Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1869-04-02
WHIT TrrE .uE.,. WOULD no.

D
/ suppose that all the bonds, ties, and con-
nections at present existing through mar
riage were suddenly TO be sundered-sup-
/ pose, u short, that, without damage done
to moral or social order, every existing,
Imminent, or possible marriage were to be
| quashed, upon one particular day, and peo-
pie allowed to form new combinations for
the rest Of their lives-how many of the
old coWbinations would be revived7 We
propoVnd the question in no cynical mood
whateYerj and certainly without the least
notion that such an abrogation of marriage
Is desirable or probable. But, as q mere
speculhron, imagine that every married
man ana woman were legally and morally
| pernnlted, tomorrow morning to go and
ysomebody else and then try to an
ticipaif The extraordinary results of such a
sociakl kl.onvulsion. That a large number
woGsTI t5ico to have their present bonds
annulled is certain. That large number
woull, afer their past experiences, be NOR
tallylsssid of marrying again, is probable.
That some husbands and wives, who had
hitherD been remarkable for their affec-
tionate bearing toward each other in pub
lie, w0ull seize the first moment to fly as
sunder, is also probable. That not few
would leave their spouses, and marry 9TH
er peoples spouses, similarly set free, is,
we regret to believe, possible. And that a
large proportion of the people who would
thus rush into new combinations, would,
in 81 ort time begin to regret them, and to
wish for a return of the old state Of affairs,
we may take for granted.
Fully to realize the speculation, we must
concede absolute freedom to every man
and woman There shall be no question Of
marriage settlements or the care of children
intervening. Like sparrows in spring
| time, all our worthy neighbors shall pair
off according to their free personal whim,
caprice, liking, or love. Allowing six
months for the necessary routine of court
ship and marriage, let us examine some of
the probable results of the general election.
| Let us note the odd marital freaks which
would occur in the grand square of the me-
tropolis No and No. suddenly change
mistresses, while No. receives a new mis-
tress, and is sorry to see the old one unwil-
ling to go. The gaunt colonel who visits
/ @'Ns W "iiipo Oil ihC lduy vi lnt uOuSe,
| while her husband does not seem to pros-
per in his suit with the widow opposite.
And imagine the excuses that so many
men would invent for the sudden deser-
ton of their companion for many years
My dear, I never had the heart to tell
you, but l always did dislike the color of
your hair
| WHY did YOU marry me- then?
why, you know, Effie Langston had
just thrown me over, and 1 was ready to
marry anybody; and you know you half
| proposed to me-
Wretch And now you will go and mar
ry that girl Langston; with the affected
smrk, and consumption in the family, as
you know well enough
y ESes to-if Effie is not married al
| ready. But the idea of her remaining un-
marricd for ten minutes, if she could get
/ lnytS k--sJa d husband, Is aosurd-
And nice creature for you to make
your wife. However, go sir Major Hat
terton will see that l am not allowed to
| perish Of hunger
'Ahl with weak spite,) 1 thought he
would become your guardian angel
Then the disappointments of Tilted low
ers. OF course every Tilted lover imagines
| that his tickle friend of former DAYS has
long ago repented her of that precipitate
marriage which plunged him into deep des-
pair He sits by the fire at night, and pic
lures to himself weary wife, also sitting
by the fire, and thinking sadly of her old
lover. If it were only possible he sighs
to himself, for her TO annul that hateful
beg for forgiveness, and for a little of the
great love | used to lay at her feet in the
olden timer She must be miserable, since
she has not married him. Every disap-
pointed lover will tell you that his lady
love is mated with clown and he speaks
of her in tones of tender compassion, apd
wishes to his friends that he could do some
thing to make her happy. And so, when
he hears of this great day of universal free
dom, his soul leaps within him. The poor
Andromeda has been chained so long to the
rock but now the gallant Perseus cleaves
the green sea toward her, blowing the white
foam from his lips, and laughing in joyous
anticipation of his victory and her enrapt-
ured embrace.
We will say that the modern Perseus
drives up to Andromeda's door in Han
som cab. Having sent up his card, he
walks, hat in hand into the drawing-room.
A few minutes afterward, Andromeda en-
ters, calm, cold-with smile on her face,
certainly, but yet the formal smile with
which women greet visitors whom they
don't wish to see.
He is not at home? asks Perseus, eager
ly.
He? Whom?' she asks Withdrawing @
step, and regarding him with a smile as
cold as that of the sea-dragon; do you
mean my husband?'
Yes
'HGiSnot at home.'
An, Polly, have we met at last = he ex
claims passionately. After so many years
of bitterness-after so many days ano
nights of cruel memories-have we met a
= last-free to do as our own hearts wish
: And now, dearest, you will recompense my
long Affection
Mr.. Perseus, she says in a stately way
; yet retreating toward the door, you are
very kind but am not aware that 1 have
, given you cause TO imagine l wished t.
change my husband. On the contrary,
have never thought of such thingi and
and-I wish you good morning.
/" having known me, to decline
On range Of lower feelings and narrower heart thai
@ mine"
murmurs the miserable Perseus, as h
a jumps into his cab again, and inconerent
J ly orders the cabman to drive him to tn
devil.
}, There is no doubt, in such an eventual
u ty, that married people would profit by tn
great experience of each which marriag
a has given them. 1t does not at all iolloN
0 that such experience must necessarily b
disappointing. As general rule marriag
o destroys idealisms but these idealisms ar