Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1842-01-22

/ husband.
Even in France, gallant and chivalric France
"A most hcartlcss system is pursued. The
father of the young lady is applied to ascertain
her PORTION, and if this be not satisfactory, and
the applicant obstinate and ayarc6ls, the ne
-gotiation is at an end. The whole affair is re-
gariedns matter Of business. Thus HANDS
, are frequently disposed of unaccouipahicd by
hearts.
How miserable deficient lis the French sys-
ten when compared with that of odr own
cohntry. The French sell themselves to a wo-
man for her dower--the American Chooses,
intelligence, or her amiabe qualities, and asks
no other portion. The French make traffic
of what is most sacred; tile hmercan exhibits
dclicacy and loitincss o. feeling which would
do honor to the most perfect models of chivary.
Here the period of courtshp is recognised as
the most blissful of human existence; the
briglitess -greoncss, sunnicst spot on The way
side Of life. 1t generally extends over space
of time when the mind and the heart are like
susceptible to all that is exquisite in sentiment
/ II
in world of our own imagining, the futurc
rscsup as rich landscapc-somc fairy spirit
mnglcs in, gives additional zcst to the sccnc-
an idol i'll whom we see all the elements OF per
| tcction-a being OF Ihc heart
"far as the first that fell Of woman kind"
Such arc the hours ofcourtship Then it is
that the heart is touched with tho dream of
love --triumpnarit love. Even ifdccekrd, the
dclusion is delicious while it Ias,s-if the dclu-
sion lasts through 'liia, so much the better
| There Is no happier man than lac who has
bonnd'css confidence in his wife-faultlcss as
! much in person as in mind
! '"One made upof lovclnoss alepo.r
What matters it to him that the world does
not concur in this estimate! In making n
choice, he did not consult the world or hold It's
! opinion Important
"Mhat care how fair she be,
tf she be not fair to me ~
/ The truc policy--the duty OF the married is to
cndcavor to preserve in after life the same
! bright picture that won our iJolatry-to have
gcntIoncSsCf affection, kindness OF manner, and
/ depth of regard.
To win mans affections is comparatively an
easy natcr-to retain them, the great art and
/ true secret of domestic felicity Let aaot then
the wife neglect those thousand attractions that
/ speaks as it were from the depth OF The soul
| let her show that she understands the obliga-
tions assumed at the altar-apprcciatest the oon-
fdcncc, and is anxious 10 preserve the ailoc-
tcsss Of her husband.
Cvurtshir may be said To form the period OF
time at which two streams meet. The waters
are inscnsbly bcnded-thc clear and the tur-
i,ia-the roaEh and the smocth-,tsc rapid and
the smooth Each modiics the nsarrscT and
directs the progress of the other. Couitskir Is
10 marriage what the bud is 10 the Goucr-thc
very soul and centre from which all life, sweet
ness and beauty are diililscd But there is a
time for all things, aud oour,ship, however de-
ighttul, should have n Tccrcr tcrmiaatta,
Marriage has becr JNstiy regarded by all
true philosophers, as the best and purcst of in
stitutions-an institution having the approba-
ton of Divinity itself. The llebrcus marrcd
verv carly, Cor u sias!e !iic was considered dis
graceful ia is,aei. The engagements lasted
from six 10 twelve mMtlls. SNne days after
marriage the wife was conducted to the home
of her husband, aud was not called wife until
that time This was done vilh much ceremo.
ny.
Marriage was encined by the first sover-
eigns ofEgypt, China and Greece. The earli-
est laws encouraged matrlmony. BY the Jew
ish law, married man WAS for the first year
exempted foom going 10 war and excused from
the burden Of any public Office. Among the
) Peruvlans he wastrce for a year from the pay
mcnt of all taxes.
practice prevailed among the early Assy.
riaas OF collecting the marrisgcsblc young We
men once year i'll every rllsgc, aad com.
mcncing with the most beautiful, putting them
up at auction to the highest bidder The mo
ncy realized from the sale of the beautiful was
assessed as port ION 10 the less attractive, and
: no one was allowed TO carry oil his purchase
unless he gave security that lac would take heI
10 wife. 1t was also stipulated that the womeI
shoUld be we'll treated by their husbands--aI
, excellent provision, that might be emulate,
with advantage in modern times.
In many other ancient nations the husband
was obliged to purchase his wife by presents
aud by personal services to her father. Tho
messenger, sent by Abraham to demand Re
la. &C.. 4 4