Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1885-09-12
When Shall We Marry.
Philadelphia Press.

Punch's advice to those about to
marry was not modified by their age,
disposition, or habits. 1t was an in
exorable, plump "Don't," in any
case.
But there is an especial class of en-
gagged couples sitting apart in shady
groves, or silent together on porches
while the other young people are
playing tennis, to whom we would
fain utter the prohibition in thunder
tones. They are the kittenish girls
and immature boys, whose fathers
have money enough to enable them
to marry early, and take upon their
shoulders the responsibility of men
and women while they have the
brains of children. The case is a fire.
quent one in American society.
Americans are domestic. They are
considerate, affectionate husbands;
tender, faithful wives. Their idea of
good citizen is, first Of all, a mar
ried man. To marry a young man
is, in the popular idea, to settle him,
to insure, as far as human means
will avail, his morality and response
bility in this world and the next.
Hence, given an insured income and
a suitable partner, an early marriage
is not only held to be a romantic and
touching thing, but there is an aroma
ofprudence and virtue about it which
commends it to the more sedate and
orthodox of our population.
The marriage takes place haloed
by a sort Of roseate glow which be-
longs to all things of the early morn
ing, or of spring, and for year or
two the union is really true and
beautiful. The fancy or passon or
feeling which drew these two young
creatures together was sincere, and it
burns with brilliance and lights up
their homes and friends and the earth
around and the heaven beyond with
tints Of rose. Children, when they
come, are but brighter centers of ra-
dance, or rather, unreal Ariels and
Pearls in the unreal fairyland in
which their parents dwell.
But in a short time these married
children begin to grow into adults,
and pinety-nine cases in a hundred
they do not grow alike. The man,
out in the wider air, strengthened by
friction with other men, becomes an
active worker in the world, inhales
new breaths of life from his profess.
sion, his business, his study Of facts
or men. The woman's immature
body is shattered by the too early
strains upon her strength, she has nc
time nor health for culture, for obser.
walton, for keeping up in any way
with her husband. The tie which eX
lists between them was formed so ear
ly, is so much part of themselves
that they cannot view it or each othel
with the common sense or cool Judge
ment which they could and would
bring to bear on any other relation
of life. Often, too, this tie, which
grows out of the fiutterings of hear
produced by a pretty face, a swee
voice, walk by moonlight, is thu
only bond between them. The longe
they live together, the less they un
derstand each other. Sometimes tn,
husband or wife meets a woman O
man who does understand" anC
then comes long tragedy, played on
in the home, if they have self-contrOl
in silence, until death mercifull,
drops the curtain.
me marriage OF the mlddle-aget
are subjects of joke for all the world
especially for youngpeople, who, AFRO
CANT in the certainty Of beauty ant
youth and enthusiasm, suppose tina
they hold the title deeds to all the 10,
and love in the world. They great
mistake. The man who has carrie
bravely to middle-age the const
quences of his first whim or passion
who has grown in influence, wisdom
andstrength, unhampered by silly
vicious orstupid wife, throws into tn
love of his later life all the force c
his matured intellect and tastes, a
the starved, solitary hunger for tur
cOmpaniOnship of his life. Eve
when no such deep feeling enters il
to the marriage of middle-aged me
and women, they bring to it, if of tn
gentle sex, as a rule, sincere esteeI
of habits. and control of tempe
thoughts and tongue, and those wide
sweeter, more charitable views whic
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