True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-12-26
PREMATURE MATRIMONY.

Marriage is divine and beautiful ar
rangement. 1t was, designed by Progi-
tlence, not solely as means of keeping
up population, or as a mere social and
economical convenience, but, as the
blending of two spirits into one 1.-The mas
culine representing wis dom, and the fem-
mime, affection. When there is true
spiritual affinity between the two, then
the design is accomplished. 4..
Premature marriages are among the
greatest evils of the times and il would
not be a bad idea in these days Of reform,
if an "auti-marrying.in-a hurry society,""
were Instituted. Nova. days people leap
into the magic life circle with no more
consideration than they would partake Of
dinner-llile thinking that, when once
in, they are there until their end comes
There is but little, sometimes no mutual
analysis of disposition, and comparison of
taste and affections. They seem TO fan
cy that, if there ale any discrepancies,
the fatal gordian knot, which can be sell
dom cut and never united, will harmo n
ize all. "
The numbers who have felt this truth
the numbers still feeling it 10 their
! hearts core-are incacuable. They rec
ognize it as the great mistake of their
lives. The chain is MOTTO them silken
one, but cable Of iron, that tightens
around them more and more, crushing
all hope and energy, substituting hate toI
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-tillthey become full grown and ma
tured men and women. The young dan
dy, as soon as he gets out Of short jack
els, and finds a lidle turze gathered on
his upper lip-and the young miss, as
soon as SHE emefges from the nursery
and abbreviated frocks think they are
qualified 10 assume the most solemn re
-
/ sponsibilites Of life. And SO if pa ant
ma won't consent, they post off to some
Gretna Green, and there take obligations
they will never cease bitterly to repent
j, Marriage should never be the result oI
lpfancy. The ball room and the evening
. party rarely develope real character. :
Under the exhilarating, influence Of The
! dance, The glare of light, and the merry
sqdib andjoke, the dissolute young mar
may appear amiable, and The tawdry, sla
ternly scold, ldveable. Matches made a
such places, or under similar circumsIan
ces, are not of the class that originated. j.
: Eiheaven. They more generally are con
r ceived in the opposite place, and bring
forth only iniquily. The true way Is
learn each other is to do il at home, il
: the paror, in the kitchen, and on occa
! sions that lest the disposition and temper
h We see the result of these unions in tn
/. almost daily divorces that are taking place
: in The running away of husbands, leavin.
E Itheir wives and children 20 starve, an
the elopement of wives. Not only this
bul we witness it in the broken .spirilet
! men, made old in the prime Of life, slrug
;, Cling on for mere food and clothing, an
shelter, and in woman, cross, dirty, slu
tish and wrinkled,
Il would be quite impossible for us I
depict faithfully the multitude Of physic'
/; and moral evils that result from these sir
) full alliances for sinful they are. The
# ruin the body, corrupt the morals, an
it siultfy the mind. And the result doe
: not STOP with husband and wife. Their
!, are children, they must partake Of II
! feebleness and weaknesso Of the parent
il both physical and moral. and goiout int
is The busy, world stunted and gnarled
II body and mind. God pity theml ln5.
J, We would not be understood . speal
e ing against the institution Of marriage. =
IS II is holy, beautiful and bene6cent.a b,
v net every one take his mate or none.--
HI Le,pot the brave eagle pairiwilh the 81
IA pid owl, nor the gentle dove with the bu
If zard or crow Like should have like
IS It's aglorious sight TO see twoold peop
Il who have weslhered the stormsand basl
~ ed in the sunshine ofslile together 6
itI hand in hand, lovingly and trulhlully
l. down The gentle decliyily'of time, wit
u no sngers of jealousies, nor hatreds ga
4 pered up against each other, and ockih
y with hope and Joy TO The everlasting YOU
i-iofheayen, where they two shall be OF
g forever. This is true marriage--for
Io Is the marriage Of spirit with spirit
N, Their love is woven into a woolof gol
u that neilher,ime nor eternity can sever
1 Etlectie ~