Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1895-03-23

OF man who has reputation for be-
ing little loose in morals or in tho
keeping Of woman who dresses fast.
Remember that. while good looks are
kindly gift of God, wrinkles or acct
dent may despoil them. Remember that
Byron was no more celebrated for his
beauty than for his depravity. Remem-
Der that Absalom's hair was not moro
splendid than his habits were despica-
BILE Hear il. hear iti The only founda-
ton for happy marriage that has ever
been or ever will be is good character.
Ask God whom you shall marry if
you marry at all A union formed in
prayer will be n happy union, though
sickness pals the cheek. and poverty
empty the bread tray. and death open
the small graves. and all the path OF
life be strewn with thorns from the
marriage altar with its wedding march
and orange blossoms clear on down to the
last farewell at that gate where Isaac
and Rebecca. Abraham and Sarah.
Adam and Eve parted.
And let mo say to you who are in
this relation. il you make one man or
woman happy, you have not lived in
vain. Christ says that what no is to tho
church you ought to be- TO each other,
and il sometimes through difference of
opinion or difference of disposition you
make up your mind that your marriage
was mistake patiently bear and for
bear. remembering that life at the Ion
gest is short, and that for those who have
been badly mated in this world death
will give quick and immediate bill of
enforcement written in letters of green
grass on quiet graves. And perhaps. my
brother, my sister. perhaps you may ap-
preciate each other better in heaven
than you have appreciated each other on
earth.
in the Farm Ballads" our Ameri-
can poet puts into the lips of repent
ant husband after n life of married per
turbation these suggestive words:
And when she dies wish that she would he
laid by me,
And lying together in silence perhaps we will
agree,
And IL ever We meet in heaven would not
think it queer
we love each other better because we quar-
relied here.
The Speck on the Horizon.
And let me say TO those of you who
re in happy married union avoid first
iuarrels; have no unexplained CORE
b,ondence with former admirers; Guilt
ate no suspicious; in moment of bad
temper do not rush ont and tell tho
neighbors; do not let any of those CAD
abouts Of society unload in your house
their baggage Of CAB and tittlo tattle;
do not stand ON your rights; learn how
to apologize; do not be SO proud, or SO
stubborn, or SO devilish that you will
not make mp. Remember that the worst
domestic misfortunes and most scandal
ous divorce cases started from little in
felicities. The whole piled up train of
ten rail cars telescoped and smashed at
the foot Of an embankment 100 feet
down came to that catastrophe by get
ting two or three inches off the track
Some Of the greatest domestic misfor-
tunes and the wide resounding divorce
cases have started from little misunder-
standings that were allowed 20 20 ON
and go ON until home and respectable
ity and religion and immortal soul went
down in the crash, crash!
And. fellow citizens as we'll as fellow
Christians. let us have a divine rage
against anything that wars on the mar
riage state. Blessed institution! Instead
Of two arms to fight the battle of life,
four; instead OF two eyes 10 scrutinize
the path Of life. four; instead of two
shoulders to lift the burden of life, four
Twice the energy. twice the courage.
twice the holy ambition. twice the prob
ability Of worldly success, twice the
prospects OF heaven Into the matri-
monial bower God fetches two souls
Outside that bower room for all con-
tentions. and all chickering's. and all
controversies. but inside the bower there
is room for only one guest-the angel
Of love. Let that angel stand at the
floral doorway of this Edenic bower
with drawn sword to hew down the
worst foe of that bower-easy divorce
And for every paradise lost may there
be paradise regained. And after we
quit our home here may we have a
brighter home in heaven. nc the win
dows Of which this moment are familiar
faces watching for our arrival and
wondering why SO long we tarry.