The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-11-06

Another prolific source of domestic
misery is inequality in marriage. 1 re-
fer to the following points:
First, an immense difference in age
generally renders the married state dis
agreeable. How unbecoming and incon.
gruous to see an old man tied to bloom.
ing and vigorous female. And how un-
natural, and how odiOus to see a young
| man united to woman whom strangers
might suppose to be his mother. It is
certain that mutual affection cannot
| exist in such cases, and all are ready TO
pronounce it pecuniary speculation,
| for generally the older one is rich.
Secondly, there should not be an I'M
reasonable difference in regard to in
| tellectual attainnents. It is unwise for
! an educated man to be united in mar
| riage with an uneducated, and unrefined
woman, and "vice versa" Such is an
| unequal, unpleasant, and an unfor-
tunate marriage.
Thirdly, much difference in the
possessions of the parties should be res
garded as dangerous in the selection of
companion. Unfortunate husband to
whom the wife can say in unkindness,
the property is mine and will do as /
please with it. And miserable wife to
whom the husband can say, made you
what you are, or you had nothing when
L married you. Inequality in morals
anu JULIET ulD0T0uC0S
be pointed out, but forbear. 'Be not
unequally yoked together"
Fourth, again in the selection of a COM
panlon 1t IS unfortunate for persons of
certain Compartments to be associated.
We maintain that choosing a compan-
ion is under the direction of science and
sound judgment; and suggest that par
ticular regard should be paid to phys
siOlOgicar adaptation. If this law of
marriage is violated the result is mani
fest not only in the prevention of
domestic happiness, but it frequently
tells wOtully upon the posterity of the
transgressors 1t is certainly a settled
fact that two persons of the same tenn
permanent should not come together.
If both be OF the bilious melancholic
temperament they will NOPE through
life without ray of genial light to cheer
and gladden. either heart, and their off
spring will be misanthrOpes and perhaps
given to deeds of darkness. If both
should be of the sanguinO bilious tenn
permanent they will be obstinate and
unyielding, and bitter collisions will
be frequent, and their children will be
a terror to the community. And if
both sh0u d be of the sanguine temper
ament they will be addicted to alterna-
tiOns of embraces and quarrels, of
storms and calms. OF course it is not
expected that every candidate tor matri-
mOny can be skilled in human nature
as a Shakespear or versed in PhrenOlogy |
as a Fowler, yet the selection of COM
paniOn is of sufficient mouent to justify |
the utmost insight into this matter.
It is maintained by sOme-and res |
markable too-that it is natural for per- |
sons to choose OppOsites. A tall person |
prefers a low one; and the weak and /
beautiful cling to the strong and rough.
close this article by a reference to
honesty in courtship. If counting par
ties would abandon all deception, and
conduct their courtship in perfect hones>
ty and upon the strictest principles OF
Integrity, domestic happiness would be
more prevalent, and comparatively few
would be the miseries growing out of
unfortunate matches. No defect should
he concealed, and no false impressions
should be made in reference to DISPOSE
ions, characters, or circumstances.
Honesty fOrbids the cOncealment of any
iefect mental or physical. The charac-
,ers should be mutually and thoroughly
made known. Dishonesty and decep-
ion should never find a place in court
ship. Nothing should be concealed
would IN after-life produce dissatis-
action. But l need not enlarge by
showing that the reverse of this is al
most universal. Everything glitters in
lisguise, without any serious contem-
DlatiOn of the dreadful disclosures and
ne lifetime miSeries to be realized if
hey should be successful.