The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-23
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC j. HAsKIN, Director.
Washington, D. G.
THE COST OF MATRIMoNY.
Washington, D. G.

New York City. Aug. 19.-What is
the price of comfortable marriage?
Altho several frivolous answers to
this question will no doubt readily
come to mind. serious one is badly
needed. Divorce lawyers tell US that
most marriages fail because they are
badly financed. The family income is
unfairly distributed or insufficient
money" declares one of these busy
lawyers rhetorically, lis the rock upon
which the majority of marriages go to
smash"
How then" engaged couples well
might ask. "can we avoid this common,
reef of matrimonial woe and guide our
dispositions and bank accounts safely
thru the Storm" They well might
but do they?
The results of, a QUESTIONABLE re-
Gently sent out to 1,O0O~young men
and women living in the Y. NJ, C. A
and Y. w. c. A. in New York would
indicate that they don't. Suppose you
wanted to marry someone" this ques-
tionnaire asked. What weekly income
would you consider necessary to fl
nance comfortable marriage?" Then,
reminded that while comfortable"
might mean the possession of a talk
ing machine, it did not include an
eight-cylinder car.
The object of the QUESTIONABLE was
to obtain exact and detailed figures
that could be used as a basis in MAX
ing up standard budgets for the newly
married. What did the average per-
son expect matrimony to cost?
or the 1000 persons selected. only
zoo had given the matter sufficient
study to make their suggestions of
value. They were lowering on the
brink of matrimony and were intelli-
" ar-a Of Sf- os,l III
OF the others, the young ladies seemed
to feel that the consideration of fam
lily budgets was rather premature.
AS one of them explained First
catch your husband" was her motto.
In a similar vein one of the young
men replied Never bother trouble
till trouble bothers YOU
Nevertheless, the QUESTIONABLE Sc
cured great deal of useful informa-
ton for the benefit of those who are
interested in the relation of money to
matrimony. 1t showed, for one thing,
that women are more extravagant
than men. They require a larger
weekly income as the basis for a
comfortable" marriage than do men,
but the men are higher in their esti-
mates of what is necessary in the way
of a savings fund. A weekly income
of 81 was the minimum upon which
the women thought it safe to get mar
rled, but the men felt that a com
Portable" marriage could be arranged
on from $50 to $50 a week.
Budgets According to Sex.
The estimates varied among the
men according to their earnings and
occupations. Statesmen were inclined
TO agree with the women that $40 a
week was necessary to marital bliss,
while professional men felt that $50
would be sufficient, and clerks felt
that $50 was ample. Clerks are re-
signed to n1atrimony on small salary.
Their estimate was lower than that
of workmen.
The women, on the other hand,
showed no class distinctions whatso-
ever. Regardless of varying degrees
of education, refinement and attrac-
tiveness, they were all Undetermined to
keep house on exactly the same scale.
None was willing to risk her happiness
for less than 81 per week. while one
out of every four felt that 800 a
week would be necessary to her peace
and comfort. 1t must be remembered,
however. that these estimates are
based upon New York prices, which
are greatly above those existing in
other cities. Below are a couple of
specimen budgets. showing the differ
ent estimates of men and women:
Item. Per Per
Cent. Gent