The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-05-15
RUNAWAY MATCHES.

ws IN clandpst,np marriages are c0mnehteu
uo,n n cony4r.a,,oa. and b. the press gen.
sr.,lv !. one If le.its and undIseuised sat.
ietact,on. II is commonly regarded as one
or ~. hs.. ~ likes. il foolish daughter oil
f,te.n Of si,teea years Of age succeeds IN
..,,,yi,,;nc father and moiher, and runs oil
49, conn.rative stranger. Editorial wit
i. tayed Ia its exlremest capabiity to render I
ridiculous the distress and anxiety to the be-
reaved father, as he follows his wandering
child. And IL fortune favJrs the runaways
and the knot il tied befare the parent can
interpose a warning word. the general JOY
is rapturoas. Il is triumph OF young love
over stern, unsympathizlng,t yrann'cai mousse
hold authority, which calls tor the eeleoras
tion. Or, If the idea should occur TO any,
that all is not quite right in such cavalier
treatment of parents, il is soon apolnglzed
for bs the sage observation that young folks
will be young folks.
Take It ali in all, stranger to orr man
uers and customs would be likely TO infer
mat parental rule and counsel implied some
thing very dreadful aud oppressive, that the
young ladies' Of the land we're held IN home
bondage OF the most unjust and ungenerous
character.
Al the risk Of being regarded as very old
fashioned, we shall nevertheless acknowledge
we really cannot see any thing Of the nature OF
0 good i1ke in a clandestine or runaway We'd
ding. We confess 10 i feeling Of sadness and
evil forebpding, when we hear that glri
who is a mere child has made up her mind
TO repudiate the love and anxious care OF the
mother who bore her, and Of the father who
has cherished her as his llfe-that she has
turned her face away from the altar OF home.
from the nest of her infancy, and put herself
into the hands of man whom her parents
dare not trust.
We need hardly remark that marriage y
the great event in womsn's life, from which
all other events take their colOrlng. IL she
err here, her whole life is one OF unasaiiing
penance, Of sealdiug tears, Of sharp and
blghting sorrow. She eaunot go back aud
undo her fault; she dues not louk to the fu.
ture, for it is all desulate to her. These
things being 80. it follows that young lady
should Weld her hand and heart only after
the most prudent and cautions forethuught.
She should avail herself Of the wisdom and
experience OF those who love her, and above
all, Of her parents. and after all, she will feel
that the chances are sufficiently numerous
that she may still make an unwise choice.
But, in most clanJestine marriages, the
girl is a child. ignorant Of the worldi with.
out experience; deficient in judgment; her
mind probably filed with ialse notions and
fancifui day.dreams, derived from novels
and rumances. She meets with young man
at party or ball, or no matter where. who
seems interested in her, and she is fattered
by his apparent admiration. He conducts
her home calls on her the next day; repeats
his call, and they are thenceiOrth IN love, If
they were not at the FIRST glance. They have
become the Romen aud Juliet Of what Is a
play in The outset, but a tragedy 10 its close.
The incompetence Of the young girl 10 es-
innate the character Of her lover, y pertrct-
" apparent to every one but herself Ii Is
enough for her that lie appears to love her
sincerely and Ardently. He proposes mar.
rage TO her, and IS probably accepted with
ouI reference 10 the parents. lie entreats
that an early day may be named for their On.
ion. n there IS any doubt Of her parents
concurrence. thiJis granted, too; and Il pa.
rental objections or difficulties threaten to
iptrrpose, an elopement Is the next question
agitated md .greed y. They are consoled
by the thought th-t there is something rO-
mantle in runaway match; and that such
things are rather praised than condemned ;
and, besides, alter all = over, il will not be
d,hicgli TO make up with father and mother.
A rejecting woman would see that the
young man v no sues for her love without the
SANCTION Of her parents, gives prina facie
evidence that something is wrong about him;
something that shons the light and fears in
,estigation. A woman III her right mind
would saw, NJ parents know aud confide
ip; they love me and my happiness; their
lot in life is bound Up with mine, 50 that IL
I err. they will be wretehed. They shall be
nv eeanseIlors. I will not trust nv own
TOO partial eve 10 investigate my lovers
character, and will refer il TO lheIn.n Such
wOald be any prudent girls course. and such
4 course would seldom, il ever, end in an
elopement.
Bat such i not the course Of tha, large
class u young girls who figure N runaway
matches. And tie consequence j. that such
girls fall an easy prev to the thousands Of
gentee loafefs, worthless, p1rtiUnless aud
besriless sagranls who eOntfiSe 10 keep re.
spectacle exterior by proving upon sDeieIy.
While We wife these lines, We think of
The moiitudes II once Young and thou ght.
let kfls VIII NaNG AhitW AWNn SbAN HAHAAs
and found. after ! lev months 81 married
lie. their terrible mistake. They see when
il il too iate--tney realize whea there i no
rmedY Tor il, thy have plVnged into an 4.
b,s. u misery. instead Of Stepping inin The
heaven Of earthly bliss; and now casting
themselves once more upon. the parental DO.
SON, exelair, IN . concert 81 sgpny," Would
10 Gvd We had never wandered hence! -
Ny ogs..
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