Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-05-30

ment possible To believe that the glri iov-
cd this man whom she has made lord OF
her being, that thought would of itself
bc revolving. II the instincts of woman
are not pure enough, keen enough, far
reaching enough, to serve 4 woman in
such stress as this, what are they good
for? OF what earthly use arc thcy?- But
if she does not love him. the case is even
worse. What will she have to sustain
her through the coming years? How
will she he able To endure the close inti-
maces of the marriage relation how
will she bear the slow deterioration OF
herself that is sure tn follow? She will
inevitably Clover To his level day hy
day; she will see the glory fade out Of
her life; she will feel her aspirations
alter purity and holiness, and all that per-
Iains to Ic higher life grow weaker and
weaker; she will see her dreams die one
by one, and pcrhaps-and this is the sad
deSt OF all-slc will cease To grievc over
their burial For one canno. touch pitch
without being dciilcd No good, pure
woman can marry II bad man knowing
that lie is bad knowing that he is Iull Of
all spiritual uncleanncsS. without finding
that her own standard OF what is good,
and pure and right. is gradually, insen-
sbly lowered. Mind you, do not say
that this is the case when n husband falls
from his high estate Uter marriage.
The wilcly love that lives through all
thngs. even through Sin itself, is so holy
that careless tongues should not dare to
mention it, Bat she who voluntarily
gives herself to one whom she knows TO
be bad. not only runs 4 fearful risk, but
she desecrates her own womanhood. and
it will surely avenge itself
Marry him 10 save? TO convert him
from the evil of his ways? All, my Sis
ters "lay not that hatlering JUNCTION TO
Your souls Doubtless good women
have, ere This, married bad men from the
very best of motives. Occasionally they
have succeeded in their holy MISSION
But few OF us are angelic enough to dare
such lrightlul odds; few of us are strong
enough to save drowning men. We are
far more likely to drown with them; or
il not drowned, To come up from the
dark water, torn by the ragged rocks.
beaten by the treacherous waves, spent
and brealhless from the unequal contest.
But my dear MIS-. Jones, did il ever
occur 10 YOU that society is in u good de.
gree accountable Tor such ill.asSorted
marriages aS the one we are talking OF?
And 10y society | mean you and me and
all the TEST OF us. Did il eycl occur To
you that women have much TO contend
with, that their way is hedged in by diff
culties, that their feet are hampered by
circumstances, and that they often walk
through the open door of matrimony
simply because it seems to be the only
door that Is open? They stay not the
order of their going"-but 90 merely be
cause it is easier 10 60 than to stay.
You do not know what society has to
do with the matttI?
Let me tell yon then. Society toYns
virtuuuSly, it i true. when girl makes
an unequal or degrading marriage. But,
nevertheless, ii tells her by implication
that any marriage. even II poor one, is
better than no marriage at all. 1t iests
at cold maids" and sneers ri oldmaiden.
hood 1t thinks that Miss So and So is
getting rather pdSse She must bo near.
ly or quite twenty. five, II wonders how
old Miss Blank may be, and intimatcs
that she was on the stage (of society as
many as ten years ago 1t thinks it very
strange that none Of the Smythe girls
have married; and Mrs. Glundy main-
lains that according 10 the best OF her
knowledge and belief, it is exceedingly
mortifying to the doctor, their father! OF
course all parents expect their daughters
10 marry some time, and are disappOint-
ed if they do not. II doubts whether
Miss Thompson has lever had an offer !"
it curlS its lips sarcastically when Miss
Jones, not your daughter, my dear mad
am puts II flower or two i'll her faded
hair, and hints that u cap would be more
appropriate In short, it smiles blandly
upon Sixteen, and turns up its graceful
nose at Thirty.two.
Now do you suppose that this same
sweet, impressible Sixteen hears and
sees all this. and is not impressed there.
by? Is not the lesson SO plain that the
way-farng man though fool may read
| it? Be sure that sweet Sixteen will read
every word of it, and she will give it n
free translation thus -" Marry rs speed
lily rs possible, girls, before you grow
old and faded and !, society, find it nee
essary TO sneer at you. Angle for hus.
bands beside all waters, and seek for low
ers as for hidden treasures. So shall you
he wise and honored. and escape the aw.
full curse of old maidenhood"
Perhaps poor little Sixteen or Eighteen
as the case may be, is too genuinely mod
est to follow this advice literally. She
does not go angling for a husband, for
her-one utterly unworthy of her, il may
be-one that is to her as Satyr 10 Hyperi.
on. She does not care much for HIM.
But it is "nicc" TO be engaged, and 10
wear solitaire upon the first finger of
her left hand 1t is ''nice" to be bride
and have bridal presents, wear veil