The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-05-05
About Second Marriages,

You may bury husband and keep his
memory alive, but when you marry
second one you have to bury memory
which may be very much alive and in
no need Of interment. 1t is great pity
that that is so, or so nearly SO as it is,
since for many persons who have lost
their mates prematurely it is far better
to go through life alone. Successful mar
riages, though additionally made in
heaven, are made for use in this world,
and when we are able to consult the
celestial records we shall find that Sec
ond marriages make handsome show
ing there: That man once domesti
should be left while still young to drag
out existence unprotected and uncon-
soled, is a condition of things that is alb
horrent to nature. If he has young chill
dren and is Il mere ordinary man, he
needs help; if he has no children, there
is still more reason for him to make
provision for his future. The case is
not much better for young widows, UNI
them an object in life, and income
enough to maintain them during it's at
tainment. Not even the immense labor
of assimllating new Spouse's relatives,
appalling as it is, should hinder second
marriages which Dire suitable dnd mere
~ await the cooperation of parties who
are disposed to consent. There is some
prejudice against stepmothers and step
fathers, but it is not very deep. A
woman good enough to be a good wife
commonly makes good stepmother, and
good man commonly makes a good
stepfather. There is nothing in the re-
lationship which need be too great
trial for ordinary human nature. One
reads of harsh step.parents in story
books and sometimes in the newspapers,
and it is undeniable that they do exist,
caught her stepchildren young enough
who did not mother them we'll and love
them truly and win their affection.
what objections there are to second
marriages are almost exclusively senti-
mental, and turn on this natural unwill-
lngness to bury memory. But of course
sentimental objection is mighty intlu.
entail gthnn tthlng' and very hard to cope with
Of the young Widow Mead, SO admirable
and charming person, and yet so imrcv-
fectly suited to fight the battle of life
without daily help. She was born to he
wife, that woman. She would be
twice as useful in the world, and many.
many times happier, if she could bring
herself to replace Henry Mead: But i
always be dearer to her than any other
mans sunshine. l can't think he would
wish it to be SO. He was man of ex>
cellent sense, and l only wish she could
have his counsel in this matter l ain
sure he would not let let her turn away
man whose love might brighten her life
because man who had frightened it
was dead. 1t would be far easier for her,
and for whatever good man nay happe,,
to be counting her at this time, if there
was less of this reprehensible feeling that
makes it seem doubtful manners to dis
course with the remarked about their
previous mates. 1t is limitation that IL
little strength of character may rise
above. I shall never forget that after
Robert Wade had died, and left his
young and childless wife pile. of money
as high as Il haystack, and after she in
due time had married again. how met
her one day in company. aud she, re-
.aembering me, but not quite sure, asked
Horace Brace. whom I was with, if I
was not "a friend of Robert It made
me feel that she hadn't buried any more.
of Robert than she could helm. even
though she had given himsa successor,
and l liked it in her-Harpci's Bazaar.