Jasper Republican, Volume 1, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 February 1875 — A Word for Women. [ARTICLE]

A Word for Women.

“ Young men do not marry nowadays, because they cannot suppoit their wives.” Such is th<k remark which one hears everywhere delate, accompanied with a lifting of the hands in holy horror at the extravagance of the “ dear creatures.” “ If girls would only be content to begin as their mothers did, instead of as their mothers live now," how nice it would be, to be sure! Every Darby would straightway seek his Joan and love in a cottage J>e multiplied ad infinitum. And this is not because, in sooth, girls must have dresses for every day in the year, and jewels for every dress; because they can wear nothing out of the fashion; because they have not time to make the endless variety of costumes needed, and must, therefore, pay enormous milliners’ and dressmakers’ bills; because they must go where everyone else goes, and see what everyone else sees; because when married their houses must have everything “ mamma’s” does, and perhaps more; because, in a word, they are so “fearfully extravagant.” It is true that they are. It is also true that they wiU be just so long as they are encouraged in it by these very same wise lords of creation who say, when asked why they do not marry, “ Cannot afford if; really, they are so extravagant, you know!” Very well, good sir. But tell me, who is it that always pays the most attention to the most stylishly and elegantly dressed girl in society—and what girl will sit quietly by unnoticed when a few dollars or a few hundred dollars, it may be, will gain her the company of the one she wishes? Who is it that spends—we will not say how much—upon cigars, wines, “ little suppers,” theaters, neckties, jewelry, broadcloth and fine linen; handsome, even luxurious, bachelor apartments, furnished with all manner of elegant appointments, knick-knacks and adornments—things one “must have,” you know, but amounting to enough to support yourself and wife in comfort and to spare? Who is it that would be ashamed to ask any of the fellows from the club to come and see him in that modest twostory frame house, just beyond the fashionable quarter? Who is it that would not want his wife to wear a last year’s bonnet or buy cheap goods; that “must” have a thousand little luxuries to “live?” Who is it that would rather wait and not be married until he had a fortune to spend in ministering to selfish pleasure?

I believe that there are to-day more girls, true-hearted, noble and womanly, living lives of idle ease and comfort, who would leave it all and be glad to share the plainest, humblest home with the man they love than there are young men willing to give up the luxuries of their bachelor lives.

And so the days go by. They walk, ride, sing, dance and make merry with each other, enjoying themselves in a measure, it is true, but wasting the best part of lives which were intended to be spent in earnest, loving home work together. Life is too short and too precious to be passed in this way. There is sweeper, richer reward in faithful, affectionate, zealous labor for each other and humanity in establishing a home, in its purest, holiest sense, than in the fleeting, frivolous pleasures of selfish enjoyment. Of course, in our modern society, the initiative must be taken by the gentleman, and however willing girls may be to make sacrifices they can only wait until asked. And if the “ lords and masters” do not feel disposed to assume the cares, theresponsibilities, the downright work of family relations, preferring to continue lives of ease and careless luxury, let them do so. But let them be manly and just enough to give their reason frankly and honestly, and not endeavor to clear themselves and throw all the blame upon the “extravagance of the girls.” They have long enough shielded themselves behind those no more nor indeed as guilty as themselves, and I think it is high time that they be compelled to assume their rightful share of the burden. Let the saying read, as is true: “ Young men do not marry nowadays because they will not support their wives."— Elizabeth Olmis, in Hearth and Home. —HeWfrs yelling “Black yer butes!" in front Of the Postofiice ydSterday, and chewing away at a monstrous quid of gum, when another boy came along and screajped: “ Say, Bill, s’jjpsen ye let me chaw that for awhile, i’ll give ’er back termorrer.” “AH right—give me a.receipt.” “ What fur?” “ What fur? Why, s’pojen ye happened to die tonight and I hadn’t anything to show? flow’d I ever git this gum back?”—Detroit Free Press. However rich a man may be, however titled, however proud, let him go his way with humility, remembering that he is only about the two-billionth part of the population of the world, and that he will some day die and be missed by men just about as much as a mashed grasshopper is missed by his swarm. Peach hath her victories—more fall in love than in war. ■ /