Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-04-09
EVENING STAR.
PREMATURE MArRIKoNY.

PREMATURE MATRIK0NY.
Marriage is divine and beautiful ar
rangement. 1t was designed by Provi-
dence not solely as q means of keeping
up population, or as q mere social and
economical convenience, but as the blend
ing OF two spirits into one-the maScu-
line representing wisdom, and the femi-
nine affection. When there is a true
spiritual affinity between the two, then
the design is accomplished.
Premature marriages are among the
greatest evils of the times; and it would
not be o bad idea in these days of re-
forms, If an anti-marrying- ina hurry
society were instituted. Nowadays,
people leap into the magic life-circle,
with no more consideration than they
would partake of dinner-little think
ing that, when once in, they are there
until their end comes. There is but lit
tie, sometimes no mutual analysis of dis
position, and comparison of taste and af.
fections. They seem to fancy that, if
there be any discrepancies, the fatal Cor
dian knot, which can be seldom cut, and
never united, will harmenize all.
The numbers who have felt this truth
the number still feeling it to their
hearts core-are incalculable. They
recognize it as the greatest mistake of
their lives. The chain is not TO them a
sllken one, but a cable of iron, that
tlghtens around them more and more,
crushing out all hope and energy, sub.
stituting hate for love, and eating out
with its rust, the very inner life of the
soul.
Boys and girls now marry TO greater
extent than ever before, instead of wait
ing till they become ull-grown men and
women. The young dandy, as soon IS
he gets out Of the short jackets, and finds
little ttTse gathered on his upper lip
and the young miss, as soon as she
energies from the nursery and abbre-
waited frocks, thinks they are qualified
to assume the most solemn responsible.
ties 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-ninc cases out of a hun
dred, they will never cease bitterly to
repent. o..
Marriage should never be the result of
fancy. The ballroom and the evening
party rarely develop real character. I'm
der the exhilarating influence of the
dance, the glare Of lig hts, and the merry
quib and joke, the dissolute young man
may appear amisble, and the slatternly
scold loveable. Matches made at such
places, or under similar circumstances,
are not of the class that originate in
heaven. They more generally are con-
ceived in the opposite place, and bring
forth only iniqaity. The true way to
learn each other is to do it at home, in
the parlor, in the kitchen, and on occs-
sions 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 childred 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, struggling
on for mere food and clothing, and Shell
ter! and in women, cross, dirty, sluttisb,
and wrinkled.
1t would be quite impossible for us to
depict faithfully, the multitude of ply
sical 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 TIE
result does not stop with husband and
wife. There are the children They
partake of the feebleness and vices of the
parents, both physical and moral, and
20 out into the busy world, stunted and
gnarled.
We would not be understood as speak
ing against the institution Of marriage.
1t is holy, beautiful and benifcent. 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. 1t is a
glorious sight to see two Old people, who
have weathered the storms, and basked
in the sunshine Of life together, 60 hand
in hand, lovingingly and truthfully, down
the gentle declivity Of time, with no an
gers, 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 for
ever. That is true marriage-for it is
the marriage of spirit with spirit. Their
love is woven into woof of gold, that
neither time, nor death, nor eternity can
! sever.-Ihe Electie.