LONG ENGAGEMENTS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21972, 22 December 1936, Page 15

LONG ENGAGEMENTS

TO TUB EDITOB 0* THIS PRESS. Sir,—l wonder if any of your readers can enlighten me as to the cause of the modern fashion for long engagements of betrothed couples. In my heyday the young man asked his fiancee to "name the happy day" as soon as possible, and regarded six months as a long engagement Nowadays two, three, and even four years are the usual period, and this is by no' means confined to younger couples, those in their early thirties quite often delaying the final ceremony for several years. Is this custom due to the presentday exaggerated standard of living, when the young lady wishes to commence married life with all the luxuries and comforts acquired by her mother much later in life? Personally I am of th- opinion it is due to women having lost the captivating feminine art of appearing unable to fend for themselves. No man bursts with enthusiasm to protect and have for his own the modern girl or woman who has lost her femininity by claiming to be his equal at games, in the commercial world, or by imitating him in manner and apparel. On the other hand, it may be due to the present unsettled state of the world, when no man's position in life is really secure, and he hesitates at the added responsibility, delaying it until he is financially safer.—Yours, etc., WONDERING. December 21. 1936.