New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-02
THE CRIME OF BACHELoRHooD
A Hardened Specimen Boldly De-
tends His Course.

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: Some OF the newspapers OF the
country seem 10 be greatly wrought up
over the discovery that there are 100000.
more or less. OF unmarried men and
women IN the country. In Germany 1t Is
easy 10 understand the great alarm felt
over the decrease in the birth rate as
food for bullets Is always at premium
I'm the military nations OF Europe. over
here. however. I'm the land of the matri-
monially free and the home Of the matr-
monially unbrave. It has been assumed
that men and women might with impunlty
not merely limit their families to half
dozen or less OF children. il they saw fit,
but, still more dreadful, might 30 through
life without marital responsibility If they
chose.
We are now gravely assured that
there are at least 100000 OF us who are
Sinking our duty. and that something
should be done 10 lure US into the matri-
monial web. Various reasons for our fall
ure 10 take the fatal step are ascribed,
among them being that boyle OF bogies.
the high cost OF living. with the extrava-
gance of the modern maid close second.
AS one of those who probably should be
married. feel that know something OF
the causes which impel men-and women
10 remain single, even though in posses
sion OF an income admittedly large enough
10 support small family In comfort
In the first place. instead OF the bach
elor being the most selfish OF men he is
really the most generous. Men marry Tor
purely selfish reasons They do not under
take the maintenance OF wives for any
philanthropic purpose. They pay house
hold bills because they expect TO draw
dividends on the investment II they don't
they get busy with the divorce court, and
the same may be said OF the other party
10 the contract.
There is "A lot Of rot being written about
women in business depriving men of OPP
portunity TO work. From an economic
point OF view that Is the purest drivel, Tor
as womans earning power increases her
spending power increases. and the result
is that more workers are required In order
10 supply her needs. IL that were not the
case increase In population would inevi-
natural resources. mean increased hard
ship for a majority OF the people. where
as IL now means that producers and con-
sumers have increased in equal proportion
and the balance has not been disturbed.
But, In my opinion, there is no reason
why man with a good income and
woman with a good income should try to
live within the income OF one OF them,
when the woman In the case prefers office
or professional work TO housework' anu
some less capable woman can do the
mental work better than she can.
or course, some one will arise and say
a lot of things about the necessity for
rearing children. Those OF us who are
bachelor men and bachelor maids observe
no such necessity. We are not convinced
that We are bestowing any great boon
upon the child in bringing him into the
world-to be swatted by the advocates OF
matrimony and bis families, in their turn.
and die with the stigma Of seliishness
upon them. Certainly |. as bachelor
above thirty, and any possible candidate
for q place In the home | might establish.
can enjoy each others intellectual COM
partnership Just as well now as we could
II married.
Most of this twaddle about the crime OF
bachelorhood Is too silly to be dignified by
a reply: and the race Of bachelor men
and bachelor maids is growing. indicating
that the alarmists are yelling themselves
hoarse without doing us single people any
harm. +. L. OhION.
Brooklyn, Sept. /, 1918.