The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-12-20
Delay
in MARRIAGE
fO1" Money
BY MARTHA LEE


What's to be done about this false
standard of values idea? When are
things going to be adjusted to the
stage where life can resume its
natural progression for those who
have been taught that money is
more important for happiness than
anything else in the world?
There is an idea afoot, especially
among those who are attempting to
rise above the mob" that marriage
is an impossibility without set in
come, definite bank account and
house with furniture. All of these
are very nice, and they certainly do
make the going a bit easier, but
necessary? hardly think so.
When young man goes to work
setting regulations for himself about
such things there can be only one
result, and that is unhappiness. 1t
is, OF course, noble of him to want
to provide his wife with luxury. But
nine chances out Of ten, if she is
the right sort, she would much
rather build along with him than
wait until he has accomplished
things by himself.
About twenty-five years ago, the
pay of an ordinary office employe
was considered quite sufficient to
make marital happiness a reality.
OF course, there was not anything
like the expenses there are now
Amusement, for instance, was a
negligible item in the weekly budget.
Gas for the auto was unheard Of,
there being practically no autos and
horse was luxury for the very
wealthy. Travelling about the coun-
try was an epochal event. Clothes
were mostly home made. And then
taking it by and large, everything
cost just about half what it does
now.
But there is a balance. Practi-
cally every one is making more than
the salary paid at that time. The
whole trouble is the increasing
needs of we moderns. We must
have our shows and our dances and
our parties And these, not once
in a while, but for steady diet.
What's the idea of thinking and
actually carrying the thing out that
things are more important than
persons? That's exactly what we
are doing, when we refus. to let
love come until it has sack OF
money in the hand where the pro-
verbal bow and arrow used to be-
Here is letter from a man who
has the fear of living, without abso-
lutte and comfortable security:
Dear Miss Lee-I am a college graduate
and have been out in the business world
almost three years. I suppose. according
to most standards. am making enough
to get along, if I struggled hard enough.
But the idea is am in love with q girl
and want to get married We both feel
that my present income would soon make
drudge Of her and a rasping accountant
Of me. We would like to have things fair
~ decent to start out with We both
have an ardent desire to travel, and that
can not be done without funds.
We both hate the thought of the Mono
tony Of married existence when every
penny has to be squeezed to the last drop
for value. We both have s. love Of not
luxury exactly. but beautiful and good
things. And yet we want to be married
while We are young and so much in love.
What's the answer to this? If we wait
until I am making what we think is neces-
sary to give us the things we would like
to have, We Will have to be wheeled up
to the altar probably. DAN.
1t seems to me your whole prob-
lem lies in getting yourself and
your fiancee right about things. You
are sacrificing her companionship
and affection, to say nothing of the
chance you are taking Of losing her,
by your desire to have things the
way you have idealized 1t is a
matter, on both Sides of which
means more in your lives.
There is a happiness and con-
tentment to be derived from real
love that all these other things can
never bring. The bank account, the
house with furniture, the cars, the
trips, all are splendid and much to
be desired, but what do they count
when you balance them against the
wealth of companionship and love
that you have stored up for each
other?