The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-01-08
ARP ON MATRlMONY
The Philosopher Writes on a Serious
Subject
BNTH PARTIES .ECURELY BOUND
Arp Says 1arriage is the Only Pari-
ncrship That Cannot Be Dissolved
Responsibility.

Married anu gone. 1t is the same Olu
story. Love and courtship. Then comes
the engagement ring and blessed in
terral of fond hopes and happy dreams,
and then the happy day is fixed-the
aUspicious day that is never to be for
gotten--a day that brings happiness or
misery and begins new life. Then
comes the license, the permit Of, the
Law which says you may marry. you
may enter into bonds. The state ap-
proves it and the law allows it, and II
will cost you only a dollar and quar-
ter. Cheap isn't it? And yet it may be
very dear. Then comes the minister
and the happy pair stand up before
him and make some solemn vows and
listen to prayer and benediction,
and they are one. In moment the
trusting maid has lost her name and
her free will, and is tied fast to man.
Well, he is tied fast, too. so it is all
right all round, reckon. but somehow
| always feel more concern about the
woman than the man. She is a help
less sort Of a creature and takes the
most risk, for she risks her ALL
was Illuminating over this, for there
was marriage going on at our good
friend Sam Jones house. and their
pretty daughter. Laura. was changing
her name and her home on this the
last day of the year and going of to
live with man she hasn't known very
long; but have diagnosed him from
his face and features and am satisfied
with her choice. He Is big-hearted
gentl- man, or else the signs fail.
wanted to be present and give them
my. blessing. but was not we'll enough
to go-Ive got the elephantiosis from
my toes to my knees, and can hardly
meander across the room, but am al
ways interested in the marriages Of our
young people. 1t is the most serious
business in this life, and II the peril Of
it was known beforehand many Of the
young people would hesitate to make
the change. The chains Of matrimony
and not bonds Of marriage are the
right words. When men make part
nership they can't get along we'll il
they art unlike in disposition. or in
moral principle or in business ways,
but they can dissolve and separate at
pleasure and try another man. A man
and his wife ought to be alike in al
most everything. In some things folks
like their 'opposites-their counter
parts. A man with blue eyes goes dis
tracted over a pretty girl with hazel
eyes, did. and I'm distractey yet
when ! look into them, though I've
been doing that for fifty-four years.
But In mental and emotional qualities
and in tastes and habits and politics
and religion they should class together
| never made any mistake about my
choice Of partner for the dance Of
life. but I've thought of 1t thousand
times that II Mrs. Arp had known |
loved Goldfish and got UP by daybreak
every morning. she never would have
had me. 1t was nip and tuck to get
her. anyhow, and that would have been
the feather to break the camel's back.
Well, I'm mortal glad she didn't know
it. though am free to say that If had
known she slept until the second ring
ing OF the first bell for breakfast and
was fond Of raw oysters, it would have
had dampening effect upon my ardor
for few minutes, only few. But |
have seen some mighty clever people
cat oysters raw and sleep late in the
morning. But still man and his wife
can harmonize and compromise a good
many Of these things, and 1t is beau
tiful illustration Of this to see Mrs.
Arp cooking Goldfish for me and fixing
it all up so nice with eggs and cream,
and it is touching evidence Of my
undyinS devotion to her to see me
wandering about the house lonely and
forelorn every morning for an hour or
two. and forbidding even the cat to
walk heavily while she sleeps. That
Goldfish business comes to me honestly
from my fathers side. and my mother
put up with it like good, considerate
wife, and We children grew up with
an idea that it was good. I've heard of
young couple who got married anG
went off to Augusta on tour, and the
Ielier STUCK MS FORK into Goldfish bal. |
and took bite He choked it down
like hero, and when his beloved
asked him what was the matter. re-
piled: Don't say anything about it.
Mandy, but as sure as you are born
there is something dead in the bread"
Well, We can make compromises
about all such things as habits and
tastes, but there are some things that
won't compromise worth a cent. If a
girl has been brought up to have
good deal Of freedom, and thinks it no
narm TO go waltzlng around with
every gay, Lothario who loves to dance,
and after she gets feller of her own,
wants to keep at it and have polluted
arms around her waist, she had just az
we'll sing farewell to conjugal love and
domestic peace, for 1t is against the
order Of nature for loving husband to
stand it, and he oughtn't.
And now another busy year has gone
gone like the water that has passed
over the dam-gone never to return.
1t has carried many friends along with
it and left sad memories in the house
hold, but on the whole it has been
good year to us all and Providence has
been kind.
Now is the time to look back and re-
view the past, as did old Janus, for
whom, Ionnorxy uoc named Ha wac tho |