The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-11-06
An Analysis OF the Aversion Obtaining to
Second Marriages.
From, the London Leader.

From the London Leader.
The sentiment of the age is, not with out rea-
son, opposed to second marriages. If matri-
monY were essentially the socISl partnership
which some philosophers would tain make tiff
it were sinp'y form of covenant binding the
parties to love, honor, and obey, till divorce 40
part them-if it were modelled on the plan OF
that reformer who wanted to add rs proyiso
to the Prayer Book vow. $50 long as we both
shall loVen-tnere would be no reasonable Oh
lection to entering into second, third, fourth,
or fifth partnership on the same elastic foot
ing. Such dispensatlon, indeed, would rea-
liZe the view OF The late Adah Menken, that 1T
is well TO marry young and often" Bat, unfor-
tupately for the retormers and the philosophers,
and all the nice theorists, male and female, phi.
lantbropic, free-loving, and strong-mlnded,
society persists in regarding marriage as u
much more solemn and spiritual contract than
this. Much as it may yeX the clear-see-
ing intellect of a Bradaugh, society insists
upon importing the provldential element into
the business, and making Heaven witness OF a
contract voluntarily entered into for eternity.
Perhaps society Is very wrong for sll this
wrong in going to church at all-extremely
wrong to subscribe to that palaver about for
saking all others, and cleayiug only unto him or
her, as the case may be-; No doubt they order
these things better in France, where the legal
ceremony is the principal one, with church
blessings thrown in dd odlorem. 1t we colld
only get married quietly and without fuss, as
they do In the opera, where an ardent basso
drags an unwilling soprano TO side.taDle, and
is on the point OF consummatiDg the business
with the aid OF ua Notarto and pad Of blotting-
Meanwhile, however, society goes on getting
maIriedpt the Eagle, and rlveted at the Com
munion Table, aud accepting blessing from a
posse OF persons one assisting the other, with q
choral force we'll up in
'Tbe voice that breathed through Eden,
That earliest wedding day"
and the organ played out the pair to Mendels-.
sohn's Wedding Match, and all the ecclesiastical
paeeantry complete. 1t is hard, after all this TO
attempt 10 dlssocate the religious IRON the
purely social nature of the proceeding. Let the
bridegroom, II he be given to philosophical In.
quTy, try to dissOciatc them in his wltes pre-
sence. Let him begin by observing, After all,
my dear, we are not married IN the sight OF
Heaven, and all that; It's only tdc0H de pdrer;
we have simply entered into d sort OF partner
ship, you know-lke my association with old
Jones IN the ofice.n Let him attempt this VEN
of morallzing, and from his wlte's reply he will
be able TO estimate the rooted feeling OF society
in the matter. This, then, is the spirit which
dictates that sentimental aversion to second
marriages, which Is not the less general in thatlt
| is seldom put into words. MatrlmoDy oelug, from
| the sentimental point of view, holy business,
bond which 1s not only to regulate this life,
but in all likelihood to exercise an influence
! over The lie to come, the incongrulty, the
indecency-nay, the very sacrilege-ot admitting
into the spiritual compact more than one
| partner Is sufficiently OBVIOUS. 1t saVors OF
| Benedick "as the one participant in my veal or
| woe; / take her for time and tor eternity"
But IN year or two Beatrice dies, and then
Bepedick chooses Laura as the one participant
for tin and eternity; and If he survives Laura
there Is nothing 10 prevent hun adding third
and fourth TO the firm. Now at eacl new
betrothment the sanctity OF the business falls
| peg. Nobody enters a second marriage with
| the same reverence, or earnestness, or ardor,
| with which ne contracted the hrst. He Is older
and colder; familiarity with the estate has bred
indifference; the being at his side is not
trembling, pure little soul whom all his
srong chivalrous nature rnshes forth
to protect, but nice sort OF person, who
Is going to look after his servants and see that
his linen is kept in good order. Even with the
nrst wile romance ended by settling down into a