South Canterbury Times, SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 1882.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2809, 25 March 1882, Page 2

South Canterbury Times, SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 1882.

What are we to do with our girls, is not less important than what we are to do with our boys. “ Growing boys ” are a source of anxiety j they must be fed, clothed, educated, launched into the world. “ Growing girls ” —well; we put to any 1 parent whether they . are not a still greater cause of anxiety. They, too, must -be fed, . clothed, educated, —but here we pause. The launching of these into > the world is p very different affair to launching the boys. Our tradition about boys is that they mast go forth to fight the battle of life. Our tradition about girls is that they must go forth to get married. For the boys there is no resource bnt work—for the girls none but matrimony. If they fail iii their respective spheres they must, to use an expressive phraseology, “go to the wall.” The field -for labor is : an ever widening one;—the field for matrimony an ever contracting one. The result of labor, prudently and industriously carried out, is success and competence. The result of matrimonial effort, however prudently and carefully carried on, is to say the least, problematical andj doubtful. Labor is an eternal law ; matrimony a usage.! Hence, those who abide by the eternal law ; are in safe paths ; while those who stand by the custom have only a : precarious t tenure of existence. In saying that the .field for raatrimony is, ever contracting itself we but state a fact which is patent to every observer, j Temporary customs, measures, and usages nlust ever have a precarious footing. There is no saying how soon they may yield to altered circumstances and conditions. Marriage is one of these, and there .ajre not wanting signs to indicate that circumstances and conditions are beginning to run custom very hard indeed. It is not merely that the struggle for existence is becoming daily harder. The intellectual life of the race -is taking a new and vigorous start; and the life of man is now a state in which his brain-power is exercised to the exclusion of everything else; the field of his observation and endeavor is ever widening. The logical outcome of this is, that he addresses himself more to the attainment of certain objects and. less to social customs. It is in thislatter light that men are coming (imperceptibly to themselves in. mosi cases) to view marriage. Add to tbsa what we mentioned first, viz., tbe difficulty of living, and there is abundant reason why marriage should become less popular. That it is so becoming is plain. And, somehow or another, marriage is not generally now-a-days, a success. It seems to be out of harmony, with existing conditions, and the consequence' is tbaf j our divorce courts are crowded wit/a petitioners, our police records show a vast amount of matrimonial misery, and in our own experience wa all kn ,ow of far too many instances of failr are. It is useless to shirk the question, as many do. It is futile fco affect not to believe these things. They are simply facts. If, ther,, we admit the facts, it is at once Apparent that the prospects of “ our 'girls ” are materially changed. In tho matrimonial market the crowd is diminishing, the bids are fewer, and the; stock growing far in excess of the demand. Is it into isuch an arena, then, that we should th rust “ our girls ?” Do we desire to see them spending their wits in frantic efforts to get a bid before the market actually closes? The answer from the immense majority of reflectilng parents is, a thousand times, no. What then shall we do for ther a ? They must divest; themselves of th eir chains and depend upon their faculti ies to win for them what their charr, ns cannot. The educational faciliti es now afforded to women are an evidence of the general acceptance of tl >is

’,,A ~ ,-j position. There is> iay, fact,' no de- ■ paftment of intellect uailife in' which-' women may not honorably and successfully cope with men, and so triumph;pver the altered* conditions of her existence and ■'the apparently gloomy future that lies before her. Art, science, letters, industry, are open to all. There4s-an- infinity of work jfco be done ; and to this .work all may address themselves 'with 'i success and credit, women as. well as.men.., “ Our girls ” then .must,learn to think and work ; thought and labor must; be shewn them as their path in life, and their attention must be turned away from the profitless task of husbandhunting in which so many have come to grief, and be directed to the acquisition of knowledge arid the cultivation of skill. We must not be understood as taking extreme viewl. We merely point to a certain fact which is beginning to be a conspicuous feature of our social system.;, because we believb it is time people generally,not the thinkers alone, should face it and provide for it. There are trades and occupations, whereby: women’ may easily render themselves independent of the other sex.. , Although the renunciation of marriage ties appearjs a ’ very sad necessity, it will prove more or less so just as the woman has or has not, other resources to fall back upon. We are at one With those who would invite women to share the mental work of the world, and we counsel every parent, whatever be his position, or the prospects' of his children, to seethat his. daughters, acquire some art, trade, or occupation with which to support themselves,, so that .in the event of their not drawing a prize in the matrimonial lottery. they may riot drop ihto' the state' known as the “ peevishness of an old maid,” but may continue to live useful and happy lives. , ... 1

The Orangemen of Timaru have very gracefully expressed their sense of the high character of their Chaplain, the Rev. Mr Durabell, by presenting him with a handsome souvenir, on the occasion of his approaching departure from Timaru. We were not aware that the time of Mr Dumbell’s departure was so near at hand. This being the case, however, we desire also to give expression to our heartfelt good wishes for his health, prosperity, arid happiness. The examples of unassuming" genuine Christianity are not too common' in any community arid ■•Mr Dumbelfhas, during his residence here, won the esteeiri and respect of the community at large- .and the devoted affection of his, people. Wherever he goes , his life will have its lesson to those around him ; and it will be elsewhere as it is here that people of every shade of opinion,, political and religious, will acknowledge the greatness .and beauty of a pure life and a kind heart. We know persons most Violently l ,x»p ! posed to' Ofangeisra who entertain for Mr Durabell personally tiie highest respect and veneration. He, who has been in and out amongst us without offending any, ; going always about the 'duties of his calling, with heart ever open, and; hand ever ready for those in trouble, cannot be permitted to leave us without ; our tendering him our sincere and warm good wishes. -