Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-05-22

EIorESx,Ir ~ Some Wz,tesn papsss an making
~ ab10esioii a sa yyseng girl fifteen
6ars n -, Nd mar Rinat the consent
hst The fss g sne sng = t.s sas :. g.
consent 70 the marriage Of a daughter but little
more than child IN years. !. What trsasurs 70 4
community is discreet press incucating such les
sons Of 'flial respect and Affection Nat. mt
Taking the above as text the ST. Louis Ledger
delivers the following very excelleat sermon, which
tic young ladies who contemplate marriage il oppo,
sftion to the wishes of their parents &. :
In the above instance the Western papers. for
aught we know, may have taken all the fun to them
selves in making merry over the abduction OF q
young girl. But of this we are sure that In cases
pari passu the general tone of the press the country
over has been at fault in this regard. The public
journalists in the East rs well as in the West have
had much to do in encouraging young ladies to for
get the respect due to parents in running off with
any madcap who proposes to ride to Gretna Green.
Upon such occasions the suffering and shame Of
the dotng and deceived father is either rdculed
reved. He is either laughed at as old fool weak
enough to confde in the submissive love of a dear
child, or denounced as domestic tyrant, who, from
selfish and cruel notions. thwarts The natural m
pulses Of his daughter. The young lady is applaud
ed for her smartness and courage in cozenng the old
man. by slipping away from home on a fair moon.
light night to join her gallant, who has chase at
the bottom Of the garden to whisk her off to the
priest. The best wishes and all sorts Of blessings
are showered by an obsequious public upon the gay
loving couple whose pursuit of marriage under diff
fcultes is taken as q sure pledge Of their future
yellow hands gives them hearty shake and pats
the heads of the brave pair. Novels cannot get I'M
der way unless they have a runaway match. To
win their approving smile and sympathy the bride.
like the negro who appeals to the charity of his
white brother 1t the North, must be runaway.
Until he Of &c a
stupid and foolish act hostile to all sentiment and
fatal to all romance. The young lady, according to
the higher law of the novelette, must desp:se every
gentleman who possesses and deserves her fathers
respect to place her affections upon fellow who is
BLACKBOARD enough to be forbidden the house her
noble pride. her high spirit must of course take fire
at the gentle disproval Of her choice by parent
only anxious to secure her happiness. Her devoted
love must Of course, make every sacrifice for its Oh
ject In the silent hour Of midnight she must let
herself down from fourth story window into the
arms Of Romeo The father discovers the escape
he flies after her; he arrives just late-the
vice is over But as he is, he attempts to separate
the pair. They beseech; he relents; with tears Of
joy he clasps his dear child to his bosom, grasps the
hand of the young blackguard prays forgiveness Of
him, invites him to come and live with his old ia
| Their. They return home-they make the old man
| happy; and at his death he rewards his children
with the gift of his fortune.
Surely both the journal and the novel are wretch
eddy at fault. 1t is shameful to encourage young
ladies' to disregard the wholesome counsel of pa
rent at the time they about to take the most i'm
portant step in life. 1t is false to suppose
that runaway matches are SO happy and fortunate.
The lady who in her indecent haste for marriage for
gets the fifth commandment, may at later day find
| it convenient to forget the seventh. She who has
proved herself adroit in deceiving her father may
in time be no less ready to deceive her husband. :
How can she who bears no love, honors not her ia.
ther and mother. swear to love, obey, serve and
honor any one else? How can exclaim hal
welded love" over such a consummation? How
can we invoke the blessings of Heaven upon bride
who has not the purity of Heaven in her heart
Why should not the truth be told written it is in
dark letters upon the records of every court that
marriage begun in sin and dsobedence ends too often
in shame, sorrow and disgrace? And why not then
let all young people understand that the road to
Gretna Green is the road to ruin2