The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-01-15
HAPPY MARRIAGES.
None Are Entirely Free from Occas.
sional Small Oisag


None Are Entirely Free from Occas.
sionaI Small Oisa9reements.
AN old couple in New Jersey a week
or more ago celebrated the sixty-eight
anniversary of their wedding. The
newspaper reports closed with the
statement: "They have never had a
quarrel" Frequently, indeed, almost
Invariably, couples on the occasion of
their silver or golden wedding, declare
that they never had quarrel; that the
serenity f their companionship. Lever
has been interrupted by harsh words
or the most trivial pickering.
Never give any credit to such state
ments. The person who makes them
may really believe them at the time,
and warmth and kindness of wine and
-infatuation intensified by the occasion
corrupt the memory Of aged couples
and move them to boast Of their good
fortune. Noone should criticise this fail
ing, which is harmless and even eau
tiful, but which, nevertheless, Is trea.
son Of the cold truths. The old man
sits at the head Of the table with his
old wife at his side. Both have been
toasted and it is necessary to reply.
He rises and says: "We have lived
together for half century and have
never auarreled,n ~ ana the good wife,
in her black gown and her best, laces,
beams on her children, her grand
children and assembled friends, and
confirms the falsehood with nod. !.
Frequently, too, younger couples
circulate the same fiction about them
selves. In company they are very de-.
voted to each. She continually gives
him playful fillips on the cheek, and
hdearestn is the coldest i, name by
which he addresses her. From their
own stories 1t appears that their mar
ried life has been uninterrupted beati-
tude. They bask in each others CLAN
ces and are exalted, transfigured by
love. & WEs2 iI..S%
Other young couples, who are very
fond of each other and who get on
very well together, though. not! with
ou: little quarrels, may be inclined to
have the blues when they behold
how extremely peaceably the, first
young couple dwell together. Perhaps
a young wife will accuse herself of
being too quick Of temper and too
sharp of tongue. Perhaps both will
think that their marriage has not been
as successful as it might have been.
Then they may put their arms about
each other deplore past quarrels and
past hardships, renew their vows Of
love, and resolve to make { the future
atone for what cannot be undone. II
Such self-crimiuations will do no
harm. Such renewals Of the vows OF
affection will make day or a week
more pleasant, perhaps, than 1t would
have been. 1t is well.for husband and
wife now and then beg pardon of each
other. But no young couple should be-
lieve that, becaused they fall out once
in while, exchange sharps words,
lose their tempers and spoil dinner
by quarreling, their marriage Is fail
ure, at least, by comparison. Nothing
could be more untrue or more unjust TO
themselves. All married couples have
bad their little chickering's, and when
any couple say they have lived togeth-
er fifty years, or even ten years, with
out quarrel, they are either the one
exceptional couple out Of one thousand,
or they, say what Is not true. True,
the husband may never have attempted
to stab his wife nor the wife plotted to
poison her husband, but be sure they
have more than once scolded each
other, taunted each Others, been angry
at each other, and, In short, quarreled
outright with each other. They have
been reconciled, of course; their life to-
gether has been harmonious, except
for occasional diseords; they really love
each other; but, believe this, they
have had their quarrels. y,t:5