The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-11
SEATTLE, SUNDAY, DEC. II.
ONE WIFE.

The women OF the United States are
preparing to make a vigorous assault
upon the claims Of the new congress
man from Utah to be seated. They are
opposed to him because he is said TO
secretly follow as he openly ayows his
faith In poIygalny. His views can do
but little harm: monogAmy u the law Of
this land. as 1t Is the law of civilized
nature.
Nature herself does not say that man
shau have only one wife at q time. In
deed. there are powerful physiological
reasons why he should have more.
Neither does nature command that man
shall wash himself, comb hts hair or
wear clean linen. He can live without
He did live without. for many genera
tions--possibly for thousands Of years
II man were TO follow the strict lines
OF nature he would not use soap. be-
cause It does not grow ready prepared.
or trim his nails or shave his face.
The reason he should have only one
wife. disrespectfnl though IL may seem.
springs from the same original idea
that suggested cleanliness OF person;
but u also originated from that same
cause which inspires in Man the belief
that he and the Wife are more than
mere animals--to follow the blind.
brute. unreasoning instinct OF the lower
creation.
pray. sir. do you not suppose that
there are fifty women In the world with
any one of whom a man may be as hap
py as With any one woman I'm particu-
lsr?" asked Boswell Fifty" exclaim-
ed DR. Johnson. 'ay. sir. fifty thou
sand" Then, sir. you are not of the
opinion with some who imagine that
certain men and certain women are
made for each other and that they can
not be happy IL they miss their counter
parts" ITO be sure not" replied John
son. u believe marr:ages would in gem
erai be as happy. and often more SO. IL
they We're all made by the Lord Chan
cellor. with a due consideration OF the
characters and circumstances. without
the parties having any choice in the
matter
IL is poetic fancy that every man
has his affinity. but the world is SO wide
and the force of circumstances so great
and uneqeaily applied that 1t is almost
better to believe that DR. johnson il
right. Otherwise. there would be muc h
more discomfort. and marriage would be
often delayed pending the search after
the counterpart II ~ not necessary 10
believe that the swedenhorgian idea of
mating is correct, There IL no way 10
prove that man has met or missed the
one wife destined fer him through all
the mutations OF fate. Experience dem.
onstrates that the happiest OF marriages
are the result Of a mere chance. and al
though II IL pleasant fancy 20 believe
that In such n case jock has met his
jean. the averages are not close enough
TO found any doctrine upon them,
II Is more rational 20 suppose tina,
true marriage IL a happy combination
Of characters and circumstances /.
This VIII exniain Why husbands and
wives live IN complete accord. although
very decidedly dissin,lar in taste ard
temperament \ couple need not be- s.
pair; indeed. It IS often ssls, subject al
remark that when swo people are muct
alike they disasrec. whereas II they ar,
disslmIiar they iee together in har
mony.
II is 50 IN eshsy relations: tao ehn
dren Of the same parents VIII nantes
nest sgii'Sins aissinila~ity IN dispose
tioa. Yet he the best of friends sud ,,lav
mates Il vse seek sor s,o other soluttor
thar this. the whole phss,efnena II hap
piness With enc wife Is explalreA wlth
ops serklstx foy ssanscenaen,al. raar..
sni ts>eese explanations To re &C.,
sgenes Sc hetier shsn being bilna-y b
ieses TO havo eae gooa wife Sc l.e,,.
than having mane
ferFamy SIS utterly isesaos..,.,
~ rerse. appreciation - TIE val,
IS oorssstens aaly Mta
70 iaea ,has s'aa as a husband !.