Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1871-12-15
Love and Marriage.

The third lecture in thecourse was deliv-
cred last evening by Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher, to hear whom the people flock
ed to Mechanics Hall innumbers which
filled it, floor and gallery, and also many
seats on the platform. Mr.. Beecher
spoke on "love" for nearly an hour and
a half in his usual entertaining manner,
which made the time seem much shorter
than 1t really was. To do so long lee
ture Justice in brief abstract-especial-
ly lecture SO full of thought and fine
passages, cannot be expected, of course
therefore we will only attempt to pro-
duce a few of his sayings as he discuss
ed the charming subject.
He said the romancers and poets had
done none too much in extolling the
charming experiences of early love; we
look back at the rapturous out-gushing
of affection in early years, and laugh at
the ludicrousness of the enthusiasm with
which young lovers are filled; but, when
he was first in love himself, he said there
seemed to him to be nothing at all ludi-
crous about it; he was never more in
earnest in his life it made all the differ
ence in the world as to the point of view
from which we regard the matter. He
said he never saw two noble young hearts
in love without wishing he was one Of
them. Love is the only faculty which
has the power to change the whole world
and make everything possess new beauty
in our sight. IF any man fails to OBJ
serve this sudden change of everything
to new beauty, when he thinks he is in
love, he may rest assured that 1t is a
mistake, and he is not in love, after all.
If man is ever poet it is when under
the delightful influence of love; if ever
an artist, then if ever singer, then
it is lure or garnished bait, but real
ity, transforming everything looked up
on, before which faults disappear, and
we fall down and worship the image our
own love has created. Too often love is
bright bonfire before marriage, and
naught but ashes after-a disenchant-
ment follows, which is but repetition Of
0 Adams and Ewes experiences-unbound-
ed joy at first, and path of thorns at
the end He deplored the evil philoso-
ply which teaches that love is necessa-
rily short, beginning in fever and
burning out, and illustrated the sadness
of life wrecked by early disappoint-
ment. More than any other thing mans
happiness depends upon his power OF
loving and exciting love; and if he
would have love, he must submit to
loves terms; he cannot secure it if he
falls into indifference after the wedding
seeking love in that way is like digging
for diamonds and carrying off pebbles
while the diamonds were there to be
found with right knowledge of digging
Love won't last through life unless nurt
ured and cared for it needs more cul
a ture than anything else in the world
Too often the heart is regarded as faith
omless reservoir, containing supply o.
love for life, SO the stream begins to run
small until at last it is found that, in.
stead of fathomless reservoir, the heart
has become cistern, and broken els
o tern at that. Great artists alway make
preliminary studies before beginning a
picture and SO in love, that experience
before marriage is only study for true
love after marriage. The love of court.
: ship and love-letters is to real love what
books on horticulture are to actual gar
dening Love must be judged, not by
intensity but by permanent effects nc
man can be in love all over and be calm
and happy-it is when half full, and fiji.
ing that the waters are excited-when
full, a calm settles over the surface, and
all is peaceful. Love works on the as
cending scale: first grows into affection
then to the imagination, then to reason
then to moral sentiment this by gradu
al progression, and no man is fully in
love until with the whole of his nature
Marrying is not mating; not one in a
hundred couples are married whose ma
, lures are exactly fitted to each other :
! the fitting must be the work of the house
hold. Sometimes this can never be eff
fected; we sometimes see great nature.
and little natures brought together
whose working will be as uneven as the
:. elephant and mouse pulling in the same
| yoke. He was not astonished, he said
to see great-hearted men married to
small-hearteG women, for men are not
given to discernment, and have little So
cial tact; but he was astonished to see
great-hearted women tied to small heart
ed narrow minded men. He illustrated
: feeting nature of one kind of love by
> reading letter from Ferdinand to Mi
\ randa previous to their marriage, and
then giving an account of their selfish