Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-10-02
Welded Life.
| ADVICE TO NEWLY MARRIED FROM AN Ex-
| PERIENCED BENEDICT.

ADVICE TO NEWLY MARRIED FROM AN EX-
PERIENCED BENEDICT.
Friend -: It is to be presumed that
you have chosen wife after mature refiec-
tion, and not alone from selfish impulses
Nevertheless, do not imagine that you can
possibly have foreseen all the duties, re-
sponsibilities, and even trials to which mar
ried life may render you liable. In your in
innate relationship and companionship you
and your wife will appear to each other in
an entirely new light. You will find defects
in her, and she in you, which can only be
properly met with by one course, and that
is, mutual conciliation. Strive to see which
can exercise the greatest leniency toward
each other. The secret of happiness in
married life is mutual confidence. Trust
one another. Have no secrets from one
another. By all means, never call in a
third party to Interfere ill any way in any
family jars. You will be more than hu-
man if you and your wife can always per-
fectly agree, but, while you cannot prevent
differences, you can prevent any evil con-
sequences arising from thea. If you have
trouble keep it to yourself and wife. Com
promise will secure you undoubted happi-
ness. By all means never allow quarrel
to last over night. There is mischief in
of yielding only when you are in the wrong.
You must consult your wife's whims and
caprices as we'll as her reasonable desires.
Mankind is generally governed by the pas
sions-not by the reason. There is no ex-
cuse for trampling upon wife's desires be-
cause you think them unreasonable. Wo-
men have at times the privilege Of being
unreasonable.
Avoid personal habits, which are often
sive to your wife or, if you cannot avoid
them altogether, avoid them in her pres
ence. Keep clear of your wife's relations,
and have her keep clear of yours, in all
business matters if possible. If either of
you should form antipathies to the relations
of the other, those antipathies must be con-
suited, and ifnot removed, must be respect
ed, of else your family jars will be numer-
Gus and irreconcilable.
Let your married life begin with system
attic frugality. Devote specific proportion
of your income to the future of your family.
Your savings will in this way augment al
most imperceptibly, and place you above
asking favors.
Live within your means, and nobody will
know how much you have ahead but the
moment you borrow cent people know
how poor you are.
Go it while you are young. The duties
of house and family will come soon enough.
Take it easy while you may in your early
married life.
Be patient, and wait and watch and
pray. Just previous to the birth of your
first child you will possibly find your wife
fretfu, cross, peevish, pouty and trouble
some, just as many good, kind, amiable and
loving women have been before her. If
such should be the case, don't get mad,
don't expostulate, don't rebuke or reproach
her. The best thing you can do is to grin
and bear it. The first smile of the baby
will stop it and pay for all you have endur-
ed.
Don't think yourself immaculate and set
yourself up as pattern for your wife. If
she wants to go to church and you don't, re-
member that it may not do you any harm
to go to church. Don't scold your wife,
and don't beat your children, if you have
any. Teach your children by example. Be
copy for them. Excuse them for such of
your faults as they inherit. Don't bequeath
them hasty temper and then whip them
for it. Dom gossip before them and punish
them for gossipping. Don't prevent them
from romping or having minds of their own,
Don't frighten them with ghost stories.-
Don't lie to them. Don't neglect to give
them anything you promise them-even
punishment. Don't forget that you were a
child once, and do as you would have had
others do to you.
DON'T get crazy if you have few but
tons off your shirts. Remember all the
time that you are poor, weak mortal, liza
BILE to err, and in all probability no more
perfect than your wife.
Battle often, look after your health, and
never go home drunk. Yours,
JOHN