Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1862-06-24
Is Marriage a Lottery,

Although the Registrar-Generaps re-
turns proves Beyond a doubt that the
British is yet marrying notion, still, we
presume. there is no doubt that amongst
our Upper Ten Thousand, and the next
twenty thousand coming layers of Society,
marriage IS becoming unpopular" and is
gradually growing to be regarded as an
institution to be avoided rather than en- :
couraged. Many causes are alleged for
this result. Some blame the Young wo>
men, some the young men many scold
the "mammas," and more put down the
fault to that general scapegoat, Society /"
But whatever be the immediate cause, one
complaint runs as a corollary to all assign
ed causes, and that is the uncertainty of
happiness, the repeated assertion that no
one can predict what q woman will turn
out or, to quote prOverbial expression.
Marriage is a lottery.
How the proverb arose we can hardly
tell but 1t is singular one to be prevai>
ent with 40 acute, and far seeing and
pains taking people. Ii might have grown
up during those times in which severe
fathers ordered their sons to marry this
woman, and their daughters that man
when individual choice was never cousult>
ed, but the extension of estates and the
establishing Of families were. 1t NAV be
a lottery among the wife, eating Fans, and
those tribes of Africa and Asia where the
Ming Is obliged to marry half hundred
women to strengthen his position, and to
surround himself with an army Of male
relations who will defend his throne. I,
would be odd, indeed, if the ffty chances
were to turn tip all prizes. But where. as
in England and her offshoots, and some
lew other European countries, men and
women are free to choose, and have time.
caution and opportunity to do so, the pro-
verb is scandal. 1t is, Of course, utterly
untrue. Men would be ashamed to saw
that buying farm, a horse, a shin. a
knife. or hiring servant, was all slot
terry" Our merchants would no, be as
rich nor our people so powerful if thev
made trade lottery. The truth is, they
have made it a certainty. So far as bu,
man means will allow, what thew under
take to do, they do. They rlant a firm
foot, and keep their word they compass
sea and land I; like Antonio with the Jew.
they stake their very life and reputation,
and they win the stake. Who breaks, paws,
There is no such thing as mere chance
about English trade. Having abolished all
kinds Of lottery in money matters. and de.
ciared it illegal, it will be as we'll if we
go about to uproot the old vulgar error
about luck ard I'll luck in marriage. The
| truth Is, there is little of either about IL
Any man and woman can be hanny
enough, if they are determined 80 to be ;
but they must be so with a will. There
must always be two parties to a quarrel ;
and if q man and wife set themselves 20 be
calm. quiet aud patient uuder trouble, they
will tind their lives glide AWAY without,
those bitter quarrels, which never do good,
and which always rankle.
The same determination should make
all men look upon marriage as a necessity
1t Is Divine institution and the wish
that 81. Paul expressed that other Chris.
tians were like him, unmarried. was in.
tended for the clergy Of his time, not 70,
the laIty, nor even the priesthood of tt,
more peaceful times. A married life i
the only one possible If we LOOK 10 the re
.quiremeuts Of health and virtue. There /
no mincing the matter; a single life means
with nineteDEhs of men, life of sin AM
selfish indulgence, burtful to themselves
and noxious to the State. With the wo
men 1t means one of hope deferred, disap
pointed love, or single misery. bitterly AM
satirically termed "blessedness." Tn
universality of the passion of love prove
Its lesitlmacy-it should be legitimatel
INDUCED. Common nature and commo
sense allke require it; and as all wome
should be wives, and all men husbands.
follows that it would be true pbiIosoph
Tor the State to endeavor to form goo
wives and good husbands.-Lsndon Famil
| Herald.