Show AND DI I 1 ION 0 N na has the tile tem coln of the olio one with the other Affe affected eted it cannot bo be doubted that tho tile popularity of matrimony lias has materially declined in recent years and that a kind mud of general hesitancy seems to prevail respecting I 1 spec ti pectin ting the negotiation of such alliances there was tho the young youn people of tho the country hastened to pair themselves with birdlike eager eagerness nom and delight deli glit as eoon soon an ws they were oat ont of school and society not only encouraged them but practically commanded them to take that course they were considered superfluous and burden burdensome somo until they got married the true work oi of lifo life could not begin with them they were taught so long iong as they remained single eingle it was their duty to become yoked joked without unnecessary delay and it was a disgrace to miss reasonable 0 opportunities tuni ties in that relation but it ia decidedly different nt at tho the present day the practice of wedlock is no longer imperative pera tive nor does discredit attend the unrelated even when prolonged into the thirties there isas ia aa much advice given against marriage as in favor 2 fit I 1 jt ty y the and end tape experienced f fenced of both ralis und luo ilio resist Is wa bleary decrease in the proportion of actual weddings to possibly pos ones I 1 the causes which have produced this marked cli change atigo arc are not sufficiently definite for satisfactory analysis irais probably arno that our extravagant style of living as compared with that of foraci times is one of abo effective influence influences tho the cost of supporting a wife and rais in inga ina a family IF i much larger than it used to le be aud and this feature of the tile mattei often gives pause on both sides aw 7 h leave como e to m measure sure so many other bilings hi by money that matrimony has not escaped tho the rule the young people are dis inclined to start in a humble way and gradually ga ra dually improve their situation they want all that their parents have without waiting walting and striving for it many proposals are unquestionably delayed or rejected on this account then it aswell is well known that the new avenues of employment open to women havo have made them more independent and probably als also more omoro ox exacting acting as to tile qualifications of husbands lius bands it is not nearly so common as it once was for girls to marry in order to secure a home and a living they are able now to earn good wages and to take theia time about assuming the duties of wives wires and mothers wo we may safely believe moreover that the progress of women in iu ed education n cation and in social power has led them to look less favorably upon the connubial condition by subordinating their hearts to their heads so to speak and finally it cannot but be that tho tile abundance of criticism to which the mar marriage riago system has been subjected by writers of pronounced vigor and skill shill sh ill has served to weaken it in tho the popular estimation and to dL disparage the quality of sacredness that is its highest c claim aim to respect and honor lionor there is no reason as yet however to lament the prevailing tendency as a national misfortune the amount of marrying is still large enough for all ordinary purposes aud and it may be that less rather than more of it would best promote alio interests interest of society such unions shonu I be formed with some other object than that of merely propagating the species they involve the most serious obligations and responsibilities bili ties of lieiman life and if people are learning to bo be slow and careful about bout a making contracts of so much importance it ia is hardly a signa 1 deca decay yora or a I 1 threat of ci cl clarity amity st louis ouis globe democrat |