Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1858-11-11
From Life Illustrated /,
COUrtSlliD, g

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upon courtship! Yes, indeed, and 1ch,
not. The world is sadly in need of one
and it could have a thousand of then
portrayed, too, by abler pens than mine
What department of human nature
more sacred than the love feelings? yet
how ruthlessly trampled upons by the
great mass of our people! Love is
made theme for vulgar sport-spOr
indeed to vulgar minds, but how very
abhorrent to all the better feelings oi
mans nature, to pure refined and sensi-
tive spirits, are these low allusions and
vulgar hints about courtship! , ,..,
But alas! it shows the ex tent of the
depravity at present existing in the pop
ular mind upon the subject. So impor.
tant subject as the ONE und der consid-
Grafton, ought never to be lightly spok,
en- of, for it is one of the most serious
and Important transactions of life,. .foi
upon it's proper management depends
much of the happiness which both men
and women receive within the marriage
state. To know how TO conduct court
ship is very important; much more sc
the selection of a proper life-compan
ion; and when properly conducted, ii
aims to the improvement of the mental
powers of both parties. ''Silly non
sense; is banished from the court, and
sound com nonsense takes its place in
the conversation of both parties. $500
Soft soap is also dispensed with,
and honesty finds an abode at-tAS court
of love. the man does not consider his
beloved as beneath him, but he loves as
II 4 ha N ctc L
dred feelings in return for his pure love
for her. Honest and upright in motive
they hold their courts of love, not for
the mere sake of winning, but to find
out whether their mental hearts harmo-
nize, and when such harmonyis found
they seek to commingle thoir affections,
and gct-not fall inlove with each 9TH
ers charms. They do not blind them
selves to each others faults, but look
beyond and lose sight of them only, be-
cause they are so deeply cnamored of
each others virtues. They put on no
false charms, are ready to stand or fall
by their own real merits, by tue attrac-
tions of natures unborn eharAs, ,2y the
magnetic powers Of virtue. -
But alas! how few pursue such u
course! How many too poor in men
tai charms, try to make up for the de-
feet by outside show-by adorning the
pcrson instead of the mindl
Gay deceivers, they, who employ false
chara,s for the captivation of the other
sex Gifted with immortal souls. do
they know what they are about? Alas,
we fear not! IF they were to open their
eyes TO the appalling fact, they would
find that they were not merely setting
a trap to catch each other in but in
the end to catch themselyes-to throw
themselves carelessly, thoughtlesSly, in
to the state of matrimony-matrim ony,
indeed, but not spiritual union, Il u
nion of true love and divine afeetioG.
s h::izt h:::,=t marriages, mere shams, mock
cries of the sacred institutious!-ther
are too many of these already; bat we
want many, very many more sure mar
riages-marriages of true and eternal
being the sole bond of true love, mar
riage in its more perfect sense-sanc-
toned by God, approved by angels, and
placed amid the mighty records of ma
ture as sacred union of souls. ..
But such marriages we shall not
have until young men andyoung women
become honest in their courtship-un-
til they dispense with foolish nonsense
in conversation and in their love letter
until they learn to adorn the mind in
stead of the person; until they go to
work to study each others characters,
instead of seeking how they may win
even if they have to employ deception.
The institution of marriage is of too
high and holy nature to spend the period
of courtship in folly; when it should be
spent in making proper preparation
for marriage. Young men, young wo-
men, by as much as you value your hap
piness in this life, see to it that you
follow natures instincts in the choice
of life companions-that you see for
of affection, passion, intel
lect, and sentiment, that you strive to
win by the natural charms Of your mind
by mental attractions rather than
those Of dress and personal show off
that you honestly strive to win the af
fections of your loved ones by pure mo-
tives; and be sure before you enter in
to marriage contract with any one, that
that one is the right one, for if you
should happen to make mistake in such
a choice, it would be the most sad mis-
take you have mado during life; aye,
the worst that you could possibly ma ke!
As marr;age-a true, loving, soul union
is of all things on earth, the most
heavenly in its nature, so an Informed
union is actually the abode of hell upon
earth!
But when marriage union is form
ed, keep loves fire burning brightly up
on the alter of affection. Should its
light become dim, rekindle it by sparks
Of love from your own souls nor when
the "honey moon is over, let not the
fire go out completely, for then it is
more needed than ever! Let true love
tor each others mental qualities be
cherished in the hearts at all times =
Thus will 'sunion of souls be form
ed, and the joys of true marriage in its
fullest sense be realized.
May the day soon come when court
ship shall nos be the theme for "merri-
meut and snort" but an object of scri-