The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-03-12
Proper
to Marry Is
Big Question
By MARTHA LEE

what is the right age to marry?"
Every day I get letters from both
boysand girls asking that ques-
tim. The age to marry is that
time in life when one has attained
the age of reason, Of sense of re-
sponsibility, and of power to meet
those responsibilities.
The age to marry is when the
man has attained at least a hold
in the business world and the wom-
an cursory realization of what is
expected of her when she does
marry. Some men are 45 and more
before they have acquired these very
essential qualities necessary for
marriage. Some women never do
come to the realization of their
duties as a wife.
For that reason the manageable
age can not be determined in the
number of years one has watched
spring grow into summer and sum-
mer fade into fall.
It can be determined only by spr-
itual and mental growth, which, al
though it, may be, is not always in
conjunction with the piling up of
years.
A young girl writes:
Dear Miss Lee-I am II years old. I am
deeply in love with a boy. with whom
have gone for more than a year. feel
that my love never will cease. He has
~ orTi1 and T
want to know your candid opinion. Do
you think I am too young to get married2
BROWN EYES.
OF course it is possible that you
are in love, with that undying af-
lection you speak about. And you
might even mention, should I say
Eyes you are too young to marry, y
that your grandmother married
when she was Is or is. But, my
dear, times have changed in this
as we'll as other things.
When your mother was married,
a man was considered high salaried
if he made $25 a week. But what
young couple is thrifty enough to
exist, let alone store up a little
something for a rainy day, on that
money?
Do you think it fair to burden
your sweetheart with the response
bilities of marriage before he has
had chance to test his ability? Do
you think it would be right to
chain him to his present job, out of
the bare necessity of existing? Is
he ready to accept the burden, as
well as the joys, of married life?
And you? Are you ready to take
up the responsibilities of wifehood
and motherhood at IT? Do you feel
your mental and spiritual develop
ment are capable of giving youE
children the best advantages?
When you sincerely answer these
questions, you will have the answer
in your own heart.
n v
A boy writes as follows:
Dear Miss Lee--I am 20 and in love with
girl year my junior. We want to get
married. I have position in a depart
ment store which does not pay such a
large salary. but I feel have chance
for advancement. My fiancee and I are
undecided. however, as to whether we
should wait year or so more. She is an
orphan and works for her living. She
never has had home. and that is one
reason we want to marry. What do you
think? HARRY.
Your case is different, of course,
one to the fact that your fiancee
has no home. However, a year more
cannot lAean so much as far as
waiting goes. and would mean such
a lot to you both in the start you
would have toward getting this
home.
You would both better answer the
questions I have written above.
After all, the way to decide a Ques-
ton like this is to admit frankly
to each other just what you need
to- make you happy. If it is lit
tie, the salary will not make so
much difference. If it is a great
deal, better wait a while.