The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1864-12-24
Marriage EEeVates the Char
aCter.

People may think as they please. but the truth
Is, that till one becomes the head OF q family and
a father, he can scarcely be called a man. TX
captions there are, honorable, conspicuous. In
stances may be pointed out, though far from
common, il is believed, where one not advanced
10 the dignity supposed, and so not subjected to
its numerous trials and victories defeats, too,
sometimes, it must be confessed have yet had
hearts as liberal and expanded, as any who have
assumed %cOnjugal and parental responsibilities.
Nevertheless, in general, those help are needed
70 direct what there is unselfsh, serious, gener-
Gus and sympathizing in the soul: Men, and
women too, grow hard by living for themselves
alone. With little or nothing exterior to disturb
their emotional natures, their affections are apt
- settle quietly around themselves as d centre,
and finally crystalize there. Such a person may
be 4 miracle Of virtue and propriety, beautiful
even in its transparent purity, but after all as
hard as the diamond, if not as cold.
One needs the claims upon him as husband and
father, 10 take him out of himself and awaken
his solicitudes and cares for others. The wear
and tear he is subjected to from these relations do
him good They are wholesome exercise for the
heart, AS labor is for the muscles. We may not
tel exactly why it is SO, but of the existence of
the fact there is striking evidence in the expert
ence Of the mother, who loves that child best,
which has given her most anxiety and trouble.
For whom is all the tenderness of the father
lavished? Is it not upon his hayward boy, his
~prodigal son? The parent is chastened and made
better by having wife and children dependent on
him for Tleasure, comfort and support. The lit
tie vexations, sometimes great ones, perhaps,
which they occasion, do him no harm, but the
contrary. His own character is matured while
he Is laboring and suffering to shape that of
others. He who does not suffer. cannot know
half the Sufferings there are in man.
Not only is the heart of Il man made better by
assuming the obligations of a husband and father,
but his mind is also greatly improved. \ new
horizon opens to him. Before, ne was travelling
through the world in a valley he now ascends
to higher ground, anu for the first time sees man
kind az they are, and begins 70 comprehend So
cIety, it's origin, its work, and destiny. He now
awakens to the glorious call Of duty, instead Of
pleasure, to which he only listened before. Not
that pleasure is denied him now, but it comes of
itself in the train of duty discharged, instead Of
being solicited as formerly, for Its own sake.
This revolution, produced by his change of posi-
ton, is marked upon his cOuntenance where it is
no less visible than in his changed conduct. The
man is stamped upon it in every serious, thought
full l~ineament, where cheerfulness and sedateness
have taken the place of meaningless gaity, frivo-
lily and want of sober aim. If any one saws he
is acquainted with very many single persons of
large and sympathetic hearts, and minds full of
liberal thoughts; it is granted. Place that man,
SO admirably endowed 10y nature, at the head of
q family, for which he was doubtless intended,
and he would be twice n man, and his usefulness
increased four-fold.-Nelcark Sentinel.