Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-04-15
TO CHOOSE A WIFE.
MARION HAnLGEDs TALK TO MsS ON
THE CHOICE or WIVES
How Men Are woa-ken and Women who
Have No Right to Narry-some
lien Choose Wives.

fFor the Dlspatch-Copyrlghted, lSSNi
Mrs. Hannah More tells us in dreary,
three. volume tale how Cnlebs-stifiist
OF pen-and-ink prigs--chose a wife.
Who in modern and real life initiates
his example?
For,nne-hunters seek with smiles
and with soap" tue probable possessors
of plethora purses the returned mis-
sionary on brief furlough consults the
brethren and presumably The Lord in
tho selection of n bearer.
with devonl inclinations and a stout con
stitntion quadrnply-hereaved widowers,
wider awake than bachelors 10 a sense OF
the uncertainty. of time and earthly
things, make haste 70 be wise Tor foolish)
and set forth marriage feasts with fune-
raj meats still lukeWarm.
There sre economic and prudential
contracts, legal enough, hut wanting IN
all else that makes the Joining together
in wedlock Of man and woman an honora-
BILE marriage in the sight of Heaven.
Love that sanctifcs faith that elevates,
The hope that is well-spring of Joy and
comfort in heart and home, are an
omnipotent three that bring down 10
earth the kingdom Of Heaven. But 1t
cometh not with observation.
WOMEN CHOOSE HUsBAvD&
Women oftoner choose husbands than
men wives, paradoxical though the state
nent may sound. The overtures of
courtship, however impetuous, give them
the advantage OF perspective in Judging
of suitors merits Once in q generation
Juliet meets RoMeo fully half way
perhaps little over-but the full tide
runs In the direction of mans approach
and woman's waiting. Women are en-
ticed. argued. led 10y cunningly devised
stages into love. Men "fall in. how
easily and fatally. Addison narrates
in his immortal list Of killed and
wounded "T. S. wounded by Ze-
hnda's scarlet stocking SIS she WIS step
ping out OF coach. Tim Iattle killed
bv the tap OF fan. Sir Simon
Softly murdered at the playhouse in
Drury Lane by frown. W. w. killed
by an unknown hand that was playing
with the glove of upon the side OF the
front box. Dick Tas.ewell slain
bv blush. Musidorns SLAIN by sn
arrow that few out of dimple IN Fla
WAS left cheek etc.
Shakespeare shows rs his lover ln-
diting sonnets TO his mistress's eyebrow,
from which bow, We may surnise, sped
the shaft thst brought hlm down.
lie HAS 80 REASON.
Verify. in view OF the exceedingly
"promiscuous character of the accl-
dents that guide Crlebs's choice, he has
reason 70 cling, rs for life, to the belief
that matches are made in Heaven.
Otherwise he has little "show in the
mighty lottery.
The only hope that the few hints
friends can throw ont for his guidance
nav be needed Is in the theory that
reversing the order of the miracle done
upon the blind man-there is q moment
IN which the ewes, erst clear and critical,
see through the first folds of Cupids
bandsge women as trees walking. When
Fthe silken tissue Is once firmly adjusted
,ohscuration is complete. Alter that no
experience save his own. and that dearly
bought. can enlighten hun. To vary the
fgure-the love tit is durable only IN the
incipient STAGES. This opportunity lost
il must run Its course.
AsAD CASE.
II is pity We know so well what
goes to make up the ideal wife that we
lose patience with him who blindly
SEXES upon the opposite type Of woman,
or upon one who is 10 type at all. 1t IS
therefore with the feelings Of one who
beAteth the air that / sit me down to the
preparation Of this paper.
once knew man who bore the bur
den for ten years OF q hopelessly-ln-
valiied wife. He was heroicslly patient
uuder the cross, and mourned sincerely
when the rackod and wasted body was
laid out of bis arms upon the one bed to
which pain never comes. Meeting him
two wears afterward / congratulated him
upon his second betrothal, saving | had
heard that he was singularly fortunate III
his choice.
THANK you," said the honest fellow,
simply. 81 believe she Is perfectly
healthy"
no MORAL RIGHT TO MARRY.
Begin We where he left off. Health of
BODY, freedom from so much as pro-
ciivity TO organic disease, is a considera-
tion so important TO one who anticipates
marriage that the wonder grows III
Thoughtful minds 1T the hsbitual dlsre-
gard of the question. Ii may be chlval-
ric to undertake the charge OF an alhng
woman, and benevolent to smooth her
pathway to the tomb, but the
childless widower who has dwelt
for the best years Of his life IN
the valley OF the shadow OF death, or the
frantic father who sees the development
in his Offspring OF the dread malady that
cursed their mothers existence, may
well deplore the early madness that has
borne such fruit. A man has but one
life. That spoiled, there is no redress.
Without full acquiescence in Dsrwin's
dogma that legislation should step IN
here TO protect the race, We can hardly
state too forcibly the fundamental fact
that no diseased man or woman has
moral right to marry.
DON'T MARRY VIXEN.
Said young divine in asking advice
in dispassionate and Celebsisn spirit
of an elder teacher Of righteousness
- The woman / love is intelligent, Of
fecuOnAle, ana plOuS. DER Ohiy uelecI
is an ungovernable temper, but | trust,
with the grace of God, to be able to en-
dure that"
The reverend father raised a warning
hand:
mo, my son Let her alone Leave
her TO the grace Of God. That can live
where you could not
Let those who do not dread "Kate the
curst or shrink from Petruchio's office
neglect the admonition. The solitary
bright saying $50 far as / know Of a
-witted sufferer from q virago's
tongue and temper was that which re-
commended friend to "strike matches
on powder-keg all day rather than
marry vixen.
The counsel Of another ghostly father
introduces the next section of our theme
80 aptly that cannot resist the desire 10
quote It. His neophyte regretted that
his beloved, although good, amiable,
and comedy, was not endowed with
practical wisdom, otherwise known as