Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-11-19

Ii he tolls, he tolls for the accomplish
ment Of this purpose only; il he begs Oh
besiows fayors--ifhe receives or admins
tiers the blessings of fortune--if he courts
popularity, seeks for fame, or spends his
whole lie in accommodating wealth, he has
but one grand active propelling principle
within him, ever prompting TO thought and
deed, and that is a desire for happiness
"-----our beings end and aim"
Man is social being, formed to socie-
ty and intercourse, and tho very elements
Of his nature are opposed TO life of soli-
tude and "sngle bessedness. He de-
lights in having companion, in whom
he can confide with all the faithlulness
and freedom Of his own breast. 1t is,
therefore, with a view to his social happ-
ness, for the enlargement of his domestic
comforts, and for the pleasure OF sharing
! his enjoyments and cares, that he selects
that companion from the opposite SEX
The sexes are treacherous among them.
! selves, but seldom to each other.
A certain writer remarks that "mar-
rlage enlarges the scene of our happiness
or misery; the marriage Of love is pleas
ant, the marriage Of interest easy, and the
marriage, where both meet, happy" 1t
is even so. But though there are cases
where men are SO blinded by the object
Of their pursuit as TO overlook dIscrepan-
cies and dsparagements which afterwards
prove vexaiious-is it a reason that there
is no use in getting married! Man has
the elements Of happiness within himself,
which, when rightly exercised, never fail
to produce il. 1t remains with him alto
gcther to comply with the acquisitions of
nature, and support her institutions, 10
fulfil the laws of God, and effect the great
object of his own being. In complying,
however, he is assured Of happiness
which he cannot otherwise enjoy, and
which he cannot otherwise obtain. There
fore, if he values his happness--if he is
ludcious man--lf he is not selfish and
misanthropic, he will act out the princi-
plies ofhis nature, and get married. There
is no man but what feels the influence Of
woman, delights in her so :iety, aud wor
ships TO a certain degree, at the shrine OF
her charms of personal beauty and bril-
liant mental requirements.
"Nature has given her an influence
over man, more powerful, more perpetu-
al, than his over her; from brthto death,
he takes help and healing from hor hand,
under all the most touching circumstances
Of life /: her bosom succors him in infancy,
sootnes him in manhood, supports him IN
sickness and in age. Such influence as
this, beginning at the spring of life, and
acting in all its most trying moments,
must deteriorate or improve mans char
acter-musl diminish or increase his hap
piness, according to the moral and intel
ec,ual graduation Of woman. Thus, upon
her improvement in particular, depends
human Improvement in general.
"Setting aside individual happiness, and
all the pleasures Of the social circle, the
comforts OF domestic life, the cheering OF
the smile and voice that greet the nus
band and the father, the nature OF society,
urges strong reasons why men should get
married. Because human Improvement,
the good of the world, depends upon wo.
man in her proper sphere. Our first les.
sons are the Instructions of her lips, and
our earliest impressions are taken from
her examples. Thus it is that we carry
into society her influence, which extends
throughout all ranks and classes of man.
kind"
Woman's influence, therefore, not only
sheds mild and cheering lnstre over The
hearts Of her friends, around the tiresIde OF
her family, and within The narrow sphere
in which nature has placed her, but upon
the whole world. 1t enters the haunts OF
vice, and drags forth the victim OF the
bowl, dashes it from his lips, and restores
him TO reason, and to a vlrtuous lie. 1t
prevents the prostitution OF those qualities
which ennoble, dignity, and elevate man
above all other beings.
Ii prevents crime in its thousand forms,
and makes man virtuous, when he would
otherwise be vicious. Ii carries peace
and prosperity where trouble and adver-
sity would reign, and gives birth to
thousand pleasures that would otherwise
never exist.
The young man who is fond Of the So
ciety Of virtuous females, has better
capital for his character, than birth OF
wealth could give him. He is looked up
on as a moral and virtuous young man,
because, generally speaking, only such
take pleasure in the refinement OF female
society.
Take it all in all, therefore, marriage
is necessary for mans happiness, for the
true formation Of his character, for the
peace ofhis home, the comfort of his heart,
the JOY OF his youth, and the solace of his
years.
In fine, man neuer becomes a member Of
society, mill he is married. Unmarried,
he is looked upon with dlstrust. He has
no home, no abiding place, no anchor TO
hold him fast, but is a mere piece Of float
] wood ON the great tide of time LIS H.