The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-01-14
LETTERS FROM THE FIRESIDE.
Marriage and Divorce.
fCrn,u Tho Ne,u Xnrk 0becrver no.. 4.

lFrOn Tho New York Observer, Doc IL
Since last you the daily newspapers have been
daily dccd with reports OF trials Of divorce, Of
thcmtwU at lcastbeng between parties Of the "high
est responsibility" and disclosing state o. private
morals absolutely astounding Our law ought TO he
made and adm usered that these details of secret vice
shall not he spread out in. the public prints.
rhcy arc In themselves corrupting. and therefore
htied to produce the evils that tho laws nre
desencd to prevent or punish. But they have
brought tn light hs dr. adlu truth that With thc bossicd
adv nuccmcut Of civ izaon and religion there IN
mere ,se OF crime arnnst tho marriage vows. Even 10
the State o. Connecticut the Iaad OF steady
haos, there Il sach an alarming advance Ia this drc
lon tina, tho Official records Of the courts are pronounced
idcTcdble when th y report the number OF suits for
divorce. IL is no better IL not In Me city o. New
York, and far 10 many other parts Of our country
II ASH what tend 10 tho increase OF domcs
INTEL cities and consequent divorces should then
l r. ,aJUDici0rs wxaHisosa.
Contracted without due rinecton and sume,enI ac.
enable the parties to become well informed
~ the temper anil disposition OF each other, u "
scarcely possible that the union shall be permanently
agreeable Bot know that Interested motives, such
as the question OF property, position In society, prospects
In business personal beauty, often control the
choice thai tell upon the happiness OF family foe
life These are not 10 he overlooked Marriages
made in defiance Of these auxiliary qualifications are
often unhappy IL Is wen Tor YOUNG people 20 Sex =,
Iatons Associations. education and prospects arc ON the
samc plane Now and then departure from this rule
as general rule Il Is wiser avoid such experiments
real basis Of permanent happiness must DC on
the atY cions and thcss IN b. fastened on thos,
moral aud mental qualifications hich are Ia themselves
lovely Such marriages almost iDyar ably happy
Aud % simple and ensy and pleasant u shc
nv II rather than venture their lie interest on NE
hazardousssa OF marimony with all the chan'cs against
them.
H. THE NEW THEORY OF MARRIAGE.
only withna few years that the new theory OF the
canal rights o. married people has had any hold 10 the
yr,sio,,s world None can have forgotten tho amaze
rncn with which the public mind rceived ne iact lat
winter that several OF our orthodox etsous %
o. which was rcyoluohlxe tho old fashioned IDEAS OF
marriage abolish marriage vows alloscber IL came
nt thai The befesy ntrenchpg ne IL n the bosom OF
Tho Churen and ministers The Gospel approved what
ali right rcn and knew 10 be as bad ne oah can
be Tho prevalence. OF this sentiment at The roo, o. ie
vii ire laws py marriage laid dovs, very plainly 10
te Bible The Apostles taught them clearly under chrs'
hut thousands OF Christians nore an essential ee'nen ~
Christian marriage which h. that the husband IL the
head Of the vic chrs - the head OF the .hurcn
Many marriage ceremonies are psricrmed where W
principle Is rot rccosng.d Whoa love shounds the
J sccrc, OF harnionS. The husband > then tc ho'-,
| band as his import. Where ths principle Is mo-
admitted and tho rule OF the Gospel v nlnpsd under
lo perpc,aal strife Il the result Alienation often he
get rtarston and tbs Is followed " mol preceded Ny
nndcf,y. 10 doubt OF deny this fhie o. Dhiis' v 'n"
III. THEATRE. OPERAS AND NOVELS.
These three of corruption ought ~ 70 be re
| decyled. cleaned and made the nstruuiens OF pubi
on,ertanreut Instruction ard moral improy cmcnt 70
advocating such reform have been charged by tho-
who know better With trying 70 write up bvheatr ans
opera wish / could write them doan IN they ar
| rnaic decenL Come % the mos. popular operas m@pl
q The iavone r'ys osa, 81 ,ss a .s@ 90 rs
and seductive rs to saves, 70 every hearer .
! reader that the sresl Fun, the chief rleasur
| Of nfe IL in secret aud unholy "ovo' On
Lacn so,d ms rsc.nly ia, he accompanied ~
,rdy t,fasds 10 tie Academy Of kusc 10 hear e,e y :,
NJ popular rei,ra ep, "a, end 90, 90 ssasaed NOT
Sffiaf 4. odd nj To- ~ ladies IA ne face rhf. -
ptsc. ugs p-,rscd Yet these are the operas Thai da'
or ds OF fashionable aud fgior people. The these
| are wore: rnd the "Bradion' novels and all OF tina
school, their rs legion, age worse than thca,res
operas In the retirement OF her boudor fsshl"nab
| woman, waning excitement reads these ncendsr
iocum nts aud s set ire Of he'll The subtle polso
| works her ruin Such novels are n moral pcsiilcnc'
Novel rcadlnS IS dangerous such novel reading q ril
| Gus Yet the cJ,ntry Is noodcd Win W anh the'
novels srd plays and operas are breaking down the
s.rsina Of virtue and hliDg The land With The wrecas
| T,me.,ir bit.s Rev IREN ECs PRIME.