, 1872-11-24

rimony. But in cases where fashionable moth
ers do the courting On the part OF the daugh-
terB, with the benefit OF their own experience in
the past, it requires large degree Of discern
1nent, and greater extent Of enterprise on the
part Of the ambitious young man, to satisfy
himself beforehand that he is securing q wife
who will forever keep him out of the divorce
courts l1r. Cobbett adviaes that young men
should look at their sweethearts' shoes, With
delicious nnconsciousness that this would also
involve looking at the feet; and when he tells
Us that q good way to judge Of cleanliness is
ss from the state of the covering Of the ankles,"
it becomes apparent how difficult it would be to
apply his tests, or avail ourseh Of his practical
advice, in these days Of social prejudices.
There is one point, however, on which N1r.
Cobbett insists, which is even more desirable
nowadays than it vas in his time. "Eating and
drinking" he says in another OF bis books,
"como three times day" This practical
fact Of life should be remembered above
all others in taking one's matrimonial
departure. If Cobbett NTH all the, trials in his
career, could comfort himself with the reflection
that he had enjoyed bachelors freedom from
domestic cares, along With the pleasures Of mar
ried LIE, it must have been principally because
his wife was a good cook. + ssgood cook" is
details, OF the cuisine, from the buying Of mate
1iaIs to the serving Of them On the table. It
means economy, versatility, invention, taste, in
dustry, cleanliness, amiabilityy fact, al the
domestic virtues combined. Cobbett spoke Of
a girl who had been brought up "to play
music, to what is called draw and to sing" as
an unfortunate young creature" and advised
every young man to beware of her. What would
he have said Of the predoninance Of these *tun-
fortunate young creatures " in our day, in
whom the accomplishments no describes have
been made to preclude the possibility Of that
s,n,1nun. bon1,a OF domestic bliss, thorough
knowledge Of the c4isine' In America, OF all
countries, and in the present age, OF all times,
the nbsence Of this knowledge is the bane Of
married Life. The poor people fare badly when
it would not cost them any more to live well. The
rich people squander money for cheap inita-
t1ons OF that wholesale ezange Of the restaurant.
The receptions which are given at immense cost
are brilliant and successful in everything except
the table. How many ladies' know how to give a
good dinner, though there is no way in which
she could entertain her friends so satisfactory
to harse1f and to then7 It does not seem i'm
posi- bio that a young lady should have ordinary
accor np1ishments and yet know something about
wcrk ers in the world. and Rossini one Of The
greatest composers; Jet both were good cooks
It is perveraion OF common sense, that cooking
has come to be regarded in society as some
thing degrading, when it is one of the sublinest
as well as the most useful Of all arts.
| OF all Of Cobbett'a hints to young men in ths
! cho oslng OF wife, there is none Of so mucl
service in modern times as that which recon-
| mt,uds to satisfy themselves that the young
| Ia lies Of their choice know something Of ths
! kitchen. tits possible that young men who do no
want to degenerate into the solitary dinners ant
! nice snppers Of their bachelor days, and so mak'
/ their OVID lives, as well as their wives, inespreH
i :sibly wretched, might institute q new rule TO
| courtship. Instead Of asking young lady t.
! play and sing for them, they might invite them
! selves to d dinner Of her cooking. This is no
more impudent than the other. Both are mean
! of enjoyment exacted from tho young woman
and good dinner is infinitely preferable to
| poorsong.