Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1903-09-16
BARS TO MATRIMONY
FEAR KEEPS MANY MEN FROM The
BLISS OF wEooEO LIFE.
some Instances of Lack of sum-
Client Pluck TO Take the Fatefur
Trip TO the Aitar-varfous Reason.
That All Spell Afraid

Client Pluck 10 Tnke the Fatefur
Trip to the Aisar-varfous Reason.
That All Spell afraid"
There Is a great deal OF specula-
uon,' said a we'll known lawyer. las
20 why men are so reluctant to marry.
but one reason never seems to occur to
the spectators. and that * that many
OF them are afraid TO. No. | am not
joking. IL is a sober and well con
sidered statement OF fact. for which I
can adduce as many proofs rs you
want, that many men would almost as
soon think OF patting a fierce bull on
the head or facing the midnight bur
glar as taking trip TO the altar.
Il remember as a boy an amusing
specimen of this kind OF man I'm Iowa.
He was farmer and was as notorious
for his amorous entanglements as for
his ingenuity I'm getting out OF them
when marriage began TO loom near.
II was said he had been engaged a
dozen times. and though he left all his
tiancees I'm the lurch he never found
any difficulty in getting a successor.
One day my father. who was his law
yer. asked him: Why don't you get
married. John; II isn't for want OF
opportunities. you know. and its quite
tine you thought OF settling down
Well. sir John answered. its this
way: You see. / like cOOrting well
enough. but I can nivver summon up
pluck TO 20 any further To tell you
the truth. I'm afeard OF getting tied
for life 10 one OF EN-
If you have heard many breach OF
promise suits you will have observed
that this wholesome dread OF matri-
mony is the cause of a good proportion
Of them. though all the defendants
have not the courage TO say So
"One client Of mine had allowed mat
ters 10 proceed right TO the eve Of the
wedding day. when he disappeared
mySteriously and was not discovered
for some months The young lady
promptly sued him for damages for
breach. and at the hearing the reason
for his conduct came ont. lie admitted
that he was fond Of the girl. but sun
dry exhibitions or her temper and jeal-
ouSy which he had witnessed had so
scared him that he simply hadn't the
courage 90 marry her. 4 meant to
marry her right enough ne said. but
when IL came 10 the point my courage
failed me. and l thought fl safer to
bolt
I'm another ease in which widow
sued widower FOR playing her false
the defendant put in singular plea. 1t
seems that the widows family strongly
objected 10 the match. and as passive
opposition was useless 10 prevent il one
of the sons. >talwart young fellow.
called ON the middle aged wooer and
told him that If ne persisted i'm his suit
he lthe som would give him such
thrashins as would cnectually cure
him OF any further sentiment. 50
what could I doE the defendant pathet-
ically asked
The more one sees behind the scenes
the more one realizes that there is often
great deal 10 be said for the man who
loves and runs away. One of any clients
a few years ago found himself iu an
awkward Quandary. lie had ongag,d
himself 10 three girls az different times
and. having cancelled lis ensaccmcnts
with two. was on the eve II marrying
No. 3. No sooner was his intention
known than the two Tilted ladies throat
cned him with legal proceedings il he
persisted in his proposed marriage. and
the favored lady in turn threatened q
similar fate il he didn't.
Here was a dilemma. Tor whatever
he did would end unpleasantly. How
ever, like prudent man. lie decided 70
run the smaller risk. lie pacihed his
two former hancees 10y canceling his
engagement and prepared to face the
music of the third lady.
The mother-in-iaw Is often a fatal
diSturber ~ loves young dream. one
breach OF promise defendant declared
that he would willingly have married
the plainU0 only ne couldn't stand
her mother at any price. and the pros
pect Of having his married happiness
disturbed by her Interference 50 scared
him that he decided il was more pru-
dent 10 break off the engagement. while
another frail lover actually stated in
court that ne was afraid 10 marry the
plaintiff lest she should grow w like
her mother whose tongue and tenn
per had shown him some OF the less
desirable possibilities OF married life.
one man whom defended last year
seems To have had a constitutional
dread Of matrimony He had been en-
gagged 10 the plaintiff no less than nine
years. -Four times the wedding dav
had been fixed. and ~ many times il
was adjourned 10y his wish. Finally
he cried OF altogether. and in court he
declared that. although he loved the
girl. he felt he could never screw ND
the courage 10 marry her When he
was asked the reason for his di1fidence
he said thar he had seen 50 much Of
the unhappy side of married life and
the difference between wooins and
wedding that he didn't feel equal tn
running the risk
These are but few from scores Of
similar eases which have come within
my own knowledge. one man feared
10 face matrimony ON account Of his
nancee's eNtravagauce. another quaint
ly confessed horror of his wife's
cooking and domestic gifts generally.
third defendant was afraid 10 wed
because 4 distant relative OF his lady
love had died in an asylum. and ~ on
But. whatever the cause. YOU may take
my word for il that the men who are
downright afraid To take wives are le-