The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-03-05
Elopellents.

Few people, especially among the
youthful, think aud speak of marriage
with the seriousness which it merits. Ii
the topic is touched at all, it is in a jocu
lar manner, and as subject for badinage
and amusement. Levity carries the
young into complications from which
they cannot we'll retreat. In any other
engagement which connects two lives a.
friends, partners, companions, or busl
ness correspondents, caution is exercised,
though the connection be one which can
at any time be severed upon due notice.
But the marriage tie, which binds fox
life, and the bonds of which cannot be
severed without distress, Dotoriety, and
often shame and scandal, is as carelessly
assumed as if the happiness of lifetime
were not made or marred by it.
Of all marriages those which are begun
by elopement are among the most unfor-
lunate. 1t is not to be denied that there
are some very rare exceptional cases in
WHICH the parties do not regret the
union; but even in these the wish must
be felt that there were no memories IN
The household which it were better the
children should not hear of. The pa
rents of marrageable children have nat
urally aud properly an anxiety coucern-
ing their future which the young people
themselves scarcely appreciate. And
when the family records register an im-
prudent, if not bad example, a fortunate
escape rather than we'll considered un-
dertaking, it is not to be wondered that
the authority of parents is not held in
respect.
Whether for good or for ill, "privats
life" has in these days become impossi-
BILE, except to those whose lives, to all
but their immediate friends, pass unseen
and unknown. Such peaceable security
is among the happiest conditions. But
whoever goes out of the ordinary routine
Of life in its family and social aspects. at
once "draws the fire." and becomes the
quarry of the iDterviewers. There are
persons who like this, and court notorie.
ty. The real sufferers in such cases are
their friends; and when an elopement
takes place, their parents and family
connections. With all sensible people,
the acute distress of the father and
mother is present to the thoughts. The
cry of the pour old king is read between
the lines of the Aippant report:
= How sharper than serpent's tooth it is,
To have thankless child.
For a thankless child it must be who will
deliberately and cruelty deceive the pa
rents, to whom respect and affection are
due.
Hasty and unadvised marriages are
bad enough, and fruitful in unhappiness,
even when the consent of friends is
wrung from them. 1t is usual to altri.
butte the misery in the world to intem.
perance aud other vicious habits. There
are, however, causes behind actual
yiciousness. Much of the unhappiness
and want which exist are traseable to
imprudent marriages. The woman who
promises to "love and honor" one. Of
whom she is not sure that he possesses 8
loveable and honorable character, may
entail upon hersalf life of wretched
uess. And the man who heedlessly GOV.
enants to keep the life, as his own, of the
woman who trusts him, is taking respon-
sibility of which be should we'll ponder
the weight. The inexperience OF youth
--scorning the wisdom OF those who are
capable Of advising-will often persist.
But, if you must marry, don't run away
to do it, lest you wish atterward that you
could only run back.-f'hitadslphia Led