Social Moods.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 379, 13 August 1903, Page 7

Social Moods.

MARBIaGE. suggest to the average girl that £&|AS an< i position weigh more Q&s with her in the choice of a hnaband than the very essential factor, love,; would probably excite her indignation ;to B&SBjfc 5 girls like to think t|lj|thj| part of tho popular noyel heroine, wjjslf whom we aro so ire®, wfjiojj when asked to choose between the wealthy' i fluitor, and impecunious lover, unhesita-

P*%}3 glares that she prefers love in a cottage with the latter, to the mansion of a man for whom she has no affection. Such romance, of course, makes very delightful reading, but it is much to be fear id tbat it is oaly on ' exceptional occasional occasions that it enters into real life. This is a practical asre in which we livd, and, although the days of romance are by no means' dead, as many would have us believa, the presented*!® girl, while recognising the value of love is apt to look firs& at a man's worldly possessions before deciding to accept.hija for a husband. " - i

And perhaps if; is as well that she should do so. For while marriage without sincere autnal love is not to be recommended, such a union would be liable to reespt in much misery and unhappiness tor all parties concerned, one mnsfc not lose sight of the truism tha>. when poverty comes in at the door love flies out at the window.' .What can be more natural, than, that a. "girl whose youth has perhaps -been spent in continnal drudgery, should look forward* to marrying a mau who is in. a position to provide her with a comfortable ' home P-- Perhaps for years she has had to work hard for a scanty pittance which' Jibs scarcely sufli ;ed to provide for her |bare n* eds. Or, asrain, she may be one of a large and poor family wh'o fcave «1 wa*s experienced the giaatesfc difficulty & making both ends m»aet. « § # : Some girls, of course, are quite?content to marry a maa and continue thestruggie . for existence to which they have always been accustomed. But it is a very uninviting prospect, and one caa "scarcely blame a .girl who accepts the offer of a j.eu'tor who can remove her from the struggle with pjvdr'y, even though he may not have won her entire lov^. It wily generally be found that such a girl. ha 3 same liking for the man she marries, and if he proves himself in any way worthy, tbia liking often turns to love: There is a great risk that lova may not follow marriage, it,% truest BuHf the girl is a sensible/ o|ie| MdlJeiolvfs/Ja make a good and has provided her with" a "home anaTcomfqrts,' she ig generally quite as successful in getting real happiness out of married life as the girl who marries solely for Jove. - It is the girl who placsa love entirely in the background, and chooses her husband according to his position and wealth for the'sake of rising in the social scale, to whom marriage often becomes a failure. Amongst the ' upper tep, ; of course, marriages of convenience are, and always have been, the rule rather than the ex.ceptioa. There are evidences, however, that of late years among the middle classes, the matter of mo.ney and .position has gained an ascendency over that feeling of love and affection which Bhould exist between two young people who intend to be united in wedlock. .. J It often happens that amongst a girl's circle of male acquaintances are two or three good, straightforward, and hrnourable young men very much in love with her, and for one of whom she has a decided preference. . His position and prospects, however, are not of the best, and not being ; willing to waste the beat years of her life in waiting until he is in s proper position 1» 'marry, she accepts the / man who can provide her at once with a home she has often pictured in her mind. On the other hand, we have the girl who pins her whole faith in love. She will wait for years, and will prove herself ready to share the humblest of homes with her lover.