The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1911-09-22
OF Matrinonv


wife. Whereupon, Socrates replied that
it made but little difference whether he
selected one or didn't, for, in either
case, he would regret it. Hymen seems
to be somewhat treacherous. He al
lures yoteries with flattering promises Of
connubial bliss, and after winning them
over to be tormented by the Furies-or
rather, they foolishly turn themselves
loose to torment each other. But peo-
pie will still experiment in matrimony.
1t is popular to get married, and it is
becoming disgracefully popular to get
unmarried. The divorce evil among us
reminds me Of the latter days of Rome,
when no man seemed to value his wife.
1t indicates, speaking broadly, low So
cial rottenness.
1t is asserted, by some educators, that
a family is an impediment to a man
who would attain to eminence in the
higher professions. But most of our
doctors, lawyers, teachers, ministers and
statesmen are married. And some of
the worlds most eminent teachers and
leaders have not only been married, hut
unhappily so. Socrates welded an I'M
tamable shrew he then took to himself
another, thinking that they would quar-
rel with with each other, but instead Of
doing that, these judicious DANES united
their batteries on Socrates, which made
him feel, | should think, unlike one
who wraps the draperies of his couch
about him and lies down to pleasant
dreams" Mr. Wesley's consort was
most disagreeably masculine, and oc-
casionally she would take athletic exer-
else by dragging him over the floor by
the hair and at church she sometimes
would entertain the audience by hurting
books at Mr. Wesley while he was try
ing to preach-but of course they might
have been intended for reference. But
Wesley being a strong man was superb
or to all that Milton was married
twice, and both times unhappily By
ron's conjugal relations were far from
agreeable, and the poets tears were
falling fast when he penned these lines
to the woman who had forsaken him:
Though my many faults defaced me,
Could no other arm be found
Than the one which once embraced me,
To nfict a cureless wound"
Yet, in spite of their unhappy connu
bal states, these men did great works in
a great way.
But it is consoling to an aspiring old
bachelor to know that such men as Try
ing, Whittier, Goldsmith, Swift, Cow
per, Dante, Swedenborg, Plato and
Homer bowed never knee at the
hymenial altar. But doubtless they
were great lovers of the fairer sex, as
most, and perhaps all, great men are.
Irving, it is said, loved young lady in ,
his youth, and never married because ..
so truly he could not love but one. No
one could dispell Cowpers gloom like .
the viyacious Lady Austen, and Beatrice
was the fairest of ten thousand " to !
Dante, even in paradise. Whether
49,, ,,,o-r;n, "a, dooc NOT ba sbouIJ
keep the love of true and noble women
burning as a sacred flame upon the
altar of his heart. Love of women is
one of the greatest incentives to lofty
aims and heroic action. Expect but
little of that man whose heart no ten
der passion feels for the opposite SEX
He is fit for treasons, stratagems and
3poils. =
To hold inviolable the hymenial altar
and married state indicates great moral (:
worth and elevation in people; to hold
hem lightly, moral degradation. Mar
red life is the natural state of human
society, and only in that state can So
,iety attain to and keep the culture,
moral dignity and happi-
ness which are its rightful and possible
possession. To be married adds to a .
man S standing and Importance among
MS fellow men. And to have worthy
md loved companion along life's path
way is something most desirable. And .
4 delight in making each other
happy should characterize all welded
couples The old bachelor may well :
envy happily married people for their
mutual pleasures and delights, for he
must live apart, And when he grows
I'D, or ever the silver cord be loosened,
,r the golden bowl be broken, or the
pitcher be broken at the fountain, he
eels as one who treadS alone some
banquet hall deserted " And he must
70 to his long home unwept Union