The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1899-06-07
THE FAMILY.

THE FAMILY
The following magnificent editorial on
"The Family" is taken from the Chris
tian Advocate.
Unusul prominence has been given OF
late to social scandal in New York
City, in which a woman OF great wealth,
whom her hui band had divorced for the
scriptural cause, was almost instantly
married to her paramour. The whole
affair is 30 dis usting that We should not
allude to it were it not symptomatic Of
that increasing disregard for the sanctity
OF the marriage tie which is one of the
gravest peril5 of our American civiliza.
ton. We are not a prophet of evil.
Nor do we wish to exag crate either the
actual or the possible dangers OF the
times in which we live. Scattered far
and wide over this vast Republic there
are millions OF pure and beautiful homes
in which the love of husbands and wives,
of parents aud children, is an abiding
glory. Such homes are the very citades
of virtue and religion. II the dark day
ahsll ever come when they are overrun
by the unholy influences that are abroad
in toe world, then farewell, long fare
well, to all our greatness.
The very conception OF marriage is
that it is based on mutual respect AMI
affection, and that it is to be as perma-
nent as life. Any other theory robs it
OF everything that makes it worthy Of
admiration, and puts it on a level with
the mere mating of brute beasts. TO
sneeT at such views as sentimental is to
show an utter incspacity for appreciating
what is best and highest in our earthly
existence. When you strip away mans
sentiments from him, what do you leave
him but more highly organized animal,
whose gift OF nationality is an added
means of procuring sensual qualification?
How any woman with the least trace OF
deCency left can look into the faces OF
her children after she has deserted their
father for a more congenial partner pass
es our comprehension; and how any man
above the level of a brute can deliber-
ately put away the wife OF his youth for
the sake of second union is likewise a
myster into which we cannot enter.
Even when the law of the land lends it's
sanction to such abhorrent proceedings,
they are none the less hdeous in the
sight of God.
The waning OF love is a signal OF dan
ger in the household. More frequently
than otherwise the husband is RESPONSE
BILE for it.. He becomes absorbed in the
pursuit nj business and ceases to give
himself to his home as he once did. Or
it may be that in awful disre gard of the
VOWS assumed before the altar, he plung.
es into life OF prohigacy. In the FORM
eT case he is gTavely remies in duty; in
the latter he is guilty OF almost unpard-
enable sin. 1t is no wonder if he sue
ceeds in wearing ont the trust and devo-
ton that were once his. The wonder
really is that 1t takes 80 long for him to
succeed in the task. In rarer instances
II is the wife whose narrowness of view,
or pettishness Of temper, or lack of ap.
probation chafes the marriage bonds till
they are rent asunder. Very rarely, in
deed is 1t the case that she casts her
wOmanliness to the winds and quite
throws off the high and holy obligations
which she has voluntarily assumed. If
women were, on the average, of as low
moral Rade as men, society would
speedily 20 to pieces with crash.
1t may be that this editorial will reach
the eye OF some that need warning II
80, we beg them not TO turn away from
it with a iippant or impatient word.
There are ten thousand husbands and
wives who are beginning to draw apart
in their aspirations and plans and pur-
poses, and TO whom the holy IN .mories
OF other years are bat as a fading dream.
II they persist In following the paths up-
on which they have entered, increasin
alienation Is as certain 10 some az the
grass is 10 grow out OF the earth. Before
they have gone too far. 10 retrace their
steps, they should turn back and seek a
better way. Even II they care little for
their own fate, they should remember
the debt which they owe 10 their chill
dren. The bitteTest and most unwhole-
some recollection that can be planted in
the mind Of boy or girl Ia the recollec.
ton OF home without love, without
magnAnimous forbearanoe, without hu.
man dignity, and full Of mean jars and
discords; and the worst OF the matter .s
that nothing can root II out. Through
all the coming years Il will live 10 be the
death OF Joy, 10 paralyzs faith, and 10
make nobility and greatness OF character
almost an imposaibility