Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1854-07-22
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premature MatrInony.


Marriage is a divine and beautiful ar
rangement. 1t was designed by Provi-
dence not solely as the means OF keeping
up population, or as mere social and
economical convenience, but as the bIen-
ding of TWO spirits into one-the mascu-
line representing ooisdom, and The femin-
inc, affection. When there is trne spIr-
itual affinity between The two, then the
design is accomplished. Such an atlini-
ty, we believe may continue IN the other
! life equally as in This.
Premature marriages are among the
greatest evils Of the times and it would
not be bad idea, in these days of re-
forms, if an anli-marrying a-hurry So
ciety were Instituted. Now a days peo-
pie leap into the magic lile-circle, with no
more consideration than they would par
take of a dnner-litte thinking that when
once in, they are there until their END
comes. There is but little, sometimes no
mutual analysis of disposition, and com
parison of tastes and affections. They
seem TO fancy that, if there are any dis, |
crepancies, the fatal Gor-dian knot, " hich .
can be seldom cut, and never united, will .
harmonze all.
The numbers who have felt this truth
the numbers still feeling it to their hearts
core-are incalculabe. They recognise
it as the great mistake Of their lives. The
chain is not to them a siken one, but j
cable of iron, that ughtens around them
more and more, crushing out all hope arb
energy, substituting hate for love, en-
eating out, with its rust, the very inEo.
life of the soul. I,
Boys and girls now marry to a greaier /
extent than ever before, instead of waning
I'LL they become ful.grown and matured
men and women. The young dandy, as
soon as lie gets out of short Jackets, and
inds a little f,trz gathered on his upper ,
ip--and the young Miss as soon as she
'merges from the nursery and ahreviarion b
rocks--think they are well qualified to :,
assume the most solemn responsibilities a
If life. And so if "Pa" and MIA" won, ,
consent, they post of to some GreIna- 4
Green, and there take obligations thai, in y
cases out of hundred, they y
will never cease bitterly 10 repent. q,
Marriage should never be the result Of &
ancy. The ballroom and the evening a
'arly rarely develop real character. I'm, II
er the exhilerating influence oflhe dance, r,
he glare Of lighls, and the merry quip +
nd Joke, the diSsolute young man MAY .
ppsar amiahle, and the slauernly scod n
oveable. Matches made at such places h
+ under similar circumstances, are not of e
he class that originate in Heaven. They W
lore generally are conceived in the op- G.
oai.e place and bring forth only iniquitv. hi
he true way 10 learn each other is TO do $
al home, IN the parlor, in the kitchen, de
nd on occasions that test the temper. of
We see the result of these unions in the Ell
most daily divorces that are taking place L
in the running away Of husbands, Ieav- m
lg their wives and children to starve- TO
nd IN the elopement Of wives. Not on W
: this, but we witness it in broken.spirit- ga
! men, made old in The prime of life, ru
on for more food and clothing an
I'D shelter, and in woman, cross dirty, as
I'd wrinkled. m
Ii would be quite impossible for US to Iat
epict faithfully the multitude of physical
ID moral evils that result from these sim ch
/ alliances--fOr sinful they are. They in
lin the body, corrupt the morals, and Iat
ulHfy the mind. And the result does IN;
VI stop with husband and vile. There an
e the children. They partake of the ev
ebleness and vices of the parents, both ia!
,ysicaI and moral, and 60 out into the ha
lsy world stunted and gnarled God ISL
ty them sin
We would not be understood as speak thi
G against the institution of marriage. 1t pre-
holy, beautifully and benefcent. But wi
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