The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-12
MArCnMAiIEus NEEDED.

hAItll MANNERS NEEDED.
Americas greatest need is for match
makers. at least this seems to be a
legitimate conclusion TO draw from Il
very interesting speech recently made
IN New York by Rev George II. Van
dc Water OF tho ST Andrews Proics-
tant Episcopal Church. Harlem.
Or. Van de Water was addressing a
gathering OF social workers. and was
commenting on tho well-known fact
that the divorce courts of this country
issue an average OF 100 DEGREES every
day in the year. To prevent the wreck
of so many homes, the clergyman cX
pressed the sound opinion that better
marriages are needed. Love must play
n larger and far more active part
than during these late years OF cxpen-
sive living.
But when we face this problem, an
other looms large. There arc enough
unmarried men and women i'll the
country TO allow each q wide choice
OF u companion. In New York alone
there are 10000 men and women over
twcnty-onc and under thirty five. and
unmarried women are said to be l5o,-
coo In excess of the men. But how
make the matches. even with fair
hearts inviting the attack OF cupid?
Three obstacles stand in the way.
The first of these is the cost of living
that monster responsible for SO many
Of our social ills. There was time
when the bachelor OF thirty was y
curiosity; Mi save the hopeless cases
and the unbcarable Doors were mar
ried before that age But nowadays
the city man who is able 10 marry be-
fore thirty, rather than the man who
stays single until then. is tho curiosity
And the chief reason is simple inability
10 bear the expenses OF maintaining a
home. For this, in some measure to
Do sure, women are responsible. The
girl who is 10 marry is seldom willing
10 begin a the bottom II reared in a
homo OF luxury, sustained by an mr.
huent parent, she will not often leave
that home for one less pretentious. In
short, many women expect u young
man TO set the same standard OF liv-
ing on small salary that the woman's
rather. after twenty, even thirty. years
of business life is barely able to main
Tain Love in cottage Cor in its city
equivalent, two rooms, = bath and q
ltitchenette) fails to attract
The second obstacle in the way OF
Cupid's advance is tho mad, wild am
bItion to emulate the distinguished Mr..
Wallingford in getting rich quickly
1t is III the air. The young man who
enters business finds every man. Young
or old, rich or poor, married or single
driven as If by mania In quest of
riches. Wealth not happiness, money
not love. Is the whip that drives men
on. Once in this strife, the young man
has little time for the swccter. gentlcr
things Of life, and answers Ills heart
with an uncertain promise to fail in
love when he has made money enough
to allow himself sentimental holiday.
But there is anGt!er and almost as
serious an obstacle. 20 marriage--thc
growing tendency OF the young people
of both sexes 10 live in separate circles.
Some OF us can remember the time
when on sunday the streets or Rich
mcnd were crowded with boys and
girls in laughing, chatting groups
Rue IL as we may that time Is past
one poets beves OF girls. as pretty, as
pure and as charming as tho world
boasts, walking ANA talking together
With not boy pursuing. one nnds the
Boys together. six. Il dozen. twenty OF
them, on the corners, tn the DOoirooms-