The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-11-12
Peoples Forum

* r -. = ~. ~ e 1l.'!A
"A Letter to the yeuns Abou. to Be
| Married.
I Knowing that you are about to en-.
ter garden enclosed. and that You
are at present stranger to this gar
/ den. permit I'M old friend to give you
some account OF It, have travelled
every part anil every path; know cy.
cry production of, every kind 1t can
possibly yield. and as my information
can do YOU no harm, 1t may do you
some good. You know that there Is
but one way OF entrance need hard
ly tell you that It Is extremely CAV
and gl!ftering-strewcl with flowers
OF every hue and fragrance, with all
that art or Imagination can invent.
You may fondly hope this scene OF raj
ture Will never alter rs you viii not
see the end OF the path when you
enter It. To some It proves a short
one. and to you 1t may appear very
different in the retrospect Here, my
dear friends. let me caution you not
to dream OF perpetual bliss: II you
do. experience will show you that It
never existed on earth save in visions
or visionary heads. You will meet
with many productions in this gat.
den which are charming to the eye.
and pleasant to the taste, but they
are not all SO. Let me just remark
that you are carrying into this garden
one OF the most delicious and delicate
plants In nat,re--I mean good humor.
Don't drop It. or lose it. as many have
done soon after they enter, who sci.
dom, II ever. found It again. It Is u
treasure which nothing can make up
to you.
When you get to the end OF the first
walk which lasts about thirty steps
commonly called honeymoon path, you
viii see the garden open in vast va.
rlety Of vicws-and here must eau.
ton YOU against some productions
WHICH are nauseous and noxious and
even fatal in their tendency to ths
,inwary and ignorant.
There Is low. small plant, which
mas be seen In almost every path.
called Indifference. thought not por-
ccired at the entrance. You will al.
ways know when near this plant.
though you do not see it. by certain
GOODNESS in the air which surrounds it.
Contrary to all others. It thrives IN
cold and dies in warmth. Whenever
you perceive this. change your situl.
ton rs soon as you can. ~
in the same path is found that ugly
yellow flower called Jealousy. which
wish you never to look at Turn
, from 1t as fast as possible; for 1t has
strange quality OF tinging the eye
that beh0lds it with stain which it
seldom gets rid Of. AS You go on.
you will meet with many little crook
ed paths: but do not go into them.
advise you, as n friend. never to at
tempt It, for though. at the entrance
OF each, Is written in large letters
"In the right way" when you get In.
In nine cases out Of ten you will find
the true name to be Perverseness, anil
that you are In the wrong. and will not
acknowledge it. This often occa-
sions endless .llsputes-here is Il
source of perpetual difference, and
sometimes Of final separation in the
garden.
Near this spot, you will meet with
sturdy. knotty plant. called Obst:.
macy. having hard. bitter fruit. which
becomes fatal when taken in large
quantities. Turn from 1t; avoid 1t as
you would the plague.
Just opposite to this, grows that
lonely. lovely shrub, Compliance,
which. though not pleasant to the
palate is salutary and sweet and pro.
duccs the most delicious fruit in the
garden. Never be without spriS
OF It In your hands; 1t will often be
wanted as you go along; If you do
not, you will surely repent the want
Of it. All over the garden you will
find useful plant called Economy.
1t Is a thriving quality; take good.
stock of 1t MS yon go in. It adorns anil
enrches ut the same time. Many en-
tircly overlook 1t, and others do not
think they want it. 1t Is generally
forgotten In the hurry and gaiety with
which people enter this place, but the
total want of II is commonly paid for
by bitter repentance. must tell you.
unless you partnlie OF It It will an
swer little end to either. You may
II You please, carry some with YOU
Into the garden; but 1t Is II hundred
to one If you do not lose 1t going in.
/ This Is moro useful than you will find
, therefor 1t is OF another sort. Pro.
| vide yourself and partner with n prop.