The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1883-02-01
Made In Heaven?


sentimental writers that marriages
are made in Heaven" This is beau
tiful thought, and, should married
life, as viewed about US every day in
the world, come fully up to our ideal
of what it should be, we should gladly
accept the idea as correct one. But,
like many other sentimental thoughts,
or spiritual promptings, this one, as
viewed from a practical standpoint,
gives large field in which the skep-
tic may disport himself without. let or
hindrance.
What more beautiful picture than
that of two young hearts plighting
vows at the altar The Minister in
all the solemnity Of the occasion in
voking the Divine blessing upon the
young lives, the music, the congratu-
lations, the ''kissing the bride'-all
these go far toward impressing one
with the belief that there is some
thing sacred in the influences which
bring these young hearts together to
plight the faithfulness Of a lifetime.
Truly, thus far, we may accept the
sentiment that marriages are OF Divine
origin.
But how very few are the cases,
apparently, in which the holy infu-
ences surrounding the marriage altar
are preserved throughout the years
that follow. A hasty word-the result
Of the care of children or the onerous
duties of household-on the part of
the wife; a drink of liquor, or an out
burst of profanity-the result of pure
unmitigated meanness-on the part
of the husband, may give rise to an
unpleasantness of feeling which,
though the single instance may be
forgotten, will again crop out, and
each time with more intensity than
on previous occasions, and if not re-
strained or entirely destroyed by the
firm resolutions of the husband and
wife, will eventually lead to a settled
state of unpIeasantness-if not quar-
rel and separation.
We see a young couple at the altar
"a robust, intelligent man, and a
beautiful, warm-hearted woman, of
equal intelligence with him to whom
she plights her vows of allegiance.
This man, surrounded by the most sa-
cred influences Of earth, makes a SOL
emn VOW to cherish and protect this
beautiful woman, who gives her all
into his keeping-youth, beauty, life.
But the years fall far short Of num-
bering half score, until these sacred
vows are all forgotten, and the faith
full wife, and perhaps family of chill
dren, instead of looking with feelings
of Joy for the return, at evening, Of
the indulgent father and loving hus-
band, look with dread for the return
of the half-drunken tyrant. AL the
vows are forgotten. The patient,
long-suffering woman is driven to i'm
part, to her friends, knowledge Of
her wrongs, and the husband. stung
by what he regards the wife's injus-
tice to him, tells his story, and thus
the unpleasant life of the family is
dragged before the public with hor-
rid minuteness Of detail which places
a lasting stain upon the social struc-
ture of community.
Very frequently it occurs that the
wife is not entirely blameless; it re-
quires eternal vigilance" on her part
to so live that no duty or obligation
may be neglected.; but in the great
majority of cases, the unhappiness Of
married life may be traced directly to
the thoughtlessness- use no harsher.
term-of the husband. If man i'm
agine himself wronged by his wife,
how much more noble would it be to
act in self-sacrifcing spirit, and suf-
fer in silence, than to drag his griev-
ances-real or imaginary-before the
world, destroy the good name Of his
wife, hold himself up to public con-
tempt, and ruin his children.
How gladly would we accept the
idea Of the Heavenly origin of mar
And how easily the contract
ing parties might so live as to make
practical illustration Of the beauty of
this idea! It only requires little
self-denial, a little patience, little
or womanhood. The woman
who is unfaithful in her relations to
her husband and family, evidently has
no place in the world. The man who
is unfaithful in any of the prevalent
evils, is not fit to be blessed with a
family, nor is he fit to be recognized
as man. Oh for the exercise of a
nobler manhood, and a grander effort
On the part Of all to give practical
of the beautiful sentiment
that marriages are made in Heaven!
ssLiberal Minded"
A leading German paper in Cincin-