Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-07-05
THE DUTY OF WIVES.

Inc numOer or divorces sought tor and OBJ
tanned in our country of late years has become
an APPALLING reality. Where the fault lies is a
question worthy of thought and consideration.
That there are marriages de convenance" and
illmated pairs is indisputable; but these are not
matches are in short time dissolved but if the
duties and responsibilities of wives and husbands
were fully understood, respected and perform
ed, would not this growing evil in measure be
prevented
The young wife usually enters very thought
lessy this new state Of existence, and frequent
ly exacts all the homage from the husband that
the lover offered. This is mistake in the be-
ginning, and yet natural one. But she should
remember that prize when once gained is
loved and cherished as our own, but the ardor
and zeal OF the pursuit is over. Ii is this exact
ing sel6shness at first that 80 often inaupurates
trouble between, perhaps, two really noble ma
lures. Ao inordnate self love is apt to imagine
Sights and indifference which were never meant
or existed.
We have many examples 10 history, which
should serve as warnings to the young aud iu-
experienced. The married life of Empress
Josephine, of France, to Eer first husband, Wis
couat de ,Beauharnais, is filed with tragic in
terest. She left her island home, Martinique,
Journeying to Paris, she there met her be-
trothed, ,aod they we're immediately married, At
first it seemed the ''old, old story" of true
love, but only too soon for the happiness of
both the Viscount tired of bis artless child
wife. She resented his neglect, and bickering,
discord and finally separation ensued. Ten
years after leaving her island home, with gor-
geous dreams of lofty destiny, she returns to
1t disappointed and unIoved wife But the
noble natures OF both fnaily conquered, and
they were reunited, both hearts strengthened
and purified by suffering Not many, we hope,
have had such sad experiences.
ID the Bible We find instances of representa-
tive wives There are Sarah, the deterential
wife; Abigail, the superior wife; and Elizabeth,
the believing wife.
Can We wonder at the many broken matri-
moDlal VOWS when we hear the light tone in
which the marriage relation is mentioned in
the present day? Some seemingly good Chris
tlan people assert that inconpatibility of tem-
per and other trIfes is sufficient cause for
separation. But solemn VOW, uttered before
God and man, should not be waotonly made or
broken. Therefore, let young people consider
well and prayfully before taking this i'm portant
step In life; but having passed the Rubicon,
let 1t be rrevocable. Metas,asio tells us that
Will find occasion to forbear,
And something every day they live
TO pity, and, perhaps, forgive"
And this is generally so. A wife to do her
duty faithfully must, above all things, be un-
selfish; must cultivate her love for her husband,
and endeavor to increase his affection Tor her
self, and not drift into mutual indifference, as
80 many do. =.
Beware of irritability and impatieuce, and
the first cross word. A wife's most powerful
weapons are her gentleness, DEVOTION unset.
hshness and forbearance. Let not Time be the
lconoclast to destroy the household gods, aid
set up discord and enlargement in their place
Let wives perform their duties as RuskIn de.
scribes them. There is no more beautiful de-
lineation of wtey character 10 our language
than from his pen. Let husbands be faithful
to their VOWS, kind, patient, and, above all,
keep in remembrance that
The time was once when thou unurged
wouldst VOW.
That never words were music to thine ear uu-
les, / spake"