Omaha daily bee., 1886-10-10
Ben Franklin on Marriage.

"A new 1Ork correspondent OF the
Pittsburg Dispatch says: A leading
member of Sorosis is preparing paper
on the mental attractivencss of old
women, and in seeking new materials
she applied to Washington government
official, who has sent to her n hitherto
unpublished letter by Benjamin Frank
lin. The document is authentic, and is
included in the Franklin correspondence
bought for $780, ,0Co by the order of con-
gress several years ago. 1t is as follows:
My Dear Friend Marriage is the most
natural state of man, and therefore the
state IN which you are most likely to find
solid happiness. Your reasons against
entering it ut present appear to me not
well founded. The circumstantial adj
vantagcs you have in view by postponing
it are not only uncertain but they are
small in comparison with the thing itself
the being married and settled. 1t is
the man and woman united that make
the complete human being. Sne wants
his force OF body and strength of reason;
he, her softness, sensibility and acute
discernment. Together, they are more
likely to succeed in the world. A single
man has not nearly the value he would
have in that state of union. He is an
incomplete animal; he resembles the odd
half of pair of scissors. If you get
prudent, healthy wife, your industry in
your profession, with her good economy,
will be fortune sufficient.
But if you will not take this counsel,
and persist in batchelorhood, then |
repeat my former advice that in all your
friendships you should prefer old women
to young ones. You call this u paradox,
and demand my reasons. They are
these:
knowledge of the world, and their minds
are better stored with observations,
their conversation is more improving
and more lastingly agree able.
Second--because when women cease
to be handsome they study to be good
TO maintain their influence over men
they supply the diminuton of beauty by
an augmentation of utility. They learn
to do thousand services, small and
great and are the most tender and use.
full of all friends when you are sick.
Thus they continue amiable, and hence
there is hardly such thing to be found
as an old woman who is not a good
woman.
Third-Because there is no hazard of
increasing family cares.
Fourth-Because through more ex-
perience they are more prudent and dis
Greet in conducting an intrigue to pre-
vent suspicion. The falling in love with
them is safer with regard to your reputa-
ton; and with regard to this, If the
affair should happen to be known, con-
siderate people might be inclined to
excuse an old woman who would kindly
take care of Young man, form his
manners by her good counsel, and pre-
vent his running his fortune among
mercenary adyenturesses.
Fifth--Because in every animal that
walks upright the deficiency of the fluid
that fills the muscles appears first in the
highest part. The face soonest grows
wrinklcd and lank. Therefore the age
that shows in the visage is not ncces-
crepitude. The quantity philosophical
Franklin proceeds with this argument in
manner that will not bear repettlonl
SiXth-Because the sin of jlting an old
woman is less than with sentimental
girl whose whole life might be made
unhappy by it. The making OF young
girl miserable might give you frequent
bitter reflections, none OF which can at
tend the making OF an old woman
unhappy.
Seventh-And lastly, they are so CRATE
ful.
Thus much for my paradox. But still
! advise you TO marry directly, being
sincerely your atfectonate friend,
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.
Marriage.
Cincinnati Enquirer: Marriage makes
a man "one with his kind" 1t should
give Il strong impetus to all that is best
and noblest in his nature, confer on him
new powers, and open to him new possi-
bilties. BY it man comes into his king
dom, sovereign, yet Il subject; govern
time. He should prepare for it by stern
self subieetlon, by holding his vassal
passions in leash, by weaving the woof
of fair fabric of life. Then may he
search for his pearl in the sea, and give
her love, loyal and lordly, intense and
immortal. And the woman should be
soft souled and sweet spirited visiting
all that is base and unworthy with noble
scorn and corrosive contempt, to merit
love that is strong and tender and eter.
nal. For she can bind or loose, cheer or
chide, help or hinder in the fierce fray of
life How often none of these elements
enter into marriage! The young peo-
pie take things into their own hand and
flee to their fate, or else the prellminaries
are arranged and managed by interested
elders. Our girls have summer and q
winter campaign into which they plunge
on an amatory mission to dazzle and
bewilder the other sex, and whether the
resultant affairs are the evolution of
blind impulse or cool calculation, the
chances of happiness are as one in ten.
Take the case of very young people.
The girls know that they must dress to
look pretty and air their small attrac-
tions. Like water-lilies on the placid
surface of the lake they nod their grace
ful heads. and with warm, woolng breath
enthrall the knightly admirer who bends
over them. Amid scenes aud surround
ings potently romantic they make eyes
at each other, smile and slmper. The
parents may be entirely Ignorant of
what u going on, or else they know