The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1861-05-22
No. Al.
True Marriages.

True Marriages
j. Elizabeth Jones publishes the following communI-
| cation in a Cincinnati journal which contains good
deal of sound doctrine on the subject of marriage
1t all marriages true unions it would matter less
whether they took place early in life OF later period
But the position of women SUCH and the coustoms Of
society despoc that they are made insecure anu
hypocrtcal. They enter upon the highest and hocst
relations from the most unworthy considerations They
are prompted by variety of motives as foreign to the
true affections the policy Of the czar to the true de-
mocracy; and the young men, poor dupes think it all
for love that they accepted visitors Never was
there greater mistake. If men had not such nordn
ate vanity they would understand some things better
than they do.
Young woman, number one, concludes to marry She
cannot live happily at home She cares not particular
for the man to whom she is betrothed she thinks that
living with him will be olerable than her fathers
second wife The lover boasts of his CONQUEST y7he
be has conquered glat? Simply choice between him
and stepmother, whom the girl morally hates Young
men ought to be beterinformed when they vaun their
triumphs.
Young woman number two is prompted by differ
ent motive She is poor and the grim skeleton haunts
her continually She may form true attachment 1
do not say that this is uncommon; but do not under
stand how the prospective husband is going ascertain
what are the motives that govern her Itmay be pLra
Affection or If she could these without encunbrance
OF the boots and Whiskers she would be glad enough
do it.
Number three is afraid Of being left to live life of
single bessedness and that drives her into lnatrno
NAL moose. Uder the pressure Of such apptehensons
is unusual to see hirhly intellectual women marcy
men not half wtted.
We laugh these absurdities but they involve INFER
ess as high as heaven ard wide as the universe of
God All that is sacred in human love is at stake all
that is terrible in the hearts utter despair may follow
The victim may wrhe III anguish and finally retire from
society like the stricken deer 10 the thcket bleed alone
is true that matrimony is often winng rather than
losing game. But he who fully understands wla h.
risks by the turn Of die, Will be somewhat slow 10 en-
gage mi
The adoption Of our plans Ist place woman above tie
necessity, and almost beyond the temptation of marry
ing from such unworthy considerations If one does
not find fathers house agreeable, she may engage in
some business profession that shall engross her
and make her independent, If another is poor, she
need not sell herself fer home Our measures must
give her freedom to work. and the whole earth work
in; the good God gave her talents, oo,s to work WITH
and therefore is she rich III herself
No one need marry for position, of the regard she
may require the wife of Mr.. Somebody She mag Ie5
position herself she may honorable place
as man can ever attain Who ever thinks of Marrarct
Fuller as a wife? Who cares anything about the nus
band of Jenny Lind? Who is not sorry that Mrs Nor
ton had a-husband2 Is it necessary that such wo
men as Harriet Martineau, Harriet Hosmer, Elizabeth
Blackwell and Miss Mitchell shall marry to secure 'the
worlds consideration.
| would not discourage marriage Thainstitutioni i5
Gods best gift to man. and when established let
it remain intact if possible. Every lover of his
must necessarily feel contempt for all nnoyatorS whC
tire of their relations, and sneak around after ATTN
tiles But let women take their time. Let them de
eide when they shall marry let not the worth Of power
ty OF any adrentitious circumstance, determine mat
ter of so much moment
If gentlemen would only give this one phase Of ou-
cause candid consideration they would that thciI
best interests demand the changes seek in the cond
| tion of women.
am aware that something may be said on the other
side Of the question There are fortune hunters among
men, and enough who seek alliances with families Of
distinction promote their own ambitious plans. But
from the greater freedom and independence which they
enjoy and the consciousness of capacity to become
the arbiters OF their own destiny they never,
class feel that strength OF temptation to marry fromin
terested motives to which women constantly expos
ed from their helpless and dependent state.
! THE Social HoRRoR.-An untidy woman! Little
soap and much perfume. Plenty Of jewelry and lack
of strings and buttons. Silks and aces and tattered
under-cothes Diamond rings and spoiled collar. Feah
ers and flowers and battered cap and frill Silk stock
ngs and shabby boots Who has not seen her? II
YOU person of courage, her dressing
Make your way oer the carpet through mismated slip
pers, tippets belt-rbbons, harpns, pCtorias magi-
zines fashion prints, and unpaid bills and look yainy
round for chair that is sufficiently free from dust to
sit down upon. Look at the dingy muslin WiudOw-eur-
ains, the questionable bed-quit and pow-cases, the
un-feshness of everything your eye falls upon Open
the closedo0r and see the piles of dressers all want
ing the s.itch in time" heaped pe-mell upon their
pegs; The bandboXcs without covers and all the
horrible paaphernaia, of lazy vapid inefficient,
cant, idea-less female monstrosty, who will OF course
be chosen out of bevy of good, commonsensc girls,
by some who prides himself on his "knowledge Of
woman" as his "help-meet" for life! I use the word
'monstrosy advsedly for in the cell of prison
have seen wreched females trying, with womans beau
tifu instinct to brighten and bcautify the bare walls
with some rudecoored print. Thank heaven! The un-
tidy woman is the exception not the rule Would We
couisay the same ofthe untidy man. FANNY FERN