Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-05-24

The sequel OF marriage and the arrangements
that accompany 1t will repay investigation bet
are the real terms Of the contract7 what It's es-
sential conditions? what its ultimate Sanctio a?
NO possible answer can be forthcoming TO any
Of these inquiries until considerable Interval
has elapsed after the ceremony. The family
solicitors of the two contracting parties have
drawn up their documents and composed their
ing; the marriage is an accomplished fact. But
OF the practical nature OF the contract nothing
is yet known. What is the real mutual under
standing which underlies the ceremony, or can
there be said to be any such understanding at
all? In some cases the mysterious treaty Is
only the result Of the laborious negotiations OF
first that any such document should be eiab
nra!ed. The terms az marriage were defined
by the religious service; what more could
BE warted? But, Instead OF the marrlag,
ceremony being tie prelude to a harmonious
and lifelong dualtsm, IL turns out to be simply
the function that mas 1nlVgUr ated the ariu0uS
campaign: The consecra.tng priest is found TO
De religious herald Of the Kind much Ia vogue
in tie Middle Ages, who co tide 1t his duly to see
that the ecclesiastical fOrmalitteS prescribed b.
law were duly compiled with before hoS5iltCles
were actually commenced. II is true taat the
pair have joined hands At the aitar-thu5, Ia
technical language, 'plighting their tr9th,
But In very little While this turns out to be a
an ecclesiastical fiction. SD do pugilistic chain
pionS salute each other before the business OF
the gloves or the bare fists commences. Holy
Chcreh has consecrated the banner OF the com
Dlesst 6 to fight The battle OF the ring, and she
leaves to each Of the TWO parties OF the strife to
uecloe with whom the victory shall lie, and
what shall be the terms OF the treaty ultfraate-
~ signed AID sealed. This Is not perhaps ex-
a. actly The ecclesiastical view of marriage, but
IL Is me view to the truth OF which the expert
eHce OF daily life very largely teStif1es.
In some cases the interval of waiting. between
Ine commencement of the campaign and the
practical signature OF the treaty, is exceedingly
nIlei; Instances indeed are not unknown I'm
la IN n v1D
drawn up before the domestic battle has begun
Inc gentleman goes abroad and the lady returns
10 her mother; or the bridegroom precipita;ely
the bride makes her game with he Art as iipht
and unconeerned as NJ. Emile olivier witnessed
me beginning of the march Of the French
regions 10 Berlin. In these instances, of course
matters a greatly simplfed; the onlysaues,
ton which may suggest itself to the unso-
Ph!sticated spectator being: Why, IL the real
any reality OF struggle, should there have beer
any ostentatious proclamation OF war? But
Il Is only given to few to carry the vic sory
instances the campaign Of matrimony is a
series Of Slow and painful struggles, making
severe demands on physical endurance and
tactical skill. There is much Of bitter disap-
po!ntment, much Of agcniZing disiliusion, much
of the sickness OF hope deferred and eventually
unful1lled, before the demands aud concessions
are specifically formulated and accepted In that
which is the true marriage-treaty Of these &c
gel crate days. Many scars and many wounds
are inflicted on the innocence OF wife and the
chiyalry Of husband before the compact Of mu-
tual federation is drawn up and the limits or
reciprocal license are recognized as fixed. AS
there are only two parties TO- so there are only
two witnesses Of, that negotiation, the text Of
which represents so much OF boOtless struggle
SO much OF rtbreaking soul-sullytng cllcu
lation. There has been no outrage, no scandal
The cOnventionalitieS OF II have been re-
spected; the social peace has been re.igiousll
preserved. But none the less have two hearts
two lives been the battle field of steady war
fare, which it is only at last found possible to
terminate in truce