The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1855-09-28
ffshatufs Watfimo ong

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MAnRiAGE is Divine and beautiful ar
rangement. TWAS designed by Providence
not solely rs the means of keeping mp popu-
lation, or as Il mere social and economical
convenience, but as the blending of two spir-,
its into one--the masculine representing wis.,,
dom, and the afeminine affection. When
there is true spiritual affinity between the
two, then the design is accomplished.
Premature marriages are among the great
est evils of the times and it wouldnot be a
bad idea in these days of reforms, if an an
ti-marrying-in-a-hurry Society were institu-
ted. Now a.days, people leap in the magic
life-circle with no more consideration than
they would partake of a dinner-- little thiuk-
ing that. when once in, they are there until
their end comes, There is little, sometimes
Of mutual ANALYSIS of disposition, and COM
parison of taste and affections. They seem
to fancy that, ifthere are any discrepancies,
the fatal Gordian knot, which can be seldom
cut and never united, will harmonic ALL
The numbers who have felt this truth
the numbers still feeling it to their hearts
core-are incalculable, They recognize it
as the great mistake of their lives. The
chain is not to them silken one, but cable
of iron, that tightens 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 ex-
tent than over, before, insiaid Of waiting till
they become full grown and matured men
and women. The young dandy, as soon as
he gets out of short. jackets, and finds little
furze gathered on his upper lip--and the
young miss, assoon as she emerges from The
nursery and abbreviated frocks-think they
are qualified to assume the most solemn res
possibilities 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 hundred,
they viii never cease bitterly to repent.
Marriage should never be the result of fan
lcy The ball room and the evening party
rarely develop real character. Under the ex-
hilaratiDg influence of the dance, the glare
of the lights, AID the merry s4uib aud joke
the dissolnte young man may appear amia-
BILE, and the slatternly scold loveabie. Mat.
ches made at such places. or under simiIa,
circumstances, are not Of the class that orig.
mate in heaven. They are more generally
conceived In the opposite place, and bring
forth only iniquity. The true way to learn
each other is TO do it at 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 eav.
ing 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, struggling OF
for mere food and clothing and shelter, ant
in women cross, dirty sluttish and wrinkled
1t would be quite impossible for us to Ge
pict faithfully the multitude of physical anc
moral evils that result from these sinful mar
riages-.for sinful they are. They ruin tn,
body, corrupt the morals, and stulify tn,
mind. And the result does not stop will
husband andwife. There are the children
/ They partake Of the feebleness and vices O
the parents, both physical and moral, anc
go ont into the busy world staunted ano
gnarled. God pity them
! We would not be understood as speaking
| against the institution of marriage. 1t is ho
ly, beautiful 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 earrion crow. Like
should have like. tits glorious sight to
see two old people who have weathered the
storms and basked in the sunshine of life to.
gether, go hand in hand lovingly and truth.
fully, down the gentle declivity of time with
no angers, nor jealousies, nor hatreds garn.
cred up against each other, and looking with
hope and joy 70 the everlasting youth o.
heaven, where they shall be one forever
That is the .aae marriage foF ;s is the mar.
riage Of spirit with spirit. Their love is wo
ven into a woof Of gold, that neither time
nor death, nor eternity can sever Tn,
Eleetic