The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1885-10-02
TO THOSE ABOUT TO MARRY.
Some Interesting and Not Improbable
Advice to Engaged Couples.

marry was not mOuilleu Dy tHelr dgt
disposition or habits. 1t was inexora
, BILE plump. Don't" in any case.
But there is an especial class of en-
gagged couples sitting now apart il
, shady groves. or silent together o.
porches while the other young peopl
are playing tennis. to whom we woul,
fain utter the prohibition in thunde
tones. They are the kittenish girls ant
immature boys whose fathers hav
money enough to enable them to MARI,
early and to take upon their shoulder
the responsibilities of men and women
while they have the brains of children
The case is frequent one in American
soc ETY.. Americans. as rule, are do
nestle. They are considerable, affec
Tomato husbands; tender, faithful
wives. Their idea of good 'tizen is
first of all, the MARI ed man. To marry
young man is. in the popular idea tc
settle him, to insure, rs far as human
means will avail. his morality and re.
spectab lily in this world and the next.
Hence, given an assured income and q
suitable partner. an early marrige is
not only held to be romantic and
touching thing. but there is an aroma
of prudence and virtue about it which
commends it to the more sedate aud
orthodox part of our populat on.
The marriage takes place haloed by
a sort of roseate glow which belongs to
all things of the early morning, or of
| spring, and for year or two the union
is really true and beautiful. The fancy.
| or passion, or feeling which drew these
two young creatures together was sim
cere. and it burns with brilliance and
lights up their home. and friends. and
the earth around, and the heaven be-
yond with tints of rose Children,
when they come. are but br ghter CEN
tiers of radiance. or rather unreal little
Aricls and Pearls in the unreal fairy
land in which their parents dwell.
But IN short time these married
children begin to grow into adults.
and in ninety eases in 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 profession, his
business, his study of facts or men,
The woman's immature body is shat
tered by the too early drains upon her
strength. she has no time nor health
for culture. for observation, for
keeping up in any way with
her husband. The tie which ex-
lists between them was formed so
early, is so much part of themselves.
that they can not view it or each other
with the common sense or the cool
judgment which they could and would
bring to bear on any other relation of
life. Often. too. this tie. which grows
out of the flutterings of heart produced
BY a pretty face, a sweet voice. a walk
by moonlight. is the only bond between
them. The longer they live together
the less they understand each other.
Sometimes the husband or wife meets a
woman who does understand" and
then comes long tragedy, played out |
in the home, if they have self-control. |
in silence. until death mercifully drops |
the curtain.
The marriages of the middle-aged are |
subjects of joke for all the world. espe-
cially tor young people, who, arrogant
in the certa nty of beauty and youth |
and enthusiasm. suppose that thew hold |
the title deeds to all the Joy and love in
the world. They greatly mistake.
The man who has carried bravely
TO middle-age the consequences |
of his first whim or passion. who
has grown in wisdom, influence and
strength. hampered by silly, vicious or
stupid wife. throws into the love of his
later life all the force of his matured
and tastes, all the starved.
solitary hunger for true companionship
of his life. Even when no such feeling
enters into the marriage of middle-aged
men and women, they bring to it, if of
the gentle class. as rule. q sincere
esteem. habits of control of temper,
thoughts and tongue. and those W. der,
sweeter, more charitable views which
years almost inevitably bring
to sensible, educated people. A woman
in second marriage seldom feels as
young girl does, that her husband is
bone of her bone. and hence that his
defects are personal hurt to herself.
She always stands. SO to speak, little
off from him, and views him with an
amused criticism. She had
learned by this time that They, as Mrs.
Oliphant calls men. are to be made hap
py. humored and led bv certain delicate
wise handling. and she usually knows
the art of il. The husband. in this case.
brings all the experience and the gen.
tleness with which he has learned to
treat all women. In short, if there is
less love in late MARI ages. there is
usually so much more common sense
and habitual politeness that the chances
Tor happiness are equalized.
Of course. the ideal marriage is that
neither of immature youth nor m ddle
age. The .juste milieu IS always right
N every disputed question. But when
,ne is at either end it is so hard to
reach the middle.
After ALL we are tempted to reverse
counsel and to say to all who
ire tempted to marry-do it. Go into
he field and reap your little harvest of
experience. Whatever the Juice. Bit
,er or sweet, which. you express from
{, it will be your own and will be
better tonic and medicine for your life
han that which any other man can
BRING you.-Phitodelphia Press f
THE TRUE BELIEVER,