The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1912-08-07
Common Sense a Factor
in Procuring Happiness
a. EUen if You Be Married
''The Foundation for the
Happy Marriage Must
Be Laid in the Engage.
n1ent Period Deep and
Strong" Says Mrs.
Julian Heath, President
Of the HouseWiUes'
League.
Marguerite Mooers Marshall.
why 10 . happy marrisg

Marguerite Mooers Marshall.
why 10 . happy marrisgs7
That something besides love Is neces-
sary, we have agreed; and this some
thing 10 not wealth but the faculty Of
making wealth out OF little. II Is the
economic wisdom. the most uncommon
common sense" which so slilfully ap-
portions q moderate income that the re-
suits are comfort, q continued state OF
vsll-being.
II only they have some OF this sxill
with the budget young people mad SO
much better marry when ,hcg are young
and strong and adaptable! / don't mean
when they are children; few people are
NOWADAYS so silly as to approve mar
..iages in the teens. But think there ~
no sight more tragic than that OF the
"wa,ting" couple. lie Is hustl!nS 10
make the fortune that shall keep her
silke n princess" She Is grow ing tnin
and cynical and bored.
The president of that exceedingly pop
ular and practical organization Inc
Housewives League. has her own spe-
clsl theory OF how to arrange mafriase
that shall be really happy. says Mfs'
Julian heath:
"rhs foundation for the happy
marriage must be LAID during tue
snraaement period, and It must
Ia laid deep and strong. Nobody
vauts TO do away with the moon
1T rapturss Of this delightful time
univ suggest that the young
sense. Instead OF spenuns al
their evenings In the canoe ON the
,4vsr. Let them sometimes sit ~
>hs library table, under tho green
shaded Night, ana do som" sooo
hard mathematics.
"a Young man who has asked girl
On marry him ought to tell her the
.vact amount Of his Income. In all
the Countries where marriages are ar
ranged this bit OF Information Is ue-
manded by the father as matter OK
course. Here Its telling Is lett 10 the
honor Of the young lover. ana he ought
"a he all the more careful that there
.h.u be no deceit or Misunderstanding.
ACCORDING TO THE LEG THE
BOOT IS ON.
..Many q young man who has huns
money about In iordly fashion dursng
hi. courtshtp 10 really the recipient OF
q moderat salary. Tacitly. at least ne
makes his sweetheart believe him muen
richer than he Is. Yet this same man Is
ths very one who falls into passion
when the young wife innocently runs up
buis which she has no notion but that
her husband can pay.
ITS no use marrying under false pre-
t>nses; the truth Is bound to como out
later. Then. the wife may be angry
TOO. and feel that she has been cheated
This Isn't . frame OF mind which 10 apt
20 inspire In her the desire for careful
msnagsment. Yet, II this same younG
woman had been told frankly. before
marriage, just the sizs OF her future
husbands income she would have been
Willing to make all sorts Of sacrifices
aad she would have studied how to
make them intslligently. At best. that's
lwAAs would have happened with nine
Girls out Of ten. and the young mar
would b better OF without the tenth
Gkl"
But isn't there . minimum income
below which two people ought not &c
marryf' I asked.
u suppose 90. and yet It would h
dtf,cuit to NAME" replied Mrs. Heath
'Circumstances differ so In individual
sases. The scale OF living which woult
mako some miserable would be oomfor,
hg,re It all out beforehand and decide
whether you want to take the risk.
'sThis imaginary engaged couple has
- much week to depend on, say go
They must not pay moro than one
fourth Of their income for rent tina
- they must make up their minds 4
live IN rooms which can ba had for 81
Q month. Naturally. only three or foui
can be procured for such a sum, ant
this gives a hint to tho sensible girl
She ought not to keep a servant, which
means that she must be entirely capa bl,
Of running the household by herself
That 10 a matter which needs som,
solid thinking on her part.
~ take II for granted that these
young people are going to keep
house. Sometimes wonder whether
the old diotum, that boarding must
be mors expensive, 10 any longer
true, with food going up by leaps
and bounds. But for reasons Of
health and happiness It 10 much
better TO set up one's own little
home, from the very first.
"After rent. the next Item In tn,
budget will be food. This falls into tn,
three subdivisions OF meat. grocere
and milk. The inexperienced are ap
TO think that the household bulge
ends here. But It doesn't. There 4
heat. light. ice. furnishings (such A.