The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1882-06-24
THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE INEvITA.
BILE.


With the exception of here and there
constitutional grlmbler, the different
phases of external nature are not ac-
cepted with resignation and pleasure.
AS far as possible we prepare for the
cold and the heat, the rain and the wind,
and when taken unawares by an ele-
mental disturbance-if not too seriously
damaged-we bear our discontinue
bravely, and usually look back upon such
an experience as something quite out of
the common, as well as a good joke.
The reason for such calmness and pa
tience are obvious. As soon as we know
anything, we are made acquainted with
the fact that the storm that interferes
with our pleasure or spoils our finery is
unavoidable. A child does not cry very
often for the moon to play with, or long
expect that the north wind which stiffens
his face and congeals his blood will stop
blowing on account of his dislike of it.
Submission to the disagreeable in ex-
ternal nature means a knowledge of its
incvitablcness. We have no power to
modify or prevent any of its moods, so
we adapt ourselves as far rs possible to
all of them, taking some comfort in the
thought that we are not responsible for
results. 1t may seem somewhat far
fetched to endeavor to institute an anal
ogy between external nature and human
nature, since upon human nature de-
wolves more or less responsibility. Still
there is an inevitableness about human
relations which it would be well to some
times consider. On the assumption
that knowledge or realization of the
inevitable helps us to bear what inevita-
bly, must be borne, let us look at the
marriage relation We all know that the
institution Of marriage is still in very
crude and Unsatisfactory condition. The
desire for position, the love of money,
the fear of being left to a single life, are
some of the reasons that obtain with
people who ought to know better. For
one motive and another, men and women
come together in marriage too often
withoutthe mutual love which Should
be the foundation of such a life.
Sometimes there appears to be this
basis, but short experience of s'travel-
ing in harness. proves that there was a
mistake. Then again, love-such as it
is-does here and there seem to exist,
but in many instances it fails to give the
comfort which was expected. OF course
there are great and glorious exceptions
to all this; but it win hardly be dis
puted that marriage in general is not as
prolific of happiness as it ought to be,
or as it certainly will be in the good day
coming when education shall have lifted
the world into knowledge of good and
evil.
Now, the law which brings consci-
cntious man and woman together in the
marriage relation is as inevitable as the
law of gravitation. Troubles and disa-
greements may come, but an inherent
and mutual decency will keep this couple
together and their disaflections a matter
of profound secrecy. The question now
arises, if realization of the inevitable
can accomplish as much as this, may it
not be of more service by enabling those
who suffer from the effects of certain
traits of character, for instance, to real
ize that these traits are also inevitable?
To many persons who have, or think
they have, greater causes for misery, the
complaint of wife that her husband
does not understand her seems absurd;
and yet there is no more frequent. and,
perhaps, no more acute unhappiness
than proceeds from this cause Women,
as rule, live much more in the magma
stion than men, and have more time for
the work of introspection. Their ideals
are higher, but not infrequently quite
out OF reach even by those disposed to
attain to them.
''if could only find some real fault
with my husbands said LADY, to an
intimate friend; sbut | have no COM
plant TO make save the very common
one OF his not understanding me- He is
the soul Of honor, kind-hearted, : ener-
Gus and an untiring friend. He has
never, thus far, spoken an unkind or a
hasty word TO me, and know he never
will; and yet he has no more apprecia-
ton or understanding Of my states of
feeling, my intellectual and spiritual
hfe, than my next-door neighbour "
Those persons who are alive to this
great problem of human life understand
perfectly that the remarks of this wife
could be made by thousands of wives
with equal sincerity. Whether or not
they ought ever to be made is question
which admits of some doubt. 1t is a
heip TO many temperaments to talk over
troubles and perplexities with a sympa-
thizlng friend, and if the friend be dis
Greet as well as sympathetic there may
be no harm done. But it must be also
true that when woman reaches a
mental condition where it is possible for
her to speak disparagingly of her hus-
band she is within an easy distance of
marital shipwreck. This article is in
tended mostly for this class of wives;
those who admit they have nothing to
complain of and yet suffer intensely, and
complain or not according as they are
wise or foolish.