Macon beacon., 1916-05-05
WHAT MARRIAGE MEANS.

Wedlock's a saucy. sad, familiar state,
Where folks are very apt to scold and
hate.
Love kept at O. modest distance is divine,
Obliging and everything that's fine.
That women should look forward to
marriage is a law of nature. There
is shadow of doubt in their minds
but that it means future In which no
| cares or sorrow will assail them.
No woman of her own volition Is
giving up a pleasant life for one of
unhappiness. She Is sure that the
man who proposes marriage to her
has given her his full, undivided heart,
and means to cherish her fondly while
their lives last. 1t means much to a
woman to answer yes to an offer of
marriage. There is great deal which
the average woman knows nothing of
regarding matrimony.
Therefore, how can she consider the
situation as it really is?
She arrives at a conclusion, from her
point Of view, and takes the step.
After the knot is tied at the altar,
womans life is completely changed
The days Of her single blessedness
have past. The first book of life has
been softly closed. Henceforth her life
Is what he makes it. The poor girl, as
well as the rich, brings to the man she
weds dowry Of innocence, virtue and
wealth of love. 1t remains for him
to make her life blessing to her or a
curse.
All Of her hopes are clustered about
him. BY his vows at the altar he has
taken upon himself her support, pro-
viding not only for the present, but
for her old age, that she may not know
the cruel sting Of want, hunger and
suffering. Every year a wife lives
with her husband makes her more de-
pendent upon his love and considera-
tion. II he fails in his promise to pro-
vide for her through negligence or
waning love for her, the great bulwark
of married life is broken down. II she
has chosen tickle mate, and In after
years he transfers his affections to an
other, caring not for her heartaches or
tears, the love that linked welded
hearts together breaks like chain
worn too thin to longer hold in safety.
Any disturbing element in married
life tells fatally upon the woman who
has cast her all upon the die, expect
ing a pleasant existence from mar
riage. True, she has taken the man
for better or for worse. If misfortune
comes which is not of his making, he
having been loving, loyal and all that a
faithful mate should be, not one WON.
an in ten thousand would turn from
him in his hour of need. She would
put her shoulder to the wheel to try to
piece together, II she could, their shat
tered fortunes. She would never de-
sert him.
Thus does the average woman be-
lieve In the sanctity of marriage. Mar
riage means all the joys this world
can give to a woman. Strong are the
instincts with which God has guarded
the sacredness of marriage" She who
is we'll welded lives in paradise on
earth.
Mating should be considered with
the greatest care. The woman who
weds derelict, hoping to reform him,
deliberately blasts her life. What
man would take girl who had gone
deliberately wrong with the expecta-
ton of reforming her? Not one man
in thousands. Never leap into we'd
lock. Keep in mind the story of the
frogs in Aesop who were extremely
wise. They had great desire for wa
ter, but would not leap into the we'll
because they mistrusted they could
not get out again. AS woman makes
her marriage bed. so must she lie.