Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-02-05
MISERABLE MARRIAGES.
Unions Which Produce Dlscord and Un'
hnpplness.

hnpplness'
Here are two gloves. THY nre with
out stain and without rip and are Of
excellent quality and color and work
manship. But they are both for the
right hand and they will not make a
pair. So, then, as far as their proper
design goes, they are useless and irri-
tating. These two half-pairs represent
precisely the cause and conditions of
many miserable marriages. Husband
and wife are both excellent people;
both young handsome, intelligent and,
at first sight apparently we'll suited to
each other.
Their similarity seems to promise a
happy union; on the contrary it is like
the similarity of two gloves for the
same hand. They prove to be equally
young and inexperienced, equally fond
of authority, equally sure that their
own way is the best way, and so equal
| ly clever at repaItee that "tiffs' are
their daily bread. They both love
music, and each soon finds the practice
of the other ''little trying" Both
|
is as blocked as lower Broadway on q
steamer day. Both have such eXqui-
site taste in dress that tailors' and mod
istes' bills are equally extravagant
Both write and paint little, and both
are equally blind to their own errors
OF style and wide-awake to those of the
companion of their life.
1t is, indeed, fact that the common
possession of some one talent is a great
promoter of conirgal hot water. Some
counteracting element of sufficient po-
tency to maintain the balance of happi-
ness is wanting-there is no left hand
glove in the domestic intercourse. It
would have been better that one hand
there should have been a love of direc-
ton, on the other disposition to be
led; on the one hand clever talker, on
the other patient and intelligent lis
tener; on the one hand skill with the
brush or pen, on the other appreciative
admiration Of the talent
Two positives make a negative in
most of the circumstances of life; and
matrimonially, the circumstances are
so final and important, it is better not
to risk two positives Two minds, two
tastes, two dispositions of the same
kind are apt to be as obtrusively irri-
tating as two gloves for the right hand.
The situation has in it also much that
is very depressing. For, as the glove
less man reflects, he must take the
journey on which he has started with
such an unlucky pair, without any OPP
portunity of repairing the mistakes SO
the man unhaplily married but not
paired, is perpetually reminded of the
hopelessness of his wrong selection. 1t
would be miracle If he should now
ever find the mate to his right hand
glove, and If he did find it the recogni.
tion being too late for appropriation,
would be misery
In general circumstances the thing to
be avoided is that similarity which
breeds difference, and the thing to
be looked for is that exquisite differ.
ence which insures completeness. And
as the selection of wife is not an ex.
periencc of frequent occurrence in a
mans life he may certainly look well
to find the complement of his own
! nature, or else ask himself caudidly il
he is willing to go through life with
the useless superiluity of two gloves
for the same hand. Amelia L. Barr, ir
N v T,eItrnr