American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-04-19
Marriage and Longevity.

OF all the relations into which a man
enters, marriage is that which eXerts most
influence on his mind and body, on his
powers of study, on the development of his
affections, on the bringing forth of all the
hidden qualities of his character. The in
tellectual element in his nature, without
the softening and humaniZing effect of
domestic love, might, at first sight, be ex-
pected to absorb the whole man, and rem
der him giant in mental achievements.
Practically, it has, as rule, no such effect.
Few monks have distinguished themselves
for original invention, for great thoughts,
for an expansive philosophy, or for any
thing implying superiority in the qualities
which raise one man above another. 1t
is beneficial to the most active minds to
have the current of thought occasionally
broken in upon, and diverted from the
channel of systematic investigation into
the calm, sweet delights of home-life, of
wife, of children, of playful sportive-
ness, which gives to man in his period
of greatest force something of the
careless frame of mind which gave fresh
ness to his childhood. Marriage, there
fore, should be regarded in general as a
help to long life and should be called in
to ii mans assistance as soon as he has
completed, or nearly completed, his studies
we say nearly completed, because, in
many cases, the companionship of a wife
is of great service in directing and giving
Il higher aim to the intellectual force.
Some are of opinion that the contracting
of marriage ought to be deferred till the
fervor of passion is over, till youth has
lost its bloom, till the companionship of
woman is rather desirable as a friendship
than as a source of love. Aristotle thought
that eighteen years for the woman, and
thirty-five for the man, were the likeliest
periods respectively to insure happiness in
marriage; but the Spartans, whose insti-
tutions had been framed by one of the
lOftiest intellects ever concerned in the
business of leg islation, acted on a different
principle, thinking that persons of nearly
the same age would love each other more
ardently, and harmonic better together
As Il rule, early marriages are better than
late ones, better for the woman especially,
all whose maternal duties are less exhaust
ing to the constitution, more productive
of health and beauty of offspring, and of
happiness to all around her. than at a later
period of life. Tacitus observes that the
ancient Germans the most robust and war
like nation with which he was acquainted,
cschewed early marriages; but, when he
comes to explain what he means by the
phrase, we find that he thinks it late
enough to defer marriage to the age of
twenty. Charles James Fox, who was,
perhaps, as good Il judge as Tacitus,
brought INTO the House an act for hNlng
the majority of women at fifteen, and, in
the speech with which he introduced il,
put forward reasons which the country in
general thought conclusive, though the
legislature did not. AS one swallow does
not make summer, so neither is one eX-
ample sufficient to serve as a basis for a
general conclusion; yet it is worthy of re-
mark, that one of the most extraordinary
instances of longevity among women,
III III ,,f .f(
dia, who died at the age of hundred and
fifteen, and in her youth had been the
mother of fifteen children.-Chan,bers's
JOurnM.