St. Paul daily globe., 1891-05-31

: HAMERTON writes in one of his eS-
says of meeting on a channel steamer
one night an EngliShman bent on va
cation in foreign lands, and of the story
he had to tell. 1t appeared that he had
been fairly well-to-do bachelor, with
an income large enough for his needs,
but that he had fallen in love and mar
ried. This was before he had grown
old enough TO know his own powers,
and, as the years went by, he had dis
covered that his was not the sort of abil-
ity which expanded with age. He was
faithful, earnest, good, and all that, but
after decade of married life he found
that his earning capacity was no greater
than when he had been bachelor He
now had given many hostages to fort
une, and was confronted with the pros
pect of career of ceaseess toll, unre-
lieved by the comforts and amenities so
dear to people of the better class. He
had to work long hours every day, and
even then he did not gain enough to
support his household as he would. He
never dared spend penny without first
debating as to whether he could afford
it, and all the sweet joys of idlenesS
and of thoughtiess little eXtravagances
were denied him. In the midst of all
this he had fallen sick, and, when HAM
ERTON met him he was on search
for health in enforced leisure,
living on the pledges of his future in
come, disheartened and iii low spirits.
In the condolences of that hard trip, as
he sat on deck with the author amid the
bOiSterous waves and in the sad dark
ness, he wondered aloud whether IT
would not have been better for him had
he never married. He loved his wife
and children, and their happiness was
his single thought. But the low sordid-
ness Of his life and the gloomy outlook
for the future made him balance in
hopeless indecision what he was against
what he might have been.
This is the merry month of May. when
wedding bells are ringing and the affairs
Oflove,e ever young and fair,a bedecked
day by day with garlands of roses and
fragrant flowers. To lovers, even in
winters gloon. everything has a
brighter seeming because of the plight
ing of their hopes; but in the spring,
when Nature herself lights up the lives
of the lonesome and the isolated as
well as those of happier sort, loves
song sounds with clearer notes than
ever before, and young and old strive to
be numbered in its chorus. Perfect
love casts out reason and calculation,
and reflection on what of ill the time to
come has in store finds no place in true
lovers dreams. Confidence in them
selves is born of their confidence in
each Other. and they feel that they can
do and conquer because their strength
is doubled by each others contribution.
They embark fearlessly on great jour
ney because the way is lighted by un-
wOnted torches and because they can
pr eSet a united front to the enemy
who turks in Its secret places. AS old
as the world is the recklessness of love,
which stops at no difficulties, submits
to no rebutfs, laughs at interest tables
as we'll as locks, acknowledges no de-
feat, and renews its courage at every
admonitiOn of the aged and experienced.
The GLOBE. even if it had the heart
to give Punch'S advice to those contem-
plating matrimony, would not do so. be-
cause it recognizes the hopelessness of
etfecting any change or reform in things
of the human heart. 1t rehearses Mr..
HAMERToN'S story for thelbeneft of the
young men and women who read its
columns, that they may reflect on the
lesson it carries, and then it registers
its cheerful acquescence in the flood il
would in vain attempt to stay. Nol
does it mean by this to be churlish and
stingy in its need of praise to the state
of holy matrimony. 1t thinks that most
wel-disciplined men and women are
happier, even though married, than
they would be if they were single:
and the ill-dlscipllned will never be
happy under any circumstances. But
it feels that little sober analysis of the
beatific condition will not be without its
benefit to the young and unwary, pro
vided it is undertaken in a spirit of sym
pathy, and with incidental encomiums
and bouquets, without which it might be
ill received by the great army of peo
pie who-are lovers as we'll as readers.
1t is meekly submitted, therefore
that all authorities agree on two oil
three points. The rules of multiplica
tion are just the same after one is mar
ried as before. This is true, also, of the
facts of geography. 1t is not necessary
to learn again the capitals of the states,
nor the course of the Amazon, after one
falls in love. In general, the laws OF
physical nature are in no degree re.
versed, however much they may seem
to be, and if lovers will carefully iden.
tify calendar in advance of the crisis
they will find that it can be used with
as complete confidence in its accuracy
after as before. The considerations
have the same names. and the sun and
moon continue to rise on schedule time.
1t may appear little unfeeling to say
this, and there will no aoubt be bitter