "a young man
who never gets as far as a considera-
staggered by the mere prelude to the
show. the cost of courtship. He tries
going with one or two girls and draws
back in a panic. He simply cannot
afford the acquaintance of the class
of young women he would care to
marry.
Suppose young man here in New
York wants to take a girl to the thea
ter. First he must send her flowers.
no little fifty cent bunch of violets
from a street boy, either, but box of
roses from gilt-edged shop. He
can't get out of this for less than 50.
Then only the best eats in the thea
ter will do. which means at least 81
more.
'If the young man is real sport he
will call for his beloved in taxi-an-
other expenditure which may be any
where from 50 to Sc. Finally. after
the show, there is the supper in pop
ular restaurant. which must break
big hole in So bill. Altogether the
young fellow would be compelled to
spend between SO and SIS for an ev.
enings entertainment. and that does
mt leave much out of an SIS to $25
week salary. does it?
It's All a Big Bluff.
You see. the trouble is that it's
game of bluff on both sides. The
young man wants to pretend he has
bigger salary than is really coming to
him. The girl desires to convey the
impression that she is used to all the
luXuries of life. On the one hand it's
the bluff of business position, on the
other that of social position. And
between the two bluffs the pocketbook
falls.
Only | think the greater RESPONSE
bility rests on the girl. The bette noir
of the average decent chap is stingi-
ness. He will do anything rather than
have that imputed to him"
Ton vparS AGO tho pr,p,bar Of