San Andreas independent., 1857-02-21

Marriage is divine ana peautl.r
r,angement. 1t was designed by Provi-
dence not solely as the means of keepinu
up population, or as mere social and eco
nomlcai convenience, but as the blend,no
OF two spirits into one.
/ Premature marriages are amono tho
greatest evils of the times; and it would
no not DC bad idea in these days of reforms
Il an Observation-Disclosures society
We're instituted Now-a-davs neo,,le 10y
inlo the magic life circle with no more
consideration than they would partake Of
a :, uinner, little thinking that when once in
u, .ney are there until their end comes
iIere Is little, sometimes, of mutual anal
ysis OF disposition and comparison of tastes
ana affections. They seem to fancy that
Il there are any discrepancies, the fatal
oSfdian knot, which can be seldom cut and
never united, will harmonic all.
The number who have felt this truth
the number still feeling it to their hearts
core-are incalculable They recognize
it as the great mistake of their lives
The chain is not silken one, but cable
of iron that tightens around them more
and more, crushing out all hope and ener-
gy, substituting 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 waiting
until they become full grown and matured
men and women. The young dandy, as
soon as he gets out of short Jackets, and
finds a little furze gathered on his upper
lip-and the young Miss as soon as She
emcrges from the nursery and abbreviated
frocks-think they are qualified to assume
the most solemn responsibilities of life,
and take upon themselves obligations that
in ninety-nine cases out of hundred,
they will never cease bitterly to regret.
Marriage should never be the result of
fancy. The ball room and the evening
party rarely develope real character. I'm
der the exhilirating influence of the dance.
the glare of the lights and the many souib
and joke, the dissolute young man may
appear amiable, and the slatternly scold,
loveable. Matches made at such pla-
ces or under similar circumstances, are
not of the class which originate in heaven.
They are more generally conceived in the
opposite place, and bring forth iniquity.-
The true way to learn each other is to do
it at home in the parlor, in the kitchen,
and Oh occasions that test the temper
We see the result of these unions in the
almost daily divorce eases that are taking
place, in the running away of husbands,
leaving their wives and children to starve,
and also in the elopement of wives. Not
only this, but we witness it in broken
spirited men, made old in the prime of
life, struggling for mere food, clothing and
shelter; and in women, cross, dirty, slut
tish and wrinkled
1t would be quite impossible to depict
faithfully the multitude of physical and
moral evils that result from these sinful
marriages-for sinful they are. They
ruin the body, corrupt the morals and stu
pity the mind. And the result does not
stop with husband and wife, There are
the children. They partake of the fee
bleness and vices Of the parents, both
physical and moral, and go out into the
busy world stunted and gnarled.
| would not be understood as speaking
against the institution of marriage. 1t is
holy, 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 carrion crow.
Like should have like. 1t is glorious
sight to see two old people who have
weathered the storm, and basked in the
sunshine Of life together, go hand in hand,
lovingly and truthfully, down the gentle
declivlty of time, with no angers, no jeal-
ousles, nor hatred garnered against each
other, and looking with hope and JOY to
the everlasting youth of heaven, where
they will be one forever. That is the true
marriage, for it is the marriage of spirit
with spirit. Their love is woven into a
woof of gold that neither time, nor death,
nor eternity can sever