Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-06-13
Is MARRIA0E 4 LoTTERY !?

Although the Registrar Generals returns prove
beyond doubt that the British Is yet marry.
ing nation, still, we presume, there is no doubt
that amongst our Upper Ten Thousand, and the
next twenty thousand layers of Society, marriage
is becoming unpopular" and is gradually grow
lug to be regarded as an institution TO be avoid
ed rather than encouraged. Many causes are
alleged for this result Some blame the young
woman, some the young men; many scod the
'mammas," and more put down the faultto that
general scapegoat, ''Society." But whatever be
the immediate cause, one complaint runs as o
oorollary 10 all assigned causes, and that is the
uncertainty Of married happiness, the repartee
assertion that no one con predict "what woman
will turn outs" or, to quote proverbial express
sion, "Marriake is a lottery"
How the proverb arose we can hardly tell;
but 1t is a singular one to be pi eValent with an
acute, far seeing and pains taking people. 1t
might have grown up during those times in which
severe fathers ordered their sons to marry this
woman, aud their daughters that man; when
individual choice was never consulted, but the
extension OF estates and the establishing of
families were. II may be u lottery amongst the
lie. eating Fans, and those tribes of Africa and
Asia where the king is obliged to marry half a
hundred women TO strengthen his position and
to surround himself with an army Of male rela-
tions who will defend his throne. 1t would be
odd, indeed, if the fifty chances were to turn up
all prizes. But where, as in England and her
Oftshoots, and some few other European coun-
tries, men and women are free TO choose, ana
have time, caution and opportunity to do so, the
proverb is q scandal. II is, OF course, utterly
untrue. Men would be ashamed to say thai
buying farm, horse, ship, knife, OF
hiring u servant, wAs all "lottery" Our mer'
chants would not be as rich nor our people SO
powerful as they are, if they made trade lot
terv. The truth is they have made 1t certainty.
So far as human mems will allow, what they
undertake to do, they do. They plant firm
foot and keep their Wsrd they compass sea aud
lAud like Antonia with the jew, they stake
their very life and reputation, and they win the
stake. Who breaks, pays There is no such
thing as mere chance about English trade
Having abolished all kinds of lottery in money
matters, and declared it illegal, it will be as well
if we 60 about to uprOot the old vulgar error
about luck and III luck in marriage. The truth
is, there is little of either about IL. Any man
and woman can be happy enough if they deter
mine so TO be but they must do so with a will.
There must always be TWO parties to quarrel
and if man and wife set themselves to be calm
quiet and patient under trouble, they will fnt
their lives glide away without those bitter quar-
res, which never do good, and which alwaJ
rankle.
The same determination should make all meI
look upon marriage as a necessity, IL IL d
Divine Institution; aud the wish that st. Pau
expressed that other Christians we're like him
unmarried, WAS intended only for the clergy O
his time, not for the laity, nor even the priest
hood Of more peaceful times. married lif
is the only one possible if we look to the re.
quirements of health and virtue. There is NJ
lnineng the matter; single life means, witt
lnine'tenths OF the men, life Of sin and self,l