Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1883-06-09

The word marriage" suggests
nearly as many varied thoughts as
there are persons who give it atten-
tion. In one, it awakens sense OF
delicacy as if it were too tender a
theme to admit of any but the most
careful treatment. In another, it
causes mirth, as if it were a matter of
vast humor. In another, tenderness.
In another contempt In another.
sadness. In another reverence; and
SO on, according to the age, the ex-
perience, the observation, the knowl-
edge and the sentiments of the person.
1t has been held up as target for
ridicule, and many are the feathered
shafts of wit and pleasantly that have
buried their points in it. It has been
a theme of sharp and persistent de
bate.
Marriage. offering as it does, pecu-
liarly distinct displays of the weak
nesses and virtues of men and women
affecting, as it does, the order and
morality of society; touching, as it
does, the deep affections of the heart,
is complex and many sided theme,
and this fact will explain why some
smile and others look grave when the
topic is brought forward, and also
why, on every occasion when the mar
riage ceremony takes place, the faces
of the spectators wear so great a vari-
ETY. of expressions, ranging all the way
from easy curiosity to sober appre-
hension; from sunny smiles to stream
ing eyes. Says one, reproachfully:
'How can you weep at such time as
thisW and the other answers, ''How
can you do anything but weep?"
''Isn't it jolly?" exclaims one young
man, and friend responds, with a
sigh, "Jolly! feel as if l were at a
funeral"
If good is to come out of marriage,
it is to come only by the utmost for
bearance, patience and fidelity; by the
existence, exercise and preservation
of deep and true affection. Mar
riage has perils as well as pleasures,
and if anyone is led to discern more
clearly the perils than the pleasures,
it is not strange that such one should
weep instead of smile when mar
riage is witnessed. The first compact
made between two human beings was
matrimony, and the history of our
first parents shows how much that
compact had to do with fixing the
destiny of both themselves and their
descendants. Divine law guarded
with special care the relation of hus-
band and wife. Monogamy was the
ordained state. ALI the inspired reg
ulations considered marriage as a
bond between one man and one wom-
an. Polygamy is a perversion OF man
and not an ordinance OF God.
But there are some things prelim-
mary to marriage. The first and
most necessary Of these is love. There
is attraction in love; there is admira-
ton in love; their is passion in love,
but neither of these, nor all together,
make true and abiding love. All true
love is grounded in esteem. 1t must
be so, or it will not last. Love cannot
| live on round cheeks and bright and
winsome manners. 1t must be based
onsomething that remains unchanged
when the face is wrinkled, and the eye
is dull, and the form is bowed; and
that stable something is character. 1t
has been truly said 1T is to be feared
that they who marry where they do
not love, will love where they do not
marry"
A second preliminary to marriage
is the betrothal. 1t is one of the
marks of the increasing lightness
with which marriage is regarded that
engagements are so easily and hastily
made, as is often the case. In pro-
! portion as matrimony is held in high
respect, betrothals are made with
great caution and are regarded as
having great binding force. Among
us marriage engagements are too
often formed and dissolved with a
precipitansy which reduces the whole
affair of mating to matter of uncer-
tainty, and certainly Injuries the rep
utation of those concerned in it; un-
less Just cause can be shown. Parties
who have agreed to be married should
regard the agreement as sacredly
binding, should guard its sanctity and
seek to carry it out. Marriage en-
gagements should be made known.
Honorable young men will not in
veigle young ladies into secret prom
ises of marriage. Discreet young la
dies will suspect the motives OF men
who propose such procedure.
With a true love and season OF
engagement in which love and discre-
ton have ruled, the marriage reduces
itself to a very simple thing indeed.
It follows as naturally as the fruit
follows the blossom. How may the
welded realize all they have hoped
for in each others society? Simply
by continuing to be to each other,
only in fuller measure, what they
have been during courtship-faithful
lovers; loving from esteem, and ex-
pressing love unselfshly. Do not
imagine that it is in any sense unbe-
coming for man to pay his wife the
same tender attentions and give her
the same compliments he bestowed
upon her when he was courting her,
or for a wife to manifest the same
pleasure in the society of her husband
as in the pre-marital days.
In fancy hosiery the styles are be-
witching and elegant enough for a
far Western Senator'S wife. When
l. l..