THE MARRIAGE MARKET.

Evening Star, Issue 4159, 26 June 1876, Page 4

THE MARRIAGE MARKET.

(From the Liberal Review.) j marriage market is at present, unfortunately, rather overstocked, and sales in it are not .effected so quickly and advantageously as many people wish. Of course, this is a great g‘ief to those who bring their wares thereto, and it is not surprising that many dodges are practised in order to induce business. The state of the case is the more melancholy from the fact that the majority of the principal saleswomen are in the habit of pluming themselves upon the fact that they are not responsible for it. They very properly feel that they sufficiently decorate their goods; and their impression is often emphatically confirmed by many husbands and

fathers. . Tradesmen, also, can be found who are able to give evidence upon the matter. One is, therefore, forced to the conclusion that the times must be “"bad. Still, apart from the possible badness of the times, there appears to be reason why ought-tc-be buyers are painfully shy. Not only do prices rule ruinously high, but there is an idea abroad that many of the articles which are on sale are made up to a great extent upon the 11 Brummagem 1 * principle and like sham jewellery, look very well—until they have been worn for some time. Consequently, young men are in the habit of smiling sardonically when the market hucksters gracefully : dangle their commodities before their eyes, and are addicted to making reprehensible remarks regarding the honoiable condition of matrimony. Indeed, they are given up to the practice of gloating over their cleverness, which enables them to escape from the many snares which are set for them. Whether, however, their apparent earnestness is a pledge of their sincerity, or whether, on the other band, they have less-horror of the gallant yoke of matrimony than they affect, are questions which we shall leave to keener students of human nature than ourselves to answer. At the same time, we may observe that there are a large number of gentlemen who, judging from the frequency with

■which they attend the marriage market and price its wares, yearn after that state of domestic felicity which is so often written about but so seldom seen. Perhaps, when they are first brought in contact with the market hucksters they innocently imagine that other considerations than those of £ s d may influence their transactions; but this old-world and absurd impression soon

gives way to the more enlightened one of modem times. They learn not only that each article that is exposed for sale has, so to speak, its selling price neatly tacked on to it, but they discover also that their own value has been appraised, and that there are watchful beings on the alert to see that they do not allow themselves to go at a sacrifice/ Thus they are taught to think lightly of such trifles as love and compatibility of nature, when these are weighed in the balance against advantages of a more substantial character; and prudently como to the conclusion that they must not necessarily marry where they love. It must not be understood, however, that affection is an absolute bar to matrimony ; for, on the contrary, where affection is well placed and attends on the footsteps of prudence it is an advantage rather than otherwise. Thus, if young Noodle allows himself to be smitten by the charms of old Moneybag’s daughter, well and good—he can marry her amidst a chorus of approval; if, however, he permits himself to be fascinated by little Miss Labkcash, who has nothing but a pretty face and a sweet disposition to recommend her, he is, on no account, to be guilty of the enormity of wedding her, but is required td forget her as soon as possible, and transfer his regard to some more appropriate quarter. Under these circumstances, hearts being what they are,, and prudence what it is, no one can experience surprise that large numbers of men love women whom they do not marry, and marry women whom they do not love ! and that the result of not a few of the transactions which are effected in the marriage market are of decidedly a striking character. Men who have been seared by the of love, and come successfully out of the ordeal, and men who have made acquainted with the tricks of trade of the marriage market, are able to derive much enjoyment from contemplating the market hucksters and their doings. Truly the manner in which these hucksters display the things which they have on hand should secure the articles a more immediate sale than is often effected. Granted that you are a person of position, and would just suit dear Garry, who would be delighted to have the fingering of a rich man’s purse and a running account at her favorite drapers, and you find that you are continually meeting her. The guileless creature is, of course, as unconscious as -you are of what has beep done upon your joint behalf, albeit that during the : period that she has been paraded before your eye t considerable sums are inyested in elegant bonnets, mantles, fee. You find it easy to get quiet conversations with her, you are received into the bosom of her family ‘With effusive welcome, your utterances are regarded as if they were those of a Solon, and you are constantly being 'informed, indirectly perhaps, but still flatteringly, of the singular unanimity upon things in general that exists between you and her, and of the Binoere yegard for you with which she has. be*

come inspired. It is, perhaps, cruel of you in the face of all this not to bid for the charmer, but, unhappily, men are proverbially cruel, especially when - women are in question, and their eyes 9 are not blinded by the tender passion. Fortunately, however, no hearts are broken if you da nob venture to make an offer; the huckster merely shifts her ground, and dear Carry is . discovered to be just the girl to make Lacklustre happy, and assist in spending his income with the consequence that he for a time is allowed th,e opportunity of comfortably witnessing her charms and studying the graces of her character. The huckster, in her wisdom, sees the impolicy of always remaining on the same stand. Thus she flits about with the result that now

you will find her in London, anon at Llandudno or Brighton, and then amidst the mountains of Westmoreland, but wherever she goes she carries with her her peculiar abilities and her stock-in-trade, and her flights are invariably regulated by the possibilities of where she may do business. She is a generous being at times, and thus benevolently endeavors to dispose, ©n advantageous terms, of hei less-favored female connections, it: which design she is generously assistet by those whom she has already got of her hands. Thus cousin Harriet, wh( is one of a family of girls, and doei nothing particular at home excep spend money which its owner can il afford to part with, is singled out, appro priately “ dressed,” and exposed fo: sale with a modest price attached to her. She is asked to London, or Sheffield, or Torquay, wherever, in short, there is a prospect that a purchaser may be found. At each place pers6ns who are likely to buy are allowed to view her at pleasure; and if they are believed to be hesitating she is kept day after day and week after week in order that they may be enabled to screw cheir courage to the sticking-point and propose to do business. It is, no doubt, sad that nothing often comes of this clever manoeuvring, and that the goods are at last marked unsaleable.