L OUIS . In the days when I found the Duchess's novels fascinating, and judged the world by their stan- dard, I felt a keen scorn for lovers who allowed a question of religious views to interfere with the course of true love. Acquaintance with real life and real people has modified my opinions in the matter. If two people love each other so wholly, broadly, deeply and tenderly that the customs of the world regarding the forms of religious worship are nothing to them, and if they can realize that all religions contain the same central idea, and that it is the spirit, not the letter, of a creed which is of impor- tance, then it is perfectly safe for them to marry, whether they are Catholics, Protestants, Buddhists, or Mahometans. But it is rare to find both the man and woman who take this comprehensive and broad view of the matter after the glamour of the honeymoon passes and life settles into practical channels.
Argument ends in dis- cord, and trouble ensues.
Even where people are too sensible and well bred to allow such serious results to ensue, much sorrow and estrangement frequently arise from a differ- ence in religious views, especially where there are children. The man who marries a Catholic wife, and is satis- fied to let her enjoy her faith, is seldom satisfied to have his sons reared in that same faith. Yet this is what he consented to do before marriage. People can be very in married life, who have opposite opinions on every matter save mutual love and loyalty. But they need to be broad minded, good tempered, and well balanced to meet such a situation.