A WOMAN OF THIRTY OR TWENTY ?

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVI, Issue XIII, 28 March 1896, Page 340

A WOMAN OF THIRTY OR TWENTY ?

The New York World has started a discussion in its columns on the question. Would a man over thirty secure greater happiness by marrying a woman near his own age, or one ten or fifteen years his junior ? The following are a few of the letters which have been received :— TEMPERAMENT NOT AGE THE TEST. A man should marry (says ‘ L M O’D.’) the woman he chooses, be she young or old. For his wife he wishes a woman -vhose society and companionship will make him better the longer they are together, yet does not place around his neck the band of slavery for her special benefit. A man should use his own judgment and search for the heart that beats responsive to his own. EXPERIENCE SPEAKS. After a married life of over twenty years I have come to the conclusion (remarks ‘ L’Esperance ’) that a man ol thirty should marry a woman about twenty-six. She has had, or ought to have had, by that time the enjoyment and freedom every girl should have in early life. She will know how to keep house without worrying her husband about every little domestic detail. Her character will be firmly formed, and ’bear and forbear ’ is more likely to be her first principle in married life. LOVE is ALL. That man is happiest in his marriage who loves with all his heart and whose love is returned by one who is congenial in tastes and compatible in temper. To such a couple (says ’G.W.D.’) the years numbered of their past life make no difference in their present happiness, while the coming years shall only draw them into a closer and happier union. WINSOME EIGHTEEN. I think a man over thirty years has taken long enough time to feel the dans of Cupid piercing through the tendrils of his heart, if not he needs (says ‘ A Married Lady ’) a nice, winsome miss of eighteen or nineteen years to charm him beyond the delights of bachelorhood into those of married life. TWENTY THE PROPER AGE. If it be a possible thing that a young man loves both alike, let him marry (advises ‘ J.M.S.’) the girl of twenty for several things. The girl of twenty would no doubt marry him, because she loves him, but the woman of thirty would no doubt marry him just for a home, as every woman ought to marry before that age. STUDY TEMPER, NOT YEARS. Love, age, beauty, and all other attributes of wedded bliss have been ruthlessly swept aside by that ungovernable ruler, temper. Where two persons possess fierv tempers age has no power (says ‘ O. Samson ’) to prevent the battle of words which often ends in divorce and sometimes death. Still, a woman ten years a man s junior will be obedient, and through obedience happiness may come. MARRY THE MAID OF THIRTY. A man is likely, contends ‘An American Girl,’ to secure happiness by taking a wife near his own age, as then their ideas ot life will be in common with each other, and they will grow old together. One many years his senior would not understand him, and therefore would not so readily sympathise with him. Twenty years of age is hard to suit, and will not decide to forsake ’ single blessedness’ yet ; but the woman of thirty or thereabouts is thinking more of getting a husband. She has added dignity to her maidenly charms, understands somewhat of life’s struggles, and has had time to reconnoitre and study character. THE YOUNG WIFE SOON WEARIES. A man of thirty and a woman of twenty may love each other at first, but in a few years their ages will make (says ‘ Thayendenenga ’) such a change in their appearance that love will die out. But if he marries a woman of thirty, as the years roll on there will be but little change in their respective appearance ; they will love each other, and to my mind that is the correct solution to the query contained daily in your paper.