Waterbury Democrat., 1901-03-21
RUNAW AY MATCHES.

Only very exceptional circumstances can justify the runaway match, says Margaret E. Sangster in the Christian Herald. In England, Gretna Green was for centuries famous as the Mec- ca of eloping couples, forced to fly from the restraining hands of angry fathers that they might be welded just across the border. A good deal of TO- mantle literature is based on the trou- bles of young people in love. their union opposed by their parents and guardians for prudential or mercenary reasons. Lord Ullin's Daughter" ana Young Lochinvar" are memorable among spirited ballads with this mo- tive. In "The Little Minister" one o1 the prettiest episodes in the beautiful story is the marriage of Gavin Dis hart. over the tongs in the gypsy camp. to the lovely Bab, escaping from the clutches of her elderly admirer. Lord Rintoul. We find no fault with TO- nance when it depicts such scenes. and enjoy them much more than we do realistic descriptions of situations in which nothing happens the very least removed from the commonplace. But, believe me, my dear young folk, that in most cases, in plain everyday living, the runaway match is the great est of foolish mistakes. 1t is usually for both parties to the contract, marry ing in haste to repent at leisure. If bride is worth wooing she is worth waiting for. until her fathers consent to her marriage can be gained. If man is worth a woman's faith and love she may we'll be patient until she can be married to him from her own home, with the approval of her own people, thus setting out on her new life under the fairest auspices.
 Love is the staple from which happy matrimony is woven. But people can not live on love alone. There must be an income. Therefore. before a man marries he should have a trade, a pro- fession, an art or clerkship, something that will give him assured wages or salary, unless he has large means and is independent of the necessity to belongs to few men in our country. The rich idler is with us in the minor ity. Even men of great wealth, if they amount to much, educate their sons to work and work themselves. Millionaires are discovered at their desks in railroad offices, faithfully per forming their tasks. and they set q good example in this to poorer men. A man should not do the girl he love, the injustice of making her wait for him too long. Begin with little. Do not fancy that wealth makes com petence. Any certain income which people can live upon, without exceed | ing it, and running into debt, means | peace of mind and comfort. Be con | tented with a very modest home at | first. Few young women complain of | this necessity. Those who have had elegant homes are often the readiest to accept poverty, if it implies no hu- initiation.
 Once in a great while there comes to pass a condition of things in which an elopement is justitiable. as with Robert Browning and Elizabeth Bar rett Miss Barrett's father was re- sentful at the thought that any of hi children leaving the home roof f,
 marriage. sons or daughters equal
 His gifted daughter Elizabeth was the pride of his life, and being an invalid. | in need of constant care, it had not seemed to him possible that any suitor would offer for her hand. A poet, she was won by q poet, and few welded lives were more ideally happy than hers and Robert Browning's. Yet they had to steal away, softly and silently, from the Barrett home, they were married in the church of Marylebone, and then the bride returned and re- | mained at home for q week before she left with her husband for Italy. Dur ing this week they did not meet. The fathers wrath was never appeased
 and he died unreconciled to his daugh- ter. His was an implacable nature.
 The Brownings were of mature age | Elizabeth seven years her husbands senior, and past thirty when her mar riage took place. As a rule, runaway
 matches are made by boys and girls.
 who can well afford to wait, having the bright years lying all before them. -.s @