Connecticut western news., 1882-02-22
A LECTURE BY DR. HALL.
Some Home1y Advice to Those who
 Contemplate Marriage.

Some Home1y Advice to Those who
 Contemplate Marriage.
 The Rev. Dr. John Hall delivered lecture before the workingmen of New York City on the subject, "The Day and Those who Keep It." Taking St. Valentines Day and its observances as his theme, he made these the basis of some homely advice to young people about to be married, or contemplating marriage.
 We do not know, said he, the exact origin of St. Valentines Day. It is said by some that it derives its origin -.>>om. the festival Lupercalia of the an cient h~ mans, and that the early Chris tian chui ch, not being able to abolish its obser rance, wisely Christianized it and mad, it comparatively harmless. Another ao punt traces it to Valentinus, 8 bishop. or, as should say, a pres byter, of Rome, who lived about the year 260 A. D., and who, having been a genial, kind hearted man, was afterward made the patron saint of lovers, who gradually came to believe that "pep- ping the question on his anniversary was more apt to be successful than at any other time. Still anothei theory is that on this day the birds choose their mates; but we may dismiss that as un- scientific and untrue.
 The custom of sending mic or satir- ic Il valentines m ay perhaps be explained on the suppotition that the person send lug them takes this rather forcibla way of getting lid of an obje ctionable ad- nicer, whose sensibilities c,uld not be touched in any other way. This is a guess of my owp. But coming to those
 who send bona, fide valentines, we m y say of them that, as a general thing, they look forward to wedding as re- suit and so the custom is, after all. g
 very serious m atter. Now about the
 wedding let it not be too expensive
 have 1t done de csntly and in order, with
 witnesses and be sure to give the cter'
 gyman fee, for "the laborer is worthy
 of his hire" Then as the marriage
 makes two persons one, the next thing
 is to decide which will be the one
 Laughter. Iwould not advise you tt
 initiate the woman of my own country who, being rebuked for administering { eastigation to her husband, replied "Well, the husband is head of the wife and haven't the right to scratch m. head?" Laughter. The family re lationship should be good. Bad familie make bad community. And so I sa.. to you young people, enter into it wisel,, and praye1fully. Then after the mal riage comes the home. Do not, if pos l sible, go to 8. hotel or large lodgin house. The poets speak of the firesid 5 life, but modern ways of living have al ? most eliminated it. A poet would no,
 have to write about gathering aroun the register" "-an idea very hard t make poetical. But, above all things l begin within your means. Choose
 healthy locality, physically and morally
 Look to the ventilation look to the il D ternal order. "A placs for everything
 and everything in its proper place,"
 a homely but true proverb.
 And then the mutual relations b; a tween husband and wife, parents an
 children, must be right. Without tha
 a palace with coachmen and footme II could give neither comfort nor peace '- It often seems as if it were questio
 with the children how they should brin s up their parents in the way they shoul o go. This is all wrong. The boy WI o learns to obey his parents will be zoe d boy in school and in the office; ar e when he becomes man he will be e law-abiding citizen. Do not nal n favorites of your children. Provide f.
 them all equally; give them an educ 3, tion, books, start in life, good motive 'e good example, and good name al 'e though they have nothing else, tho k will be rich. Perhaps I ought not r. talk to you in this way, because Amer
 cans are supposed to know everythin
 But, though was not born in Amer
 ca, I have been here some years, ha
 been naturalized, and have voted t 10 straight ticket every time. Laughter lg And so perhaps I have caught some 'e the spirit of the country. In conclusi B. I may say to you that as there are shi G. wrecks, so there may be, and are hon K wrecks, through jealousy, suspicio y passion, lawlessness, drunkenness ce crime. Guard against all such hon e. wrecks. Put before you the ideal z. a true home, having in it love and | y fear of God. Ask him to keep y us when you are choosing your partner eo life, when you are setting up yo at home and when you become heads a, families. And be sure that He W ca sent His own Son into the world to sa h. men will hear you,. will bless you, 8 h. will at last bring you to that bless as home, where there is neither sorrow I ne parting.
 at
 nd Resolution Defeated, its At late meeting of the Detroit Lin