Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1866-02-09
MARRIAGES AND DIVORCES.
Why the Former are Unhappy, and
the Latter so Frequent.

"Irgneus," who is the Rev. Ir@neus
Prime, an old contributor to the New York
Observer, has paper, in a late number OF
that journal, in which he comments ear
nestly upon the startling frequency of di-
vorce suits, aud the domestic iniidelity and
unhappiness which they disclose. Even
in the moral State of Connecticut, the land
Of ''steady habits" there is such IN alarm
ing advance in this direction. that the oiii
cial records of the courts are pronounced
Incredible when they pronounce the n,9n'
bcr OF ss.;ss'f 'fiif dttofce. ~ . o1De ~, .
not worse, in the city of New York, aud
far worse in many parts of our country
"If you ask me" says the writer, "whai
causes tend TO the increase Of domestic in
felcites aud consequent divorces. should
mention two or three very obvious rca-
sons"
1--1NJUDIcIoUs MARRIAGES,
contracted without due reflection, and suf.
ficient acquaintance TO enable the parties
TO become we'll informed as to the temper
and disposition Of each other, IL is scarce.
ly possible that tho union shall be perma-
ucutiJ atfttdotE< fht W. hutH thas iH-
terested motives such as tho question Of
property, position ia society, prospect in
business, or mere personal beauty, often
control tho choice that il 10 tell upon the
happiness of family for life. These are
not to be overlooked. Marriages made in
defiance of these auxiliary qualifications
arc very often unhappy. IL is we'll for
young people TO seek aud find companions
for life among those whose relations, asso.
ciations, education aud prospects are on
the same plane. Now and then depar-
turo from this rule, regarded as romantic
and hazardous, .urns out we'll, but, as a
general rule, IL is wiser TO avoid such ex-
perments. But tho real basis Of perma.
nent happiness must DO on the affections,
and these are 10 bo fastened on those moral
and mental qualifications which arc in
themselves lovely. Such marriages are AL.
most inevitably happy. Aud so simple
and easy and pleasant is the prescription,
IL is wonderful that even young people do
not take IL and try il, rather than venture
their life interest on the hazardous sea Of
matrimony with oil the chances against
thom.
fI.-TuE NEW THEORY OF MARRIAGE.
IL Ia only within few years that tho
new theory Of equal rights of married peo.
pie has had any hold 10 tho religious world.
None Fan have forcoisch tho amusement
with which the public mind received the
fact last winter, that seyorai of our ortho.
dox religious journals here in New York
zealously defended a work, the design Of
which was to revolutionize tho old fashion.
cd ideas Of marriage, aud abolish marriage
VOWS altogether.
IL came out that the heresy wasinirench.
ing itself in the bosom of the church, and
ministers of the gospel approved what all
right-mlnded men and women knew TO be
as bad as bad can be-" The prevalence
o. this sentiment is az the root Of the evil
The laws of marriage are laid down very
plainly in the Bible The Apostles taught
them very clearly under Christ But
thousands Of Christians ignore entirely an
essential element Of Christian marriage
which is that "thc husband is the head oi
the wife, as Christ is the head OF the
Church" Many marriage ceremonies arc
performed where this principle is not rec-
ognized. When love abounds il is the Sc
eret of harmony. The husband is then
the house baud, as his name Imports -
Where this principle is not admitted. d
the rule Of tie Gospel is trampled uudci
foot, perpetual strife is the result, alieua-
tion often begets separation, aud this is
followed, If not preceded by in6delity. Tc
doubt or deny this rule Of Christ is inf.
deity begun.
HI.-rHEATERs, OPERAS AND NOVELS.
These three sources of corruption ought
all to be redeemed, cleansed and made tho
instruments of public entertainment. Fol
advocating such u reform | have been
charged, by those who know better, with
trying to write up the theater and opera
wish | could write them down till they
are made decent.
Some Of the most popular operas, many
Of the fayorite plays, nearly all the sensa-
ton novels, are exhibitions Of social vice
rendered so attractive and seductive as tc
suggest to every hoarer or reader that III,
real fun, the chief pleasure in life, is in
secret and unholy love A gentleman
told me recently that he accou panied hi,
lady friends to the Academy Of Music tt
hear one Of the most popular Of moderI
operas, and was so ashamed Of himself tha
he could not look the ladies in the fac'
while the piece was performed Yet thes,
are the operas that draw crowds of fash
ionable aud religious people. The theatre
are worse. And the 'Braddon novels AN,
all that school-their name is lcgion-ar
worse than theatres or operas. In the re
tirement Of her boudoir, a fashionable wo
man, wanting excitement, reads these in
cendiary documents, and is set on fire o
hell. The subtle passion works her ruin
Such novels are a moral pestience. Nov
ell reading Is dangerous--novel reading !
ruinous. Yet the country is flooded wit
them. And these novels and plays an
operas are breaking down the restraints o
virtue, and filling the land with the wrecl
OF domestic bliss.
The way in which words are often divi
ded, when set to music. sometimes produ
ces a rather ludicrous effect. A strange
was once surprised on hearing congrega