NOVELS AND MARRIAGE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIII, Issue XVIII, 3 November 1894, Page 421

NOVELS AND MARRIAGE.

There was a time when novel reading was (says a writer in Vanity Fair) more generally indulged in than at present. The facilities offered by circulating libraries in England and the cheap reprints of novels in America, where, under the heading of Seaside Library, or Lakeside Library, a reprint of a three volume novel can be obtained for twenty cents, equal to about 10|d, enables even the poorest person to read books. In consequence of the many occupations of men, they are women who are the great readers of novels, and consequently it may be of interest to note what is the effect likely to be produced on their minds by the multitude of modern novels that now issue from the press. It has been urged that the stage was, or ought to be, as much a source of instruction and the means of raising the moral tone of society as it is a source of amusement. If this held good as regards the stage, it ought to be equally true as regards MODERN NOVELS. Again, whether we refer to the stage or to a novel, the play or tale ought to fairly represent the actual occurrences in real life, bolding up to scorn the evil and bringing into prominent notice the good points in the various characters. Unfortunately, what is called * business,’ that is, pecuniary reward, occupies the most prominent place in the consideration both of authors and publishers. ‘ Who are my readers ?’ is the first consideration with both, and having decided this question, then the books most likely to sell as being most pleasing to such readers are those that get written. The result of all this is that the plot in the majority of modern novels is of a stereotyped style. The HEROINE OF THE NOVEL is a pure, high minded girl, conscientious as a saint, innocent as a babe, ready to worship a man who possesses more than the average of faults, gifted with the sweetest temper, and as unselfish as an angel. The hero is usually a man with the most selfish disposition, unfeeling, unfaithful, brutal in his behaviour after he has married the angel, regardless of her happiness, and, in fact, a man who excites only contempt and condemnation. The pity and sympathy of the reader are called forth for the poor suffering female, and our indignation raised when we reflect on the conduct of the man. WOMEN WEEP OVER THIS NOVEL,

and feel how much they suffer, and what trials they have to endure in the married state. The consequence is that their minds become warped, they compare themselves to the suffering angel, and their husbands or lovers to the brute who has been described in the novel. The prevalence of this style ot literature is to misrepresent facts, to give to the feminine mind a warp which it too easily takes, and practic ally to produce a result which is even now largely felt in

society. For it has long bsea a complaint that msn are indisposed to marry ; and ths reuoa assigns! by ths opposite sex is that clubs attract men and supply them with such comforts that they prefer a club to the prospect of a matrimonial fireside. This is not the reason. The cause is a deeper one, and if novelists were more trnthful, and did not write so much with the view of pleasing their feminine readers, it would be made prominent. MEN HESITATE TO MARRY because they too often discover that those among their friends who have married find they have made a mistake. The wife, instead of being a partner who is a help to the husband, is too often a drag on him. Instead of being a companion who looks on him as the bread-winner, whose interests are her interests, she regards him only as a means by which she can better indulge her love of display, or more easily amuse herself. Some singular statistics might be obtained if we could ascertain from married couples how many men there are who, with limited incomes, are desirous of decreasing their expenditure so as to avoid debt, or lay by a store for their children, but are prevented from doing so by their wives, who love to spend money on dress, entertainments, or amusement Then we should find out how many wives would wish to adopt such precautions but are prevented by their husbands who will run up extravagant tailors’ bills and will spend more than their incomes. In most marriages THE HUSBAND IS THE WORKER who wins the means by which the household is maintained ; the wife is the person who spends the money, earned often by hard toil, anxiety, and thought. It is a severe trial when the prudence of the man is termed stinginess or meanness by the wife, and when female friends equally unreasonable, are confided in by her and exhibit their contempt for the husband’s supposed meanness. It is not a pleasant condition when the wife boasts that by wheedling a little she can obtain from her husband the money for a new dress or new jewellery, which money ought to have gone to pay for a former dress. It is disheartening for a man to find theft his acts and his interests are ignored, or overlooked, by the wife who is dependent on him even for her daily bread, and who neglects every detail which tends to his home comfort. Young ladies, as well as married women, whose whole minds are engrossed with the IDEAS OF DISPLAY AND AMUSEMENT, too often regard and value a husband only according to the means he places at their disposal to gratify their tastes. To such women a novel which describes the husband as a brute and the wife as a martyred saint is most pleasant. They are readily disposed to compare themselves to the saints, and to sympathise very deeply with their own ungratified wants ; but they are indisposed to deal with facts as facts. The tendency of too many modern novels to pander to this unhealthy frame of mind is much to be lamented, for it is likely to exaggerate rather than decrease a condition of mind which may be taken as a reply to the question—‘ Why don't the men propose ?’