Page 2 Advertisements Column 6

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1949, 4 December 1906, Page 2

WHY MEN DO NOT MARRY

;(To the Editor Gisborne Times.) Sir, —The question lias ocourred to me, as doubtless it has to many others among y our readers, why so many young people are taking Mr Punch's advice to those about to marry, and are refraining from entering a state of connubial bliss ? Is it because girls are less fascinating than their mothers were, or is it that they do not impress the modern young man with their capabilities for economical housekeeping, and thus cause him to fight shy of taking unto himself an encumbrance instead of a helpmate, I am personally disposed to take this latter view as it seems to me that the, modern young lady displays so many expensive tastes, that a young man with a common amount of foresight sees that it would be impossible to keep such a lady and himself, with any degree of comfort, until he has advanced fairly well in life. I know several young batchclors drawing salaries of from 50s to 60s per week, and whose positions are practically assured, who would never think of marrying because they know that they could not keep the modern young lady upon that income, yet by two or three “batching” together they can have comfort, all the clothes they require and plenty of pocket money to spend. It is certain that if they livo in the way they do, that their income is quite largo enough to keep two, if the other one was only content to cut her 'cloth to hc-r garment, and not anticipate an elaborately furnished house and every luxury. Is our educational system making ’our girls too big for the position nine out of ten are bound to be obliged to occupy, or is it that we parents give them liberty and thus mar the modesty and refinement of demeanour which is a decent woman’s j greatest charm to a man? Our statesmen are all deploring the lading birth-rate, but so far no one seems able to grapple with the causes or their cure, and the fact res mains that each decade sees a smaller percentage of young men marrying.—l am, etc

PATERFAMILIAS, GisbomCj December fil'd} 1900,