Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-05-07

fall into the common errors of eNaggera
tory defamation, by producing. in Il
familiar disquisition. examples of nation
al calamites, and scenes of extensive
misery. which are found in books rather
than in the world. and which, as they are
horrid are ordained to be rare. Let Us
not imagine evils which we do not feel
nor njure life by misrepresentation. |
cannot bear that querulous eloquence
which threatens every city with a siege
like that of Jerusalem, that makes famine
attend on every flight of locuSts, and sus-
ponds peStilenCe on the wing of every
blast that issues from the south.
son necessary and inevitable evils.
which overwhem kingdoms at once, all
disputation is vain: when they happen
they must be endured. But it is evident
that these bursts of universal distress are
more dreaded than felt: thousands and
ten thousands flourish in youth and with
er in age. without the knowledge of any
other than domestic evils, and share the
same pleasures and veXations, whether
their kings are mild or cruel. whether the
armies of their country pursue their enc
mics or retreat before them. While
courts are disturbed with intestine com
petitions. and ambas sailors are negociat-
ing in foreign countries. the smith still
plies his anvil, and the husbandman
drives his plough forward: the nccessa
ries of life are required and obtained;
and the successive business of the season
continues to make its wonted revolutions.
Let Us cease to consider what, perhaps,
may never happen. and what when it
shall happen, will laugh at human specu
lation. We will not endeaVor to modify
the motions of the elements. or to fix the
destiny of kingdoms. 1t j. our business
to consider what being, like Us may per-
form: each labOring for hi, own happi-
ness by promoting within his circle. how
ever narrow. the happiness of others.
"Marrage is evidently the dictate of
nature: men and women are made to he
companion, of each other. and therefore
| cannot be persuaded but that marriage
is one of the means of happiness
f IL know not said the princess.
''whether marriage be more than one of
the innumerahle modes of human misery.
When see and reckon the various forms
of connubial intelcity. the unexpected
causes of lasting diScord. the divcrsities
of temper. the oppOSition> of opinion. the
rude collisions of contrary desire where
both are urged by violent impulses. the
+ obstinate contests of diSagreeable virtues
where both are supported by conscious
| ness of good intention. | am sometimes
disposed to think. with the severer
casuists of most nations. that marriage
is rather permitted than approved, and
that none, but by the instgation of a
passion too much INDUCED. entangle
themselves with indissolube cOmpacts.
"You seem to forget, replied Rasselas,
J ''that you have, even now, represented
, celibacy as less happy than marriage.
Both conditions may be bad, but they can
not both be worst. Thus it happens
when wrong opinions are entertained
that they mutually destroy each other
}. and leave the mind open to truth"
e IL did not expect" answered the prin'
J. cess, "to hear that imputed to falsehood
which is the consequence only of frailty
To the mind. as to the eye, it is difficult
to compare with eXactness objects vast il
their extent. and various in their parts
J Where we see or conceive the whole al
-, no Il itnip at ion
and decide the preference; but of two
q systems. of which neither can be survey
ed by any human being in its full com
pass of magnitude and multiplicity oi
y complication. where is the wonder that
Judging of the whole by parts, | am al
= tcrnately affected by one and the other
: as either presses onmy memory or fancy
ID We differ from ourselves just as we diilel
re from each other. when we see only part
of the question. as in the multifarious re
r. lations ofpolitics and morality; but whel
we perceive the whole at once a numer
er ical computations, all agree in one iudg
Or ment, and none ever varies his opinion.
Sc "Let us not add said the prince, "t'
a. the other evils of life the bitterness o
controversy, nor endeavor to vie Will
" each other in subtilties of argument. w
are employed in search, of which botl
are equally to enjoy the success. or sui
- fer by the miscarriage. 1t is therefor
ld fit that we assist each other. You surel
OF conclude too hastily from the intellect
W of marriage against its institution: wi
e es not the misery of life prove equally tina
hi life cannot be the gift of heaven? III
no Il ,. 10 ,.,,,,,,iol a.. ,,,,,rr;oc,o n
ID, "orlu must pe Peoplou ny hl'ili"Sc'
peopled without it,
a GLOW the world is to be peopled," +,