Show I 1 AND discretion nag has the Tera or of the one rith tk other affected matrimony it cannot be doubted that the popularity jar of matrimony has materially da in recent years and that a hind of generaL h e hesitancy seems to prevail respecting spec ting t the he negotiation of such alliances there was a time when the young people of the country hastened to pair themselves with birdlike eagerness and delight as soon as they were wera out ont of school and society not only encouraged them but practically commanded them to take that course they were considered isi dered superfluous and burdensome until they got married the true work of life could not begin with them they were v ere taught so BO long as aa they remained single eingle it was their duty to become joked yoked without unnecessary elay delay and it was a disgrace to to miss reasonable opportunities r tuni ties in that relation but it is decidedly different at the present day the practice of wedlock is no ion longer ger im imperative pera tive nor does discredit attend the unmated even when prolonged into the thirties there is as much advice given pi ven against marriage as in favor of it by y the wise and experienced of both and the result is a steady decrease in vas uie proportion of actual weddings to possible ones the causes which have produced this marked chango changa are not sufficiently definite for satisfactory analysis it la is probably true that our extravagant ant style of living as compared with that of of former times is ons one of the effective influences the cost of supporting a wife and raising a family is much larger thau than it used to be and this feature of the matter often gives pauso pause on both sides we have come to measure so many other things by money that matrimony has not escaped the rule the young people a are 2 e inclined disinclined dis to start in a humble way and gradually improve their situation they wt want all that their parents have without waiting and striving for it many proposals are nn unquestionably questionably delayed or an this account I 1 then it is well known that the new avenues of employment open to women have made them more independent and probably ably also more exacting as to the qualifications of husbands it is not nearly so common as it once was for girls girla to marry simply in order to cecur a home and a living they are able no now 7 to earn good wages and to take their time about assuming the duties of wives and mothers we may safely believe moreover that the progress of women in education and in ia social power has led them to loo look k less favorably upon tho the conn connubial abial condition by su subordinating bordin abing their hearts to their heads so to speak and finally it cannot but be that ehg abundance of criticism to which tho the mar marriage age system has haa been subjected by writers of pronounced vigor and skill has served to weaken it in ah the e popular estimation and to disparage the tha quality of sacredness that is its highest claim to respect and honor there is no ao reason as yet however to lament the prevailing tendency as i a national misfortune the amount of marrying is still large larga enough for all ordinary par purposes poses and it may be thit that less rather than more of it would best promote the interests of society such unions should be formed with some other obi object 1 ct t than ban that of merely propagating the species they involve the most se serious obligations and res responsibilities bili ties of human life and if people are acre learning to be slow and careful about making contracts of so much importance it is hardly a sign eign of decay or a threat of calamity st louis globa democrat |