The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-02-23
Bridal Tours Denounced.

Looking at the custom from an as-
thetic and sentimental point of view,
nothing can be more repulsive. An
American marriage is, in theory, a love
match and it is generally so in prac-
tice. Now two persons in love want TO
see as much as possible Of each other,
and as little as possible of other people.
1t is true that we find exceptions; there
are individuals whose diseased vanity
desires to give publicity to every act of
their life. But these vulgarians are
happily rare in any class. An instinct
OF seclusion and modesty is the general
rule. Yet this absurd custom forces a
newly married couple either to put an
unnatural restraint on their legitimate
affection, or to make themselves ridicu-
lous before the public. All this, how
ever, it may be suggested, is matter OF
taste, But what follows is not a question
able point Of taste or comfort; it is
matter of downright fact, as certain as
if it could be mathematically demon
strated. The contamination of marriage
is, with one exception, the most critical
period. physically, of woman's life.
After the moral and physical excite
rhent which attends it, her system
demands absolute rest, repose, quiet,
regular and good living, a supporting
and restorative way OF life. If these
can be secured for some weeks, SO much
the better, but at any rate they are
necessary for some days. Not only the
health for the rest of her moral exist
ence, but the health and strength of her
offspring may be, and often are, materi-
ally affected by the want of proper care
at this time. Instead of which the bri
dial tour piles on additional excitement
and fatigue, makes regularity of life
impossible-in short involves the exact
reverse of all that the rules of health
and physiology require. At peril Of
being thought etfeminate. / will 60 fur
Their and say that for the man, too, at
this time, repese and calm, though not
80 necessary, are highly desirable. 1t
constantly happens in the case Of both
sexes, that slight indisposition, which,
passed unnoticed in the hurry of prepa-
ration, it aggravated to a serious and
even fatal extent by the excitement and
exposure and neglect consequent on the
wedding tour. No man, for instance,
would think of postponing his marriage
vi dCC1uHG vi ~ oiiSht SoiN' - In
stayed quietly at home, afterward, and
took care of himself. it would pass
away like other slight colds: he goes
on bridal tour in the depth of winter
and the malady developes into a
chronic pulmonary complaint. Nor
would young woman put off her
marriage because she felt little extra
lassitude and want of appetite, with an
occasional headache, which, however,
may be premonitary symptoms of ty-
phoid fever If you take typhoid in
time, there is nothing specially danger
Gus about it; care and patience only are
necessary, and it runs its course. But
if neglected at first, it is almost inevita-
bly, fatal. Last year two cases came
under my observation, the one Of a
bride, the other of a bridegroom, dying
Of typhoid just after a wedding trip,
which had caused the early symptoms
to be misunderstood and neglected
And have known things worse than
death to happen-insanity, temporary
or permanent, brought on by the eXtrs
fatigue and excitement of the wedding
Carl Benson in the Nc,s Yorl
Times