Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-05-06
A Religious Journal Advises the
Clerks TO Get Married.

|
Religious journal Advises the
Clerks TO Get Married.
From the st. Louis Central Baptist.l nn
Granted that our clerks have chosen a
calling which exposes them to the op.
preston of the rich, what right have they
to indulge in extravagant habits, and
then find fault with their associates for
Heading the same kind of life2 What
right have they to doom young women to
| perpetual loneliness because, forsooth,
they may indulge in foolish extravagan-
cies of taste2 Are the follies and weak
\ nesses Of the young ladies match for
the inkrmities aud vices of the young
men2 Have the young men right to
presume that the girl, knowing that she
was loved, would not be as willing to cast
aside her superhuities as the lover would
be to forever bury the faults which ccse
as much as wife and baby, and open a
well-spring of JOY in place of bitter and
turbid streams2 81 EfgE fT vi A.TH y
But further, what right has the clerk,
who confines himself to narrow circle
of girls as frivolous as himself, to Judge
that his associates are fair type of the
sex2 Like seeks its like. We like what
we are like 1t is natural for the young
clerk who has chosen calling that
rarely brings a generous salary to select
those young ladies for his companions
who are accustomed to look upon him
as the beau ideal; yet it shows but little
Judgment and good deal of presumption
in him to herd the entire sex together,
measuring them by the silly things who
come up to his conception of woman in
all respects except the hightof bonnet
and the display of few. ribbons and
thinly washed jewels, which, let him re-
member, are purchased as much for the
admiration of his clan as for her own
gratifcation, and which any woman of
good sense and ordinary virtue would be
willing to cast aside for a good home
with Q man worthy of her love and re-
speot.
The young men, especially the fash
ionable clerks, and, we may add, many
of our newspaper writer's, err in this re-
gard. They take the woman who makes
display on our streets, or in the house
of God, as the average woman. Ifthey
would penetrate beyond this shoddy
side show, they would find ladies of
wealth and ladies of humble means, but
truly refined, adorning the home with
the graces and virtues Of religion, and
in single or married life fitted to bless
and to elevate their kind. The true
woman will not choose the streets or the
church to make an exhibition Of her
artistic or natural attractions. She will
prefer. BY reigning in the drawinE-room
or serving in the gentle offices of home
or ministering in the thousand relations
to which society and the church iRvite
her, to fulfill her destiny and await with
selfrespect and cheerfulness the ordina-
tions Of Providence.
Now, there are three ways in which
these clerks can possibly improve their
condition, and realize infinitely more
happiness than can possibly result from
the selfish policy advised by our cotem-
porary, even though mercantile success
may follow its adoption namely; To
win by their superior ability, transparent
honesty and blameless department the
admiration of men who have gained for
tunes and honors by honest means.
This will be no unimpOrtant step toward
an alliance that will make a happy home.
Or IF the miserable salary and de-
pendent position Of clerk shut
out All prospect Of an easier life, let him
seek in the useful arts calling which
always gives a man enough for himself, |
virtuous wife and all whom God |
may give them. Or, let him bring his
expenses down to figure in keeping
with bis income and position, and he |
will soon find that the man who can sup
port himsslf can support two. Per-
chance he may find in his own narrow
sphere one who has more sense than |
himself, quite willing 10 relinquish use
less Embellishments 20 make a home I
which will command the admiration of
her neighbors. In any event, the poor
clerk can marry and refnte, as thou
sands do, every day, the miserable PHI
losophy that seeks, by heaping contempt
upon the female sex, to find an excuse
for the vices of the other sex, and prac-
tically destroy the most hene6cent pro-
vision of Divine wisdom for the happi- /
ness and well-being of society. We as
sure them, in the language Of Guizot,
this world has nothing TO offer more
charming than the example Of a pure
and happy afections' That full and
sincere outburst Of the interior strength
and desires Of the soul, which we call
love, has such charm for US that We
contemplate 1t with the profoundest in
tsrest even when we find Il mingled with
culpable errors. troubles, discontent and
grief; but when It is seen in harmony
with conscience, filing the soul with 4
Joy, leaving its beauty and peace IN
changed, il is the richest treasure Of our
nature; it is the most human and at the
same time the most divine grati6cafion
Of our aspirations; Il Is Paradise re-
gained. I'll
It Is oslculaied that il vill cost fvs
Ill. -. 4. -. G.. IL Il