Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-03-16
Runaway Marriages.

The Legislature of our. State every win.
ter attempts some tinkering of our laws re-
specting Marriage, but generally succeeds
in doing very little mischief. We urge no
action at all or the subject but, when any
charge shall hereafter be made in these
laws, we ask that provision. be inserted
for the discouragement and repression of
Runaway Marriages % -, - 80 -
The popular notions on this subject, fo-
mented by the yellow-covered literature Of
the day, are exceedingly lax and mistaken.
The young Miss who elopes from the pa-
rental roof to marry some adventurer who
was probably unknown to her last year, is
often represented as girl of rare spirit,
who does remarkably clever and admira-
BILE thing. :. !. ......,y
We hold or the contrary that, in great
majority of cases, her elopement is unwise,
giddy, uhgrateful, immodest, and evinces
lascivious appetite and reckless disposition.
Why should she deser! and distress those
who have loved, nurtured and cherished
her through all her past years, to throw
herself into the arms Of comparative
stranger, who has done nothing for her, and
whose protestations of affection have yet to
undergo the first trial.. 1t. is every way
unworthy Of pure and gentle maidcnhood
We can imagine but one excuse for her
lopemsnt-namelyr the efforts of parents
or guardians to coerce her into marrying
some one she does not love-. To avoid such
fate, she is justified in running away; for
no parent has or ever had a right to con-
strain daughter to marry against her will.
But where the parents are willing to wait,
the daughter should also consent to wait,
until her choice is assentcd to or she at
tains her legal majority. Then, if she choo-
ses to marry in opposition to her parents,
wishes, let her quit their home openly,
frankly, in broad daylight, and in such
manner as shall kindly but utterly preclude
any pretence that her act IS clandestine or
il-considered. No one should be persuad-
ed or coerced to marry where she does not
love ); but torwait. year or two for the as
sent OF those who have all her life done
what they could for her welfare, no daush-
ter SHOULD esteem hardship. H..
There is some truth to be told about The
"common run" of masculine providers by
night about garden walls aud under bedr
room windows, in quest ofopportunlties TO
pour seducing batteries into the ears Of
simple misses; but we have not time to tell
it now. As general rule,r they are licen-
tious, good-for-nothing adventurers, who
would much rather marry living than
work for it,and who speculate on the chan
ces of bringing the old folks round' after
a, year or two. A true man would not ad-
wise, much less urge, the woman he'loyea
to take a,step which must inevitably lessen
the respect felt for her, and violate the
trust reposed in her by those who had low
ed and cherished her all her days.
The marriage of gIrls of fourteen to seHt
enteen years is very prevalent cause of
personal. and transmitted evil and suffering.
Prematurely taxed with-the care and nour-
ishment of children, ,their,oonsiitutious give
way, and a! thirty they are already on the
downhill of life. Eighteen is the youngest
age at which any one should marry; TWEEN,
ty to twenty-three is much better.-N~Y
Times.