The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-12-09
MATRIMONIAL ENGAGFMEN1S.

MATRIMONIAL ENGAGEM EN1S.
If worthy citizen has house that he
wishes to sell, and he is offered his price
for it, the transfer to take place six
months hence, he requires written con-
tract or forfeiture. The mere word of
intending purchaser is not regarded as
sufficient. Why? Because the latter
might die or change his mind in the
| meantime, and perhaps the owner would
lose several chances of selling his prop
erty by holding it. The character of the
would be buyer would make little differ
ence. Business is business, and it is
assumed that man who means bust
ness would not hesitate to bind himself
legally to carry out his promises.
But if the hand of the worthy citizens
beloved daughter is sought in marriage,
merely verbal understanding, is
deemed sufficient. Other suitors are to
be barred, the daughter is to be faithful
to the chosen one during the months or
years that she receives his attentions,
and if in the end he pleads incompati-
bility or some other cause, and cruelty
deserts her, what is her redress? Why,
if the young man happens to be rich, she
can appeal to the courts for damages by
sOrdidly setting price upon affections
that are prcl, S. Her name will become
thoroughly scandalized, the letters
breathing mutual love and confidence
must be put in evide1ce before coarse
crowd of curious spectators and printed
in the newspapers, sweet and sacred IN
terchangeS and tokens of affection re-
/ tailed by witneSseS-all to get few pal
try dollars out of the lover, who may
very probably be brutal enough to deny
| the engagement and asperse the charac-
! ter of the fair plaintiff. Rather than
submit to such an ordeal, to have her
name banded about as the object of no
toriety and coarse Jest, q pure, sweet
| girl of refinement and culture would suf-
fer death itself. Yet how seldom it is
/ that Il father interferes to definitely as
certain the intentions of young man
whose attentions are bestowed upon his
daughter. Innocent and inexperienced
as she may be, lie expects her to be able
| to manage her own love affairs. falla-
cy is prevalent to the effect that parental
interference will surely be resented, and
only make matters worse. This GER
tainlv cannot be true where girls have
common sense, The daughter who
would spurn the counsel of loving
father in matter affecting her whole
| future, and in sense the honor and hap
migrate whose duplicate we trust cannot
be found in any of the thousands of
homes frightened by this paper.
Again, men become defendants i'll
breach of promise suits against women
whom they never agreed to marry and
probably never intended to. Every at
tention is shrewdly exaggerated by the
mercenery and alleged heart-brOken
plaintiff, and it is exceedingly difficult
for Judge or jury to determine whether
or not she has been wrOnged. Sympathy
is naturally extended to the weaker sex,
but ii is likely to be misdirected. The
tender, true-hearted woman, whose en-
gagement is cruelty ruptured by her
tickle lover, is the last one to bring him
to the bar of Justice and air her griev-
ances in public.
Would it not be well for parent to
take as much precautiOn to protect the
| honor and happiness of his daughter as
he does in the sale of horse or house?
| Why should not engagements be for
mally ratified by the presentation of a
ring and a simultaneous publication in
the newspapers, the same as births, we'd
dings and deaths? Illustrations are nu-
merous to show that verbal understand
ingS are disregarded in affairs of the
| heart as well as in dealings in personal
property and real estate. Why, there
are fools of both sexes who actually boast
/ of series of engagements that have been
| lightly broken for one cause or another.
| As though an exposition of the shallow
ness of their natures were something to
be proud I
Nothing is more nauseating than n
| breach OF promise suit and plaintiffs al
most always lower themselves in public
estimation. Placing monetary value
| upon the affections, or the damage there
/ to, is of itself houid farce. Whenever
| two people love each other they may
| thank God there is something in the
world so precious that it is priceless,
compared with which gold is but dross.
/ This may be an age of ayaliCe; but the
! emotions that warm the blood and stir
/ the human heart cannot be compressed
/ into price list. Yet love is often
snapped for gold; but we know of moth
ing more pitiable and contemplate than
/ the one of either sex who makes the
trade.
Parents should train their daughters
not to cheaper themselves III any circum-
| stances. The young lady who sacrifices
| her Judgment to crafty her affections in
variably makes a mistake, and generally
| one that costs her pain, humiliation and
! vain regrets. If she ever demand of Il
| suitor the consideration due to a lady,
she will not only receive it, butuplift her
| self in his estimation. But the moment
| she consents to any undue familiarity,
clandestne meetings, or secret engage
ment, she lowers herself and is valued
and treated accordingly This may not
be Immediately apparent to her eyes, or
| even to her lovers. for that matter; but
| both will be conscious Of it sooner or
| later, and the girl will then emerge from
her fools paradise to realization of her
/ weakness.
A wise girl will accept no company or
/ consent to no engagement without the
/ knowledge and approval of her parents.
| No sutton whose intentions are honorable,
| and who properly respects the object OF
] his attentions, will object to this policy.
| Matrimonial engagements are excellent,
/ and we cordially recommend them; but
/ they should be in the right form. Make
sure of this, girls.-TrOy Press.
lorenzo J. Common, 1O4 Green Street,
! Albany, y. Y, says: IL have used DR..
Bulls Cough Syrup and find it very ben
iticial, and can safely recommend it as a
/ good remedy for coughs