Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-07-10
Marrring ! Man o Reform Him.

When q WOHld1 gives HST heart 10 4
man. and believes that she has his who'll
IL II return, she is ready to do and TO
dare anything for the sake of her be-
loved. at any cost TO herself. To what
ever may be alleged against him, and
bv whomsoeyer, she turns deaf ear A
,yomans love will clothe in royal robes
tbe most unkingly of creatures; it as
cribes to the idol which it worships a
goodness and a greatness, an excellence
Of motive, an admirableness of conduct
which are not to be discerned by any
but herself
Only let woman surrender her whole
heart to man. however worthless he
NAV be, and she will believe nothing to
the dscredit of her lover. Friends who
tell her unpleasant truths concerning his
antecedents and bis doings incur her
enmity, not her gratitude. She prides
herself upon her loyalty to him upon
whom she lavishes her affection, and in
sists that her pet "black sheep" needs
only little soap and water to become
the whitest in the flock. Bitter, indeed
is the agony when she can no longer de-
ceiye herself, when, as must sooner or
later be the case. she is forced to con-
fess to her own. soul, if to none other,
that she has bartered her treasure for
dross
1t is probably because, as the poets
say. love is 4 disease that so many good
women are found to marry men who
have absolutely wallowed in pitch. such
as no one can touch and not be defiled,
fondly believing that love for themselves
shall prove a regenerating influence
which shall change the leopard's spots
and wash the Ethiopian white. In truth
the better and purer the woman the
more ready is she to assume the task of
reformation.
Certain il is that no argument is as
powerful with a good and unselfish wom-
an who really is in love with a man.
than his earnest assurance that she, and
she only, has the power to effect his sal
Walton; that it is her sacred mission to
lift him up from degradation to higher
things, and by the strength of their mu-
tual love to hold him steadfastly in the
right path. true woman is always
willing to suffer gladly for loves sake
and delights in offering herself a ready
sacrihc for those whom she loves better
than herself. 1t is truth past doubling
that men, and women also, are frequent
ly transformed by the wonderful power
of love. But it is love, and not mar
rage which works the miracle. The
man who shows no disposition to reform
before marriage, cannot reasonably be
trusted to right about face after he
has received payment in advance for
goods which he cannot or has no desire
TO deliver. The reformation which does
not at least begin curing the days of
courtshlp cannot be hoped for much less
expected. after marriage. If the man
who is upon his mettle, because of oppo-
sltion. to win a woman will not abandon
his vices in order that he may gain the
prize, it is scarcely within the bounds
OF possibility that he will break the
chains of evil habits after that incentive
is withdrawn.
Any man who really loves a woman
with the love which may be counted
upon to last, and who feels that she is
TOO good for what he knows himself to
be, is usually not only willing but eager
to make sure of himself before he allows
her to trust her happiness to his keep
ing. Such a man IS far more likely to
INSIST upon a period OF probation in
Which he may prove to the woman
whom he loves, and still more to her
doubling kith and kin, the truth and sin
cerlty of his purposes of amendment. He
sets her happiness above his own, and
tests the bridge ere he trusts it to carry
his beloved across the water. Mean
while he has the comfort of her love.
Tho Indictment of future reward, as well
as all the tender encouragement given
by a sweetheart.
Men are hunters by nature; the zest
OF the chase has for them fractions
which greatly exceed those of the COW
eted prize after it is captured.
sometimes, though rarely, women are
successful; just often enough to make up
pity rather than blame ner who. loving
NOT wisely but too well' rashly takes
me risk: Infinite love, infinite patience,
lne taith which hopes always, the c. :
age which fails not and above all 70
strength which leans upon the Strength
when is greater than itself-ail these are
necessary for the work.
Usually however, the opposite end of
me balance dips lowest. Except Tor the
. gfleI period OF courtship, and not always
1heh. IL Is the woman who most exerts
herself to please; who puts forth every
eIoFt to attract and charge the man
"hom she loves, finding it more blessed
90 give than to receive. No woman is
"nolly without influence over the man
VINO loves her. but even so the influence
III the man preponderates
Yet the fact remains that the reforma-
uoh OF an evil man by even the best of
wives IS among the most difficult of hui
aan undertakings. The cases where a
woman however deeply in love. has mar
rled Grunkard and roue against the
sntreaties of her friends. and has nor
tNea 70 repent the act, are so few as to
pe worthy of citation IS exceptions which
20 TO prove the rule.
II IS by no means an easy task to re-
Iofm any one. People always dislike to
De found fault with, and prefer their
'Nh Tricks and manners to those of 9TH
~ EAG lueN KNOW IHeE are
wrong. they want to be excused. not
FAMED. Are we not taught that "the
way to hell is paved with good inten-
u1as No man who cannot stand up-
Hght without the aid of a woman is a
9aie husband; she who endearors to
hoid up such a weakling, is apt to be
Oe9t II not broken in the effort.
SINCE marriage is the closest of human
aSsoelations it is inevitable that the two
no are Thus bound together shall act
ana react each upon the other. But it
Is, alas. the exception when the higher
Lature elevates the lower: the rule is
Sil9J the higher must be hindered and
ned down by the weight of the lower.
zen II it is not altogether abased BY
e5ntact with that which is mean and de-
sEadlng. 1t is the law of custom and
y wSaitIou that man shall rule over his
80 and il usually is his win which
Ssypfs their life together.
s1, despite all the dreadful facts
lily told. the awful examples which
1inually are seen. young women per
SSt 70 receiving the attentions Of dissi-
P5sea men, and in time marry them.