Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-09-22
Premature Matrimony.

Premature Matrimony.
Marriage is divine and beautiful arrange
ment. 1t was designed by Providence not
solely as the means of keeping up population,
or as a mere social and economical convenience,
but as the blending of two spirits into one-the
masculine representing wisdom" and the
feminine 'saffection." When there is a true
spiritual affinity between the two, then the de-
sign is accomplished.
Premature marriages are among the greatest
evils of the times; and it would not be bad
idea in these days of reforms, if an "anti-
marrying-in hurry society" were instituted.
Nowadays, people leap into the magic life
circle with no more consideration than they
would partake of u dinner-little thinking that,
when once in, they are there until their end
comes. There is but little, sometimes no mu-
tual analysis of disposition, and comparison of
taste and affections. They seem to fancy that
if there are any discrepancies, the fatal Gordian
knot which can be seldom cut and never I'M
tied, will harmonic all.
The numbers who have felt this truth-the
numbers still feeling it to their hearts core
are incalculable. They recognize itas the great
mistake of their lives. The chain is not to
them a silken one, but cable of iron, that
tightens around them more and more, crushing
all hope and energy, substituting hate for love,
and eating out with its rust, the very inner life
of the soul.
Boys aud girls now marry to greater ex-
tent than ever before, instead of waiting till
they become fulgrown and matured men and
women. The young dandy, as soon as he gets
out of short jackets, aud finds a little .furze
gathered on his upper lip-and the young miss,
as soon as she energies from the nursery and
abbreviated frocks-think they are qualified to
assume the most solemn responsibilities of life.
And so if 'sPa" and "Ma" won't consent,
they post off to some Gretna Green, and there
take obligations they will never cease bitterly
to repent.
Marriage should never be the result of fancy.
The ball room and the evening party rarely
develop real character. Under the exhilarat-
ing influence of the dance, the glare of lights,
and the merry squib and joke, the dissolute
young man may appear amiable, and the Stat
ternly scold lovable. Matches made at such
places, or under similar circumstances, are not
of the class that originated in heaven. They
more generally are conceived in the opposite
place, and bring forth only iniquity. The true
way to learn each other is to do it ut home, in
the parlor, in the kitchen, and on occasions that
test the temper. We see the result of these
unions in the almost daily divorces that are
taking place, in the running away of husbands,
leaving their wives and children to starve, and
the elopement of wives. Not only this, but we
witness it in the broken spirited men, made old
in the prime of life, struggling on for mere
food, and clothing, and shelter, and in women
cross, dirty, sluttish, and wrinkled.
1t would be quite Impossible for us to depict
faithfully the multitude of physical and moral
evils that result from these sinful alliances-for
sinful they are. They ruin the body, corrupt
the morals, and stultify the mind. And the
result does not stop with husband and wife.
There are the children; they partake of the
feebleness and vices of the parents, both physi-
cal and moral, and 60 out into the busy world
stunted and gnarled God pity them!
We would not be understood speaking against
the institution of marriage. 1t is holy, beauti
full and benefcent. But let every one take his
mate or none. Let not the brave eagle pair
with the stupid owl, nor the gentle dove with
the carrion crow. Like should have like. II
is glorious sight to see two old people, who
have weathered the storms and basked in the
sunshine of life together, 60 hand in hand,
lovingly and truthfully, down the gentle de-
clivity of time, with no Anglers, nor jealousies,
nor hatreds garnered up against each other, and
looking with hope and joy to the everlasting
youth of heaven, where they two shall be one
forever. That is true marriage-for it is the
marriage of spirit with spirit. Their love is
woven into wool of gold, that neither time nor
eternity can sever.-Ihe Eclectic.