The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-09-11
"A Few Thoughts on Marriage.

| HedHh end Home.
Thinking people who have at heart the
| best interests of society recognize grow.
ing tendency among what is termed the
| middle class in this country to shirk the
duties and responsibilities of married
| life
They deplore the evil consequences as
| a social and national misfortune. Nations
are composed of individuals, and it goes
without saying that as a rule the man
who is bound by family ties is more pat
riotic and more willing to render assist
| ance in the hour of his cOuntry's need
than he who has no home of his own to
defend. Marriage is also divine instl-
tuition, and duty every one owes to
Nature. But not only is celibacy or the
increase, but it is strongly asserted that
as a people we are degeneratlng physi.
cally.
Many causes contribute to this latter
result such as ignorance of Natures law
and improper living, while the former is
due in large measure to the false ideas
of the times in regard to connubial hap
piness.
Formerly, among the happiest class
those with neither poverty nor great
riches" it was customary for a young
couple commencing the voyage of life to
work together, the wife doing her own
pnplyinr p,anlinr of
while her husband provided the means.
Thus mutually helping each other, the
daily tasks became pleasure, expenses
were at minimum, the founding of a
home was the object, and the family Cir
Gle the shrine at which they worshiped.
Sweet home. Where the treasures are.
there the heart will be Also" Such lives
were not failures, even though fortune
knocked not at the door; but. if per-
chance it did, and success rewarded their
efforts, and the goal for which they had
striven was reached, that was the crown
ing glory of it all, and they could afford
to take life easier.
But now all that is changed. \ young
man is expected TO accumulate enough
before marrying to support wife in idle
ness and luxury. She is not to be help
| meet to him, but a sort of dainty pet, to
be dressed in fine and costly raiment
waited on by servants, constantly in pnr-
suit, of pleasure, and without any con-
s Lo Of Che
may spea k French and German tluently,
| but she has no practical knowledge OF
house work paint on china, but has no
culinary skill; and, although she plays
difficult music, cannot darn stocking,
nor does she know what economy means.
| Not that the so called higher accomplish
ments are undesirable, but they should
not take precedence in rank over the
more useful ones.
Often no attempt is made to establish
home at all; they simply board at some
| hotel.
The young man is afraid he cannot
support SO expensive creature, and it is
| any wonder he hesitates to assume the
responsibilities Is there a remedy? Yes.
Teach young ladies the Importance of
thoroughly understanding domestic du-
ties and putting them in practice. Let
them remember that the greatest employ
ment does not arise from the pursuits of
pleasure, but in having some dehpite aim
in life and realizing that they are near
ing its object as time elapses, and that
womans first duty is to her family. Fur
Their, one sees ON every hand girls belong
ing to the intelligent working class, who,
from necessity, have been compelled to
learn at home the useful art of house
keeping and other domestic duties who,
moreover, are blessed with physical
health in high degree, induced by their
more simple mode of life and abundance
of exercise, and many of them possessing
wthal at least equal beauty with their
more delicately reared sisters.
Men are naturally attracted by female
beauty, and if they find Intelligence, re
tnement and true worth associated there.
with they do not care for ones ancestry,
whether they were bankers or literary
people. or working men and women,
knowing that worth is the result of in
dividual conduct and not of royal blood
But, alas the majority of the class Of
girls referred to are of limited education
and uncultIvated manners. Neritable
diamonds in the rough. Why can't they
apprs ciate the situation, and with the ad
vantages afforded by free schools, public
libraries and the general freedom of So
ciety polish up, think less of dress ant
show, and any man whose attentions are
worth having will entertain more respect
for them than for the butterflies of fash
ion. Many an independent, sensible
high-miDded merchant, professional maj
or others well-to do would be only too
glad to get such girl for wife.
Every Woman Knows Them.
The human body is much like a goot
clock watch i'll Its movements if on,
goes too slow or too fast, so follow all tn,
others, and bad time results if one organ
or set of organs works impertectly, prever
sion of functional effort of all the organs il
Sura IN fpllpw Hence il : that the uumar