Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-04-13
K

narties never having seen each other have
often been as happy for both parties as
marriage could be. II 100 young men
and 100 young women were joined
In marriage by LOT, according to the Gus
tom once followed at times among the
Morayians, ninety-fve of these unions
would prove happy-happier, that is, for
each party, than perpetual single life
would have been IN many cases where
.sincompatihity of temper" has discovered
itself. the fact that the parties could not
separate has often made them cast aside
their differences and lead happy lives
together. The risks therefore, in
marriage are small, and even the irreyo-
cable nature of the VOW makes those risks
less. The indissoluble nature of the mar
riage tie may work hardship In particular
cases, but on the whole il secures the good
of unhappy couples far more thoroughly
than lax divorce laws would. 1t was
Infinite Wisdom that established the ordi-
dance Of marriage. !.
But while one has thus the best OF pros
poets for happiness in wedlock, 1t 10 not
every one who finds in marriage the en-
ioyment Of which Ii is capable. A man is
sometimes in too much OF hurry to get
married. Before he has become estab-
lished in business, before lac has Gem
pIeted his studies or gained q position in
his profession, he rushes into matrimony.
Nov the happiness of wedlock Is fruit
which should not be picked until il Is
ripe. IL - not alone the pleasure OF the
present that is TO De thought of-the hap
piness Of long life is TO be considered.
IL is little thing 10 wait two, three or
four years If the happiness Of forty years
is 10 ~ increased by it. The question Is
not only what will be the pleasantest now,
but what will give greatest pleasure q
quarter of century hence, and the boy
Of nineteen may not be competent to Sc
lect wife for man of forty. The ques-
ton is DOT so much whether the girl now
before the eyes is pretty and lively as
whether she will be the best companion
In the long years of after life. Every
young man should exercise the self
mand--the self-denial il may be--neces-
sary TO keep him from a premature mar
rage or premature engagement. tie is
worthyof ridiculc who cannot leave his
mother, but he is bigger BOBBY who
cannot get along without the society OF
his sweetheart
And let not the opinions of friends be
disregarded when one is choosing mar.
riage companion. Rarely indeed should
Il young man marry the girl with whom
his mother and sister are not pleased
Rarely, indeed, should young woman
marry The man with whom her
father and brother are not pleased.
True friends will not think OF their own
interests or tastes, even, when the happi-
ness of d child, brother or sister is al
stake; and any objections they make to a
proposed match will be prompted by an
anxiety regarding that ones happiness.
Their cool judgment will often discern
valid objections to marriage alliance
which the excited view of theope more
directly interested does not see.
But With all this marriage is a matter of
love, and nothing viii take loves place.
An ounce Of love will weigh down fifty
pounds Of brown-stone house and brus-
sells carpet. And love has /" prudence"
Of its own. 1t will warm the room itself
when the coal has given out, and bring
angels to the bedside when there is no
money to hire doctor Ii is only sham
love that makes the discreditable tight by
the window when poverty comes In at the
door. A woman may be happier in pow
erty with the man OF her choice than
VIVID announcer IN ease anu luxury. ~
man may be happier in marrying some
sickly girl who will be TO MIN in one
sense burden all his life, than in espous-
ing another who will make a "smart"
housekeepcr. Indeed, what Is the use of
marrying at all except for lovey But still
when one Is going to depend on love for
eDerytlting, 1t is well 10 be sure that it is
true love, and not mere within, which is
guiding the steps.
And few men make as much of their
married life az they should. They are
not near as happy in 1t as they might be.
They do not do counting enough. A man
would do well occasionally TO dress up
and come and make formal call on his
wife, the way he used to do before they
were married. If he would sit down with
her in the moonlight and talk little Of
the nonsense that he used 10 talk. 1t might
be one of the wisest things he ever did in
his life. II will pay a man to make love
10 his wife as long as they live the we'd
ding-day should merely open new chap
ter Of the courtsliip. A womans heart is
deeper than gold mine, and though a
man may have had possession Of II for
fsrty years, 1t will yield him yet richer
treasures of love if he will still seek for
them. --E1amtner and Chronicle.