The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1893-07-14
COURTSHIP BY MAIL.

Marriage in its various phases, is
theme prolific of discussion. There
are varying shades of opinion as to
whether marriage is failure, and to
what extent; as to whether it is lot
terry, and the amount Of percentage
enjoyed by one or the other of those
participating in the game. These are
questions which will perhaps remain
open indefinitely, and in the mean
time persons whom it may concern are
entitled to their own notions about
such matters. If the young lady of
tlirty-fve or forty, who has rever
tasted the sweet or bitter of matri
mony, as the case might have been,
desires to believe that marriage is a
failure, it is perhaps better for her as
sociates that it is SO. Ii the mercenary
young lady miscalculated the state of
her rich old husbands health, she is
also entitled to the belief that mar
rage is failure. On the contrary,
the poor man whose household is
blessed with a dozen children may
proudly declare that marriage is sue
cess.
Whether or not marriage is Il lot
terry, a good many lottery marriages
take place: The lady who makes
cast of her matrimonial! no * and
fishes up pig-tailed Chlnalnan must
he impressed with the lottery idea.
The rich young eastern Lady who made
a matrimonial cast of the dice and
drew a Dakota siwash, is of the opin-
ion that she "shot craps" and lost. 1t
is sad when the ladies "shoot craps" ="
but most men are used to 1t.
There are institutions now common
in the east for the promotion OF mar
riages known as marriage bureaus, and
there are periodicals devoted exclu-
sivelv to this purpose. While there
are elements of chance in obtaining a
helpmate through these agencies,
there is no danger that amy young
lady vii be brought into marriage
with Eer fathers ebony coachman.
So, we see that they have advantages
over some other agencies.
We have this week TO record mar
riage in this city brought about 10y
Gunnell's Monthly, matrimonial
periodical published in Toledo, Ohio.
About year ago there appeared in
the paper an advertisement of lady
who desired to correspond with gem
tleman of certain qualifications, ''wlth
view to matrimony," as it is COM
monty expressed. Irwin Smith, who
has ranch and resides about the
head of Big Elk, had begun to feel
the necessity of companion to share
his blessings and to cheer his
nelly hours, and thought perhaps, he
might fill the bill for the lady who
also desired companion and support
for herself and two children. Mr.
Smith, therefore, answered the ad-
vertisement in the matrimonial
monthly and correspondence at
once ensued. Photographs were at
length exchanged and an engagement
followed. The lady's name was Mrs.
Mile E. Little, and her former home
is Kansas City, Mo. The result of
previous negotiations was that she ar
rived in Corvallis on Monday last,
meeting Mr.. Smith for the first time.
Arrangements for the wedding were
made at once and the ceremony took
place at the Hotel Corvallis, Rev. M.
Burlingame officiating. The happy
couple, accompanied by their two lit
tie boys aged respectively four and
six years started in their own convey
ance to their home near Harlan P. O.
The bride is an intelligent lady of
27 years, rather handsome, and has
much the appearances of refined
lady. The groom is we'll known in
this county. He is an honest and
Industrious person Of good habits,
and there is no reason to believe that
this rather romantic union will notprove
satisfactory to the contrac ting parties.