Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1857-03-20
miscellaneous.
Premature Matrimony.

Marriage is divine and beautiful ar
rangcment. 1t was designed by Provi-
dence not solely as means of keeping
up population, or as a mere socin! and
economical convenience. but as the blend
ing of two spirits into one-the maseu-
line representing wisdom, and the fcmi-
nine affection. When there is 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 a bad idea in these days Of reform,
if an anti-marrying-in ina. hurry society
were instituted. Nowadays, people
leap into the magic lifc-circie, with no
more consideration than they would par
take of dinner-little thinking that,
when once in, they arc there until their
end comes. There is but little, some
times no mutual analysis of disposition,
and comparison of taste and affections.
They seem to fancy that, if there be any
discrepancies, the fatal Gordian knot,
which can be seldom cut, and never uni
ted, will harmonize all. ",
The numbers who have felt this truth
1.-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
silken one, but cable of iron, that tight
ems around them more and more, crush
ing out all hope and energy, substituting
hate for love, and eating out with its
rust, the very inner life of the soul.
Boys and girls now marry to a greater
extent than ever before, instead of wait
ing till they become full grown men and
women. The young dandy, as soon as
he gets out of the short-ackets, and
finds little f'Wze gathered on his upper
lip-and the young miss as soon as she
energies from the nursery and abbreyi-
ated frocks, think they are qualified to
assume the most solemn responsibilities
of life. And so if "pa" and INA" won't
consent, they post off to some Gretna
Green, and there take obligations that,
in ninety-nine cases out Of hundred,
they will never cease bitterly to repent.
Marriage should never be the result
of fancy. The ballroom and the even
ing party rarely develop real character.
Under the celebrating influence Of the
dance, the glare of lights, and the merry
quib and joke, the dissolute young man
may appear amiable, and the slatternly
scold loveable. Matches are made at
such places, or under similar circumstan-
ces, not of the class that originate in
heaven. They more generally are con-
ceiyed 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 occa-
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 children TO starve-and ir the
elopcment 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, sluttish
and wrinkled.
~ "ouiu VIC 4ulc iInpOsslDie IOr US 10
depict faithfully, the multitude of phys
ical and moral evils thatrcsult 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 the husband and wife.
There are the children. They partake
of the feeblencss and vices Of the pa
rents, both physical and moral, and go
out into the busy world, stunned and
gnarled. tu .,- .~
We would not be understood as speak
ing against the institution Of marriage.
II is holy, beautiful and benefcient.-
But let every one, take his own mate, or
none. Let not the brave eagle pair with !
the stupid owl, nor the gentle dove with |