Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1852-04-08
MISCELLANY.
PREMATURE MARRIAGES.


Marriage is a divine and beautiful ar.
rangement. TWAS designed BY Providence
as the pleading Of two spirits into one-thc
masculine representing acisdom, and the fem
mime c6ectt0a@ When there is true spirit
ual affinity between the two, thenthe design
is accomplished. Such an affinity, we be.
lievc, may continue in the other lif4a Is equal
y as in tlIis,
Premature marriages are among the great
est evils Of the times; and it would not be
bad idea, in thescdays of reforms, if an An
ti-marryiGg in a-hurry Society were institu
ted Now ,a-days, people leap into the mag
ic e.eircle, with no more consideration than
they would partake Of a dinnere-little think
ing tha4wben once in, they are Athere until
their eHd comes. There is little, sometimes
no mutual analysis of disposition, and com
parisol Of tastes and affections They seem
and never united, VIII EarmoT1zs ait: ----'----
The Numbers who have felt this truth
the numbers still feeling it to the hearts
core-are incalculable. They recognize it
as the great mistake of their lives The
chain is not TO them silken one, but ca
bic Of iron, that tightens around them more
and more. crushing out all hope and energy,
substituting hate for love, and eating out,
with its rust the very inner life Of the soul,
Boys and girls now marry to greater ex-
tent than ever before, instead of waiting un-
til they become full grown and matured men
and women. The young dandy, as soon as
he gets cut of short jackets, and finds little
fu7 gathering on his upper lip-and the
young miss, as soon as she emerges from the
nursery and abbreviated frocks-think they
are we'll qualified to assume the most solemn
responsibilities of life. And so, if Pa and
Ma won't consent, they post off to some
Gretna Green. and there take obligations
that. in ninety-nine cases out of one hundred
bitterly repent.
Marriage should never be the result of
tancY. The ballroom and the evening party
rarely develope real character. Under the
cxhiierating influence of the dance, the glare
Of lights, and the merry quip and joke the
dissoiute young man may appear aniable,
and the slatternly scold loyeable Matches
made at such places, and under such circum
stances, are not of Che class that originate in
Heaven They more generally are conceiv-
ed in the opposite place, and bring forth on
" iniquity. The true way to learn eachoth-
er is to do it at home, in the parlor, in the
Y X Ea.a
per We see the result Of these unequal
unions in the almost daily divorces that are
taking place-in the running OF husbands,
I leaving their wives and children to starve--
and in the elopement of wives. Not only
/ this, but we witness it in broken spirited
| men, made old in the prime of life, strug
/ Cling on for mere food and clothing and
/ shelter, and in women, cross, dirty and
wrinklcd
It would be quite impossible in US to de
pict faithfully the multitude Of physical and
moral evils that result from these sinful ALI
/ ancestor s5afat they are They ruin the
I body. corrupt the morals, and stultify tn
mind. And the result does not step wit
husband and wife There are the children
They partake Of the feebleness and vices Q
the parents, both physical and moral, and g
out into the busy world stunted and guarded
i God pity them
We would not be understood as speaking
against the institution of marriage It j
holy. beautiful and benifcent But let ey
j ery one take his mate or none. Let not.th
brave eagle pair with the stupid owl, nor til
gentle dove with the earrion crow Lik
should have like. It Is a glorious sight t
see two old people, wh9 have weathered th
storms, and basked in the sunsaines Of III
together, go hand-in-hapd, lovingly an
truthfnlly, down the gentle declivity OF tim
no angers, Or jealousics, or hatreds earned U
against each other, and looking with hop
aud 10Y to the everlasting youth Of beaver
/ where they, too, shall be one forever Tn;
j Is true marriage-for it is the marriage
! spirit with spirit Their love is woven mi
. woof Of gold, that neither time, nor deaf
her eternity can sever. s..