Owyhee bullion. [volume] (Silver City, I.T. [Idaho]) 1866-1867, 1867-10-24
GAIL HAMILTON ON MARRIAGE.

haNe seen enSlrls-reSpectaDle, well cd
ucated daughters of Christian families, ol
families who think they believe that
man $ chief eudis to glorfy God and en-
JOY him forever, who profess to forsakC
tho vanities Of this world, and consecrate
themselves to the Lord, who are yet
trained to think and talk Of marriage in
matter utterly frivolous. Allusions to
and conversation on the subject, are of
such nature that they cannot remain
unmarried witout shame hey are taught
not in direct terms, at so much lesson,
like music or German, but indirectly,
and with thoroughness which no music
can equal, thot if woman is not married
it is because she is not attractive; that to
be unattractive to men is the most dismal
and dreadful misfortune; and that for an
unmarried woman, earth has no honorand
no happiness, but only toleraton or un-
mitigated contempt
What is the burden of the song that
is sung to girls and women +? Are they
counselled to be active, selfhelping, self
reliant, alert, ingenious, energetic, aggres-
slve! Are they braced and toned up to
solve for themselves the problems of life;
to meet its ills undaunted and its happi
ness unbewildered? Go to Such a
think was never heard Of. It is woman's
rights 1t is strong minded 1t is dis.
content with your sphere 1t is mascu.
line. Milton and st. Paul to the rescue !!
"For contemplation he, and yalor formed;
For softness she, and sweet attractive grace"
So "she" is urged to cultivate sweet,
attractive grace by acquaintiDg herself
with housework, by learning to sew, and
starch, and make bread; to be economi-
cal and housewifely, and so helpmate
TO the husband who is assumed for her,
This is the true way to be attractive, she
is informed, "Men admire you in the ball
room," say the mentors and mentoreses'
"but they choose wife from the home
circle"
Marriage is simply reward Of merit.
Do not be extravagant, or careless, or
bold, or rude, for 50 you will scare away
suitors. BE prudent and tidy, and sim.
pie and gentle, and timid, and you will be
surrounded by them, and that is heaven,
and secure a husband, which is the heav.
en- Of heavens. A food of stories and an
ecdotes deluge us with proof. Arthur
falls in love with the beautiful, romantic,
poetic, accomplished Leonie till she faints
one day, and he rushes into HERR for
smelling bottle, and finds no hartshorn,
but much confusion and dirt; while plain
Molly's room is neat, tidy, and overhows
with hartshorn, whereupon he falls out Of
love with Leonie, in with Molly, and vir-
tue and vice have theirreward. Or Charls
pays a morning visit and is entertained
sumptuously in the parlor by Anabel and
Arabel and Clarabel and Isabel in silks,
while Cindererella stays in the kitchen in
calico and linen collar But Charles catch
es glimpse Of Cinderella behind tho
door and loves and marries the humble,
grateful girl, to the disappointment and
deep disgust Of hOunced and jeweled sig
tiers. Or Jane at table cuts the cheese
rind too thick, and handsome young Le-
onard infers that she will be extravagant.
Harriet pares it too thin, and that stands
for niggardiness; but Mary hits the gold
ell mean and is rewarded with and BY
handsome young Leonard. Ora broom
stick lies in the way, over which Clara,
Anna, Laura and the rest of them step
unheeding OR indifferent and only Lucy
pickles it up and replaces it, which Harry,
standing by, makes a note of, and Lucy
is paid-with the honor of being Harry's
wife. Moral-Go you and do likewise,
and verify you shall have your reward,
or at least you stand much better chance
of having it than ifyou do different. "Be
good and you will be married" is the es-
sence of the lesson.