The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-05-16
Commonplaces Dull Love.
From New York Journal.

From New York Journal
Heigho, one day yawned King Francis,
distance all value enhances. Today
there are hundreds of men and women
who are bored to safety. 1t is sad re-
fection on human nature that, having OBJ
tained an object, We so easily tire of it,
but it is none the less true. Having ac-
knowledged the humiliating truth, let us
search for some of the underlying reasons.
As long as we have to work to gain the
coveted object, we value it accordingly;
but once gained, alasl it loses much of its
charm. II is still treasure, and as such
must be guarded from all intruders, but it
is very negative treasure-one that
knowing we possess it, we are content to
put aside and onl ly gaze at occasionally
Its value has decreased with its possession.
Many husbands and wives are living ex-
amples Of this problem Before marriage
each is striving to make a good impression
on the other. The man cannot show
enough thoughtful attention. He is anxious
to crafty his sweetheart smallest desire
Every new garment she dons is appreciated
and admired With the woman it is much
the same. She tries in every way to make
herself attractive; wears her prettiest
frocks; strives to be bright and entertain
ing; performs little thoughtful, loving ser
vices for him, and never forgets that in
order to hold his love and attention she
must do her share of the work.
After year or so of married life there
is often sad decline in the preferred stock
of married bliss The love is still there
in fact, it is oftimes deeper and truer than
it was before marriage-but the outward
and visible signs of i, have ceased. The
husband has ceased to be the lover; the
wife has ceased TO be the sweetheart.
They have each become so accustomed to
the possession of the other love that they
have grown 10 take it as matter of course
and to feel that it needs no expression.
The wife. burthened with household and
maternal cares, has ceased striving to make
herself beautiful in the eyes of her hus-
banl. hos ,a.ual ,n,D,- ~ ,ba Ic,-allo l.,
tie actions that made the sweetheart so
irresistible. The husband, on his side,
has become so secure in the possession of
his treasure that he has grown lax in his
guarding of it He no longer notices the
new gowns He is not half as concerned
as he used TO be over the tired lines that
tell Of fatigue, the weary droop of the once
upright figure. Love is still there, but he
Is almost buried under commonplaces, and
this Love will not have He expects to
be treated As valued and never neglected
guest, to be paid daily court to and not
pushed aside aud only brought out in cases
ot emergency. As rule the victims of
this ossifed love are aware of their sad
condition. They duly wonder why the
days that are do not seem ike the DAYS
that were. They regret that life has lost
It's sweetness, and all the while love
dear, neglected love-is tugging at their
elbows, crying out for rejuvenation Love
is not an orchid, living on air and light
nor is ii a hardy self grown perennial,
fourishing without care 1t is a delicate,
beautiful flower that needs good, nourish-
ing ground into which to thrust its tender
ibreS. Without constant care it willis and
dies. The men and women who are treat
ing their love as an orchid or a hardy per
ennial are in great danger of losing their
precious possession.
They are too sure of it and are neglect
ing all the little attentions that it demands.
Let the husband who has grown rusty in
loves language furbish up his vocabulary;
let him remember some of the tender cour-
tesies of his courting days; let him brush
the cobwebs of Indifference from his eyes
and gaze on his wife with the rose. hued
glasses he was wont to use
Let the wife who has grown to think
that she has no duties outside the care of
her children and house renew some of her
girlish charms aud graces; let her try hirt-
ing with her husband Instead of spend
ing all her time and energy on caring for
his children and his home; let her devote
some time to the renewal of the attractions
that made her his sweetheart in the first
place Love will come back with flying
feet, and whenever he is welcomed and
treated as an honored guest he gladly lin
gers.