MARRIAGE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCV, Issue 10918, 28 March 1896, Page 2

MARRIAGE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —There is undoubtedly great variety in the subjects, political and otherwise, which daily appear in your correspondence columns. The letters on “ Marriage ” and “ Population ” add additional charm to the variety, which might be supplemented by asking the question : Why don’t men marry ? I do not pretend to solve the question. No doubt it is very old and ever increasing in urgency, and statistics would lead us to infer that the numbers who evade the nuptial bond is on the increase. Of course if the men don’t marry neither do the women, but none ox the very newest of the new among the fair sex have so far dared to assert that the men remain single because they must. It would appear to be a matter of limited choice with some of them—of the least of two evils. One cannot pretend to lay claim to the high moral ground for the epidemic of celibacy which seems to have seized many of the

young gallants "who admire women as of old. They will say all sorts of pleasant things to them; humour them in the wildest notions concerning themselves : accompany them on bicycles and smile at their frolics; agree with them, to all appearance, in their contentions as to rational dress; do anything for them, in short, except marry them. In this, it is evident that man, on the whole, is not quite the tyrant he has been depicted. He does not assert his opinions unduly; he concedes that woman , must be allowed to have her fling, to dress as she pleases, acts as she likes, and follow such occupations and amusements as may suit her wildest fancy, only drawing the line at individual judgment in the very important matter of double harness. He is withal a companionable animal, but if he cannot find a woman whom he would care to make a life partner he remains a bachelor. He does not always pretend to he satisfied with his lot. He is but learning the rudiments of" social philosophy. Many of the women he meets do not care in the least what is pleasing to him or the reverse. ’ They .are a law unto themselves. He finds it pleasant to meet them on equal terms, and to be entertained by their daring little speeches. To own, or, rather, to be owned by one of them is quite a different matter. It is a great mistake, however, for any eligible young man to think the sad and solitary position of greater freedom and less responsibility seems preferable. As a rule some young men are very incredulous in believing that a higher degree of human happiness can be attained by marriage. Others, again, wordd fain he mated, but fear to he checkmated and held in hopeless bondage, and are apt to consider that the extravagant desire for dress and other requisites are far too frivolous and expensive to tempt him to enter the bonds of matrimony. Such will admit that the girls are persons to admire, to accept in their moods as one must the weather, but not to be Joined in what might prove a mistake in selection. They, therefore, conclude it is better to bear the ills they have than rush to those they know not of. "What say the ladies? A small tax on the bachelors by way of experiment? —I am, Ac., . H.C.