The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-08-19
Disparity Of Ages in Marriage.

The marriage Of o young lady with gentle
man some twenty years her senior Isl very
frequent occurrence; yet, whenever such .
marriage takes place, there are always fitty poo
pie ready to talk about the sacrifice, and to
aver that II Is impossible she con lore him
that she has only married for wealth and posi-
tion-and, in fact, that II Is altogether shock
ing. Some blame her, some pity her, some call
her poor. dear thing, and some designate her
as SO shameless creature" but mono ever give
her credit for love, affection or respect toward
the person on whom she has bestowed her hand.
This stereotyped idea, that people must be born
In the same year to love each other properly.
Is all nonsense. 1t Is on par with the cruel
father and designing mother hallucination, very
we'll upon the stage, but not applicable to real
life. For our part We think II Is just as posi-.
bic for girl to fall in lovo with middle aged
man as with young one. In fact, We think
that they are generally twenty times more
agreeable, and often considerably handsomer.
A boy Is only girl In coat and crayat. He
thinks just as she does, has the same interest
in nothing, is just as delicate and pretty, and
about as reliable. A man is something greater.
II she has any sense, she inyoluntarily feels 1t
and admircs him. As the best things improve
as they grow older, q truly admirable man
! must become moro so as he grows older; and
IL some women discover this, II is ridiculous to
overwhelm them with the same sweeping Gen.
sure. or course, some women do marry for
money but there are rich young men as we'll
as rich old men, and the nero fact Of differ
ence in years does not prove the assertion.
Years alone do not make the disparity between
them It Is in the heart, the brain, the soul,
which should be alike In marriage. Where
these aro matched ono with the other, welded
pair are hnppy-otherwise they are miserable
In the beautiful passagei in "David Copperfeld,
where, after long and quiet suffering, Annie at
last opens her heart to her kind old husband.
and unveils her own truth with Jack Maldon's
teachings, she utters these words There can
bo no disparity in marriage like unsuitability
of mind and purpose )" and these words en-
body our meaning better than oil that We can
say. II is better, certainly, for young people
to marry. It generally is the case 1t Is we'll
and natural. Yet love may be just as strong
with years of difference between the parties,
and the outer world has nothing to do with 1t.
We know as much of each others lives and pur-
poses as we do Of the man In the moon and
why VIC should forever take upon ourselves the
right Of ascribing motive, which suits with
our own ideas, to all our fellow creatures ac-
tions, Is to us mystery. We are willing, for
our part, to permit even young beauty to
unite herself to amiddle aged millionaire. with
out stating for positive fact that she cannot
love him. Loves arrows are aimed Mt random
and II at times he pierces an old and young
heart at the same time, there is little cause for
wonder, and surmises and insinuations aro nei-
ther necessary nor delicate.