Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-02-12

A6AOA0At 0lAS uAAO AlhONOht esAC cA4s~
ware, and as the experienced and the
learned speak of it in whispers and
in veiled language, it is to the matrl-
monial world what the unseen crag is
to the ship at sea. II is as subtle as
it is explosive, and as tickle as it is
tyranical. 1t calls itself by the sac
red name of love, but it is no more
like love than the explosion of dyna-
mite is like digni6ed, honorable war
fare.
INTELLECTUAL MARRIAGES
Are almost as unhappy, if not as de-
moralizing as physical marriages.
They are born of the brain, not of the
heart, and when subjected to the Sc
we're tests of every day life, they must
of a necessity prove cold and empty.
The case of Doreathea, in "Middle-
march," is the clearest argument l
have ever met against these mental
unions. In good faith she gave her
glowing youth and noblest hopes and
aspirations to Mr.. Casabon, the dis
appointed scholar, who sought to
chain her down to his deep but musty
level, and whom, when he felt the
unrecognized grasp Of death upon
him, carried his selishness so far as
to seek to fetter her spirit with the
work which it was impossible for him
to carry on beyond the grave.
COMPLETE MARRIAGES.,
Thank Heaven, there are a few
of them, are those which combine the
physical and the intellectual adapta-
bility of which we have spoken, and
which are founded upon the remark
able laws Of affinity. The well-known
novelist, Mary j. Holmes, in recent
article entitled "The Age to be
Wedded," decidedly and with good
reason, favors early marriages.
"Marry," she says, "and in one sense,
grow up together, laying aside self,
and, as far as possible, conform
ing each to the wishes of the other,
remembering always that he or she
who gives up the most gains the
greater victory" Marion Harland,
in another article, l think a little
more recent, and which she entities
"Misfit Marriages." claims that jeal-
ousy and determination not to
have children on the part of the wife /;
and want of attention and demon
stration on the part of the
husband, are the most common
obstacles to happy marriages
When we attempt to reason the mat
ter out it would seem that early mar
riages were invariably the best; but
the majority of marriages are early,
yet the majority, as we all regret to
admit, are incomplete. know OF one
woman who married at 16 the man
of her choice, and who through long
years of welded life has been SUI
premely happy. l know another
woman who married at six and thirty
THE man of her choice, and who with
out exception is the most felicitously
associated beings ever met. A young
girl, before her character is fully
formed and her love of pleasure ex-
hausted, is apt either to break down
prematurely or to become fretful and
discontented under the heavy pres.
sure of her cares, while more mature
wom an is, ten to one, too self-assertive
to sweetly assume the difficult role oi
wife. But, after all, it is not SO much
when, as whom to marry; for "perfect
love casteth out all fear" and pro-
notes that mutual yielding and appre
citation which at all times and under
| all circumstances is essential to COM
panionship and "home, sweet home"
Current Topics Of Conversation.
The cur ent topice of conversation
which mark this so-called progressive
Nineteenth Century, are the weather
and the state OF the health. Indeed,
it would seem that for ordinary uses,
both the learned professor and the
ignorant day laborer have pregnant in
their minds but these two ideas,
namely, the atmospheric conditions
by which they are surrounded and
the physical conditions to which they
are subjected. The prosperous ply
sician says to his patient, "It'sa q fine, ~
or ga disagreeable morning." and in
tones less refined Pat says the same
thing to his acquaintance as he jolts
by on cart full OF dirt, or waves the
spade with which he is grading on
some crowded thoroughfare. "How
are you, abb ?' asks the lady who
lounges in the parlor and the servan,
girl who scrubs off the front porch
~ am not at all well" is the universal
response 81 have the rheumatism p
or "a wretched cold" "Indeed! Why
how did you get it?" "I can hardly
decide; but think it must have come
Of going out without any overshoes or
any overcoat. And then the measles
and the Group which Sallie had laet
week, and the sore eyes which are
at present annoying Willie. Such per
sonalities are at all times interesting ex.
cept to he or she who utters them
but what could be more ill-bred OF
disgusting than to hear such subjects
discussed before or at dinner. YET
the most cultivated men aud women
without the slightest scruple talk
while at the table of teeth that are
liberated, of corns that are festered
and Of diseases which are known to be
offensive. Some people can eat and
even enjoy their food under such ad
verse circumstances, but 1 cannot
and never could. / have repeatedly
had the best dinner completely
spoiled, by the thoughtlessness, OF
vulsarity Of some one who would
persist in ventilating the origin
symptom and individuality OF some
malady or injury. We c Il ourselves
enlightened and boastfully claim the
highest type of civilization; but it is
difficult to imagine, the early Greeks
and Romans talking over their wine,
of sore eyes, festered corns and ulcer.
ated teeth. Perhaps they did do it
but such books as the "Last Days o
Pompeii, and such plays as Virginiu:
and julius Caesar scarcely give Vi
such an impression. Like most Other
d fects of breeding, this common
trick of properly or improperly talking
OF the bodily intirmaties either of our
selves, our families or our friends
can best be reached and