The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-10-24

American women, by nature Independent
and in the main better educated than the
masses of their sex in other countries, are
outspoken in their sentiments on the sub
ject of the failure or the success of matri-
mony, while teachers and writers among
women do not refuse to publicly discuss the
subject, though with a reticence due to
their realization of the fact that the cues
ton is many-sided and cannot be disposed
of in a paragraph. From a number of well
known authors and others, have been gath
cred opinions concerning the subject, and
thev are as follows:
Miss Matilda Joselyn Gage speaks with no
uncertain tone.
Marriage, for woman, is a slavsh insti-
tuition, and one which greatly needs reform
ing. At present, it is one-sided relation,
whose advantages are all with the husband.
In it the law, custom, society, the church,
crush woman. To call it the best institu-
ton of the day is proof of an imperfect
civilization. 1t is not good because one
partner is master, the other slave. If, like
Adolph, in Uncle TOMS Cabin, thu women
secures good master, i. e., husband, she
fares comparatively well-as a toy-but is
rarely, if ever, treated as an equal, a ra-
tiona human being with mind. will, de-
Sres of her own:
THE English common law and our statute
laws affirm that the wife owes obedience
and service to the husband the Code Napo-
leon is still worse; the church teaches that
woman was made for the man, is second
airy to him and commands her to be under
obedience to him. Such doctrines are not
good for humanity. Let us destroy the
Institution as it stands and form something
better n.its place
Mrs Harriet Prescott Spofford says:
"A boundless content and deep joy sur
round true marriage as sunshine and blue
alb a
ally conceded that the married state is that
in which the greatest happiness is possible.
But in it the rights and sacrifices should be-
mutual, and | do not think that it is ex-
pedlent for women to marry early so that
they may be bent to their husbands will,
and clashing and incompatibility become
impossible. | will not so insult the hus-
band as to suppose hun unreasonable
enough for this moulding to be necessary,
or selfish enough to wish this; to suppress
individuality, unable to find pleasure him
self in remuneration, or negligent of civil
lied, not to say christian duty. Yes, | be-
leve in marriage but not in those made too
early in life"
Mrs. A. H. T. Whitney says:
u cannot undertake to answer the ques-
ton under discussion, aud seriously. do
not think it ought to be discussed. Mar
rage is a matter Of heart, mind and con-
science. of circumstance and qualification,
and men and women find their joy or mis-
cry in it according to the amount of care
and judgment they devote to the matter
before entering upon the responsibilities of
the estaten
Mrs. Julia c. R. Dorr approaches the sub
Jet thus, modestly:
"The answer to the question regarding
marriage can but be unsatisfactory; the
question itself is. Marriage itself is "A holy
estate, but it is entered by those unified TO
I'VE In it and they quickly pronounce IL a
failure. | think if men and women waited
until maturity before marrying there
would be less complaint heard on this sub
ject ="
Mrs. Louise Chandler Moulton says:
The terrible danger is not in marriage,
out In the early marriage of people in
transition state. Unshared aspirations.
unshared tastes, unshared acquisitions
these are fatal to marriage. Short
OIL crime, / think the world holds
nothing sadder or more tragic than
Unequal maturity. AS Ameil says in his
wonderful Journal sIntime, an irreparable
evil, brought about by ones self-a renun-
cation for life of liberty--of peace Of mind
the very thought of it Is maddening.
contemplating the lives which some sad
fatality of early choice has wrecked, one
leels inclined, on the whole, to preach the
gospel of delay and urge young people to
wait until they are reasonably sure that they
NAV never have cause to look back and say
tnst marriage is failure"
Mrs. Sarah X. Bolton says:
believe heartily in marriage for both
sexes. Most men and women need a real
and unselfish companionship found in the
union of two congenial persons Of kindred
tastes. l think for woman TO hold the
!oVe she has won, as a rule, she must be in
Senectual as well as amiable. For man he
must be gentle as well as noble"
mis-, MISS Frances Willard answers the ques-
1ion thus tersely:
Set man and woman side by side in
school-in church-in government-as God
uas set male and famale everywhere side
py side throughout bis realm of law, and
nsS declared them one throughouthis realm
~ grace, and marriage will not be fail