Why There Are Not More Marriages

CfeeÏRiciigaargns "VVe publish but a small part of the letters of inquiry which are sent to us. Sometimos the questions are so similar to each other that an answer to ono serves substantially as un answer to a dozen others. Woro wo to print all that we receive, they would fill many columns of the Ledger. A inajority of these questions are written by young persons, and very many of them relate, in some way, to the stifoject of inarriage, and they indicato how absorbing is the interest of young poople in this subject, and how universal it is. Nature ordains that it should be so ; and whoever criticises the prevalence and intensity of this interest, flnds fault wiih an ordinauce of the Creator. It is best for people genorally that they should be married young. It makes them happier and better. " Marri.w. if rightly underatood, Is to the virtuous und the good, A parodiaO below." Washington Irving stutes, as the result rf his observation, that married men, ■when thoy mfet with misfortunes, are much moro apt to retrieve themselves snd becomo prosperous again than singlo men. They have the encouragement and fortitude of their wivos to sustain them. That is liis view of it. Physiologists and moralists have geneally agreed that it is better for men aud women to be married than to remain single. Both the civil and ecclesiastical law encourago and protect marriage. A contract for the prevention of marriacro is held to bc illegal ; and if a bequest be made on condition of the legatee remaining single, the condition is held to be void ; while contracts of marriage are upheld and enforced at law, and a bequest on condition of marrying is valid. But while the advantages of marrying are fully conceded on all hands, the tact stares us in the fuco that there are less marriages, and moro singlo people, than there ought to be. Why is it so 't One great and principal reason is the universal prevalence of notions and habits of oxtravagance. The strife on all sides is, who shall be greatest in expenditure aud ia show? It is nu longer considered prudent or safo for a young man to marry unless he has a very large income ; and it is not prudent it' tho young couple's expenditures are to be on the BCale which has now become usual. But all this extravagance is unneceseary. It is not essential to.happiness. It is unwise, and tho belief that it cannot be dixpensed with is productivo of much mischief. The insane worsliip of wealth whioh ha taken, possessiotv of t!ie American peopFe is dbnooralizing in all its tendencies. Old-fashioned notions of economy and frugality must be restored. They should be tauijht by mothers to their daughters, and by fathors to thoir sons. They should be made a leading aud oontrolling element in the education of all. Homely content, with all the sweets of confidence and affection, is far preferable to the waste, the fo ly and the show, with all their attendant jaalousies and heart-burnings, which are tho order of the present