THE SELFISHNESS OF MARRIAGE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4307, 16 March 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE SELFISHNESS OF MARRIAGE.

The “Saturday Review” recently had a few words on Mrs Creighton’s condemnation of celibacy. As to the unselfishness inherent in marriage (it says) there is something almost humorous in the suggestion. For is there a step in the whole of life taken so entirely without regard to any person’s feelings, opinions, or interests except those of the parties concerned as that of marriage? If it is a marriage of convenience, it is for their convenience ’and not for that of anyone else. If it is a marriage of love, it is a commonplace of romance and reality alike that no one- else counts at-all. in the matter. Is it not regarded as one of the triumphs of love that parents, brothers, sisters, friends, all, must (and do) stand aside? Suggest to any deeply enamoured betrothed that he (or still worse she) has other motives for getting married than delight in his fiancee, |ind you insult him! Nor may selfishness be got rid of by urging that it is love for the other, not for himself; for if you suggest 'to either that the marriage is expedient or delightful or fortunate for the other party, he is indignant and declares that the gain is all on his side. WOMEN WHO WANT THEIR FRIENDS MARRIED. There are people (the “Saturday” continues) who the moment they have done a thing themselves want everyone else to do the same. How often that is the case with married women is notorious. There are thousands of women who seem unable to contemplate a man and a maid in any other light than as a possible man _ and wife. They want every boy and girl they see to marry. And the feeling grows on them until they come to regard it as a sign of moral depravity that such are not i man and wife, and do not want to he. ’ These people are a constant irritant | to the unmarried. Really we ought jto remember that however happy we j may be in the married estate, there j are others who prefer to be- single, and ! are neither insane nor depraved. I MARRIED. SLAVERY. I This writer also asks: —What other ! than slavery is the lot of a woman of refined breeding, condemned to keep up a house and bring up her children ; on means hardly sufficient for existj enoeF