WHY THE MEN DON'T MARRY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 7737, 17 April 1896, Page 2

WHY THE MEN DON'T MARRY.

|_T0 IHB BDITOE ]

Bib, —A correspondent in Wednesday evening's paper, signing himself "Unfortunate Man," opens up the subject of the reason for the falling - ofl in the marriage rate. As he says, the question is a difficult one to answer, but i don't quite agree with Mm when ho assoribes the cause as being due to the wretchedly low ebb to which wages in general have fallen. When a man makes up his mind to marry, and has found a suitable partner, he will make it his business to live well within his income and provide for the consummation of his desire And then again, it must be borne in mind that proportionate with the fall in wages, the oofct of living has come down accordingly. With the keen competition of today, tradespeople cannot afford to allow too large a margin for profit. I think, however, that the fall in the marriage rate is largely due to the women and the existing tendency for so-culled " advancement." The girls of to-day, speaking generally, are far more able to express an opinion as to what horse will win a certain raca, or as to the probable result of a football match, than they are to speaking intelligently on any matter relative to domestio duties. This is not the sortof woman likely to inotease the marriage rate or induoe a young man who looks at life in real earnest to leave the ranks of baohelordom.

; _ No, a man who seeks to enter the marriage lines will look for a woman who can speak intelligently as to the management of a home, and gives evidences of a thrifty, though by no means close or niggardly, nature; not one, who prates about the independence of women and their emancipation from the chains of slavery. Aβ I said before, the tendency of to-day is in the latter direction, aad unless ihe girls take a more sensible view of their position, I am very_ muoh afraid the marriage rate will continue to decrease at ao alarming rate. "Unfortunate Man," judging from the tone of hia letter, is still rejoicing in a state of single blesaedness. Lei him beware ers century lasaio, taking adft *7 c the privilege of leap year, makes rSffiff for and claims him ash ° r prize.-I am, &c..< Behbdiop.