The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-08-07
Marriage as ~ Sanitary Measure
From the COurier-Jolrnal.1 !

Thepapers East tell us that Nh. Owing
ton, q Well-knOwn Brooklyn merchant
has filed q petition for the divorce of hi
daughter, Mrs. Spiers, on the ground o
hopeless imbecility. Miss Ovington, i
seems, few years since, having gradua
ted with high hOnors at Packer Institute
was ushered into the social world will
falrest promise. Alas, the old story O.
Oyer-taXed immature brain repeated it
self and those unhappy symptoms ap
peared which only developed as time
Went, on; The child of wealthy parents
she doubtless received every attention
which affection could suggest or money
Communicated and rest, ea-bathine
and mountain air, various diversion by
land and waterfall to no avail. As a
last resort "she was married to hel
present husband"
| Comment is here taken uD by the pa
pers on the inability of the female mind
to cope with the more difficult, abstrusc
| collegiate studies; an old theme, and
still worthy of consideration, not with
| standing the prominent exceptions to
the CONTRARY. But the novelty of the
final attempt to minister to a mind
diseased must give us pause. Any new
social experiment demands close and
respectful attention from the possible
Importance of its results. Ifman's pow
er become so developed by the execution
OF the marital bond that he can recover
Tor his wife a lost reason, why we ought
to Know 1t at once, before we send any
more girls to the lunatic asylum, or suf-
fer young. men to idle away sing lie lives,
while their agency might be such a use
ful one. 1t was bold experiment to
make, for there was the disagreeable
acknowledgment in event of failure, and
III tace OF experience that was almost
inevitable. Sometimes there is decided
Improvement physically brought about
by marriage. Eccentricities are correct
cd by husbands Of tact like PetruchiO !;
wives are brought to reason, but who
ever heard of reason being brought to
wives? It would indeed be a happy con-
dltiOn OF things could one mind by con-
stant sympathetic intercourse lure back
another which had taken flight. Worthy
would be the cause for sacrifice, and
beautiful the action of it's devotees. To
our sorrow there is no such encourage
ment. Marriage seems to bring out
lmbeclllty rather than to stay it. In
these days toflaced waists and high heels,
glrlsn0t onlypay the penalty of mothers
folly, but borrow largely ON their own
account. We regard them with wonder
as night after night they tread the meas
ureS OF the may, way past the smallest
hours, rise in the morning to pay calls or
shop, and to put saddle-horses to severe
tests ID. the afternoon. A young man is
completely deceived, for this wondrous
endurance cease after marriage as though
that were the one grand blow which
swept away all props. German figures
OF domestic cut won't answer; the
illusion is over when there is no pros
pect of changing partners. A baby
lntrudes and the milk bill increases, as
the nome supply is apt to run short.
DID this happen in the days of Spartan
or Roman glory? Is it conceivable that
one can imbibe wit and muscle through
an India rubber tube? And since a
being Is denied that aesthetic education
which an acquaintance with his mothers
breast gives, but is brought up on the
his affections often cling tenaciOusly to
this latter the rest of his days? Time
was when wives could give ample eyi-
dence OF affection and backbone COM
blned, when the witty fraus of Veins
berg trlnmphantly bore of their
from the beleagured city, A fellow
would stand q good chance now of being
left to the tender mercies of Krupp's
cannon for aught his better half could
do to help him.. ....
Yes, the imbecility most. often exhib-
its itself in lack of energy and strength,
i'll poor management of husband, child
rem and household; but there isn't al
ways the kind father-in-law to step in
with his petition Of divorce. Had the
effort succeeded, the consequences might
have been startling in the extreme.
There would have been such a rush on
the eligible young man as was never
known. Marriage would be- justly known
as the true Plerian fOunt, and the az
tlcle husband drive all other tonics out |
OF the market. A mother would regard |
them critically as she might the jars in |
count them as so much off his doctors |
bill. In short, they would cease to Oc-
cupy the simply ornamental position |
OF to- day and be considered thoroughly |
useful as the universal health ~restOrer. |
Stock would rise, and plenty of those |
now ready to sell out at q moderate |
igure would hold off for higher bids
terms i'll proportion to seriousness of |
case: 1t might pay to organize a joint
stock company, with every husband
warranted
But there was only failure to chronicle,
Ind the young mans chances are poor
Us eyer. One consolation must be, that
le who Weds it Wealthily in Padua isn't
IT necessity happy; and that should we
3ver have q case presented which will
est our gallantry as sorely as Miss
)vingtiOn's, we must leave the gate open
or graceful retreat. The gro0m's ex-
)enses were doubtless well covered, but
or our part we think it very fortunate
hat he escaped the name of father.