The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-27
MARRIAGE AND NOBILITY

MARRIAGE AND NOBILITY
 Rev Elmer V. Huffer has got himself into the news papers by declaring that N1iss Gould is noble woman, but her nobleness would be greatly enhanced if she married''
 How does M1 Huffer know that? Marriage is not necessarily promoter of nobility. Sometimes it de- grades men and women. Marriage and the rearing of children the great duties of the Men and in fact created almost machines, to the performance of this duty So powerful is the instinct mpeng and to perpetuate the species, that 1t has become in phases of it, great ev needing constantly to be restrained and disciplined The danger is less that this duty will not be performed than it will be too generously performed.
 Miss Gould is what is popuary called an old maid, She prefers to call herself bachelor girl There is need to quarrel phrases which exactly the thing. 5f
 She has preferred to devote her life, and large DOT tion of her fortune good works She is rendering vice to many. of her fellow creatures
 What is the proof that her task is less noble than it would be if she devoted the time rearing children of her own?
 There is none. On the other hand celibacy may be upon occasion of the highest merit The Roman church long ago established cebacy for it's priesthood and foun datons where women might practice the same virtue Gan it be doubted that this rule has produced sgeness of purpose and the collective interest repre- sented by the church? It cannot be doubted.
 And what of the woman who remains at the bedside of her invalid mother taking the mothers place with family of brothers and sisters? If age withers her frame and she becomes old this service, shall 1t be sad that she would have been noble in we'd lock? Would not marriage be- for such one the symbol of seIfshness?
 Te serve others with love and patience while the strongest instincts of the flesh and will denied is the sternest task of nobility
 Nobility consists in SERVICE TO OTHERS.
 To do what all men do as matter of powerful i'm pulse not in itself noble else the man who should wed
 Miss Gould for her wealth would be noble the instant the wedding ceremony was pronounced.
 HE WOULD BE IGNOBLE.
 The distinguished clergyman is wrong. Marriage is not test of nobility. Marriage is fact of life. The mean the sordd, the heartess and the cruel wed certainly those whose lives long devotion,
 There is sanctity of sngleness as well sanctity of wedock The pastor with his flock the Sister by the bedside of the dying the spnster teacher in the school the old maid rearing the youngngs of her fathers house. exhibit nobeness of abnegation and lofty service which never could be increased by marriage.
 We hope therefore, that Miss Gould will remain a bachelor girl until conscience points upon another road and bespeak for Rev. Mr. Huer closer atten- ton the definitions of nobility and the acts which those definitions describe.
 From natural history he may borrow some truths. Nature provides bountifuy for the continuance of her creatures and is not necessary that every possibility of multiplication should be seized upon Between this and that species nature sets her balance like flow of tides
 There shall be increase but not until life is destroyed by it's own plentitude.
 Rev. Mr. Huffer is a married man. He knows best, whether his nobility has been increased by marriage His common and power to interpret obvious social facts have not been
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