Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1917-12-08
title Problems
married Life

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/. WILLIAM GEORGE JORDAN !.
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0Oopyrishs,
coMRADEsiiP IN MARRIED LIFE.
There is but one reason, but one
justification for marriage, and that is
love; all the other motives are not
reasons, they are only excuses. Those
who start in married life with a good
capital Of love feel that they have an
absolute guarantee Of harmony and
happiness that will endure through
all their years, but If they depend sole
ly on love they may find they are ex-
hausting their capital instead Of living
| on the interest and may soon become
bankrupt of love. But love alone Is
/ too fine, delicate and emotional to
stand the constant hard usage of daily
life. Like gold. 1t Is better and strong
er when alleged; love should be made
| sturdy and lasting, reinforced,
strengthened and intensified In its
power to resist wear. 1t Is only when
alleged, or blended, with comradeshtp
| and trust that it is at its best.
The truest, sweetest and happiest
marriages are those of two who just
are welded sweethearts and good
chums. With this duality Of condition
and trust that keeps their atmosphere
pure, clear, bracing and wholesome, all
sources Of discord are neutralized, all
joys are doubled by sharing, all sor-
rows lightened by mutual sympathy,
! comfort and inspiration, and all prob
lens solved in the sweet sacredness OF
| conference, with the united wisdom OF
both ever at the command OF either,
needing no outside referee.
Success in married life does not re-
quire heroic spectacular qualities pos
sible only to a few chosen ones, the
elect Of the earth it needs only loving
comradeship and confidence, a little
self-control, courage, kindness, unset
fishness, cheerfulness and just daily
patience along the way. 1t does not
require wealth, for often the poor are
the happiest and most contented. 1t
does not demand intellectual powers
and fine education, for two aged lovers,
hardly able to read, may sit together
In the sunshine by cottage door at
eyentide, finding all their world IN
each others eyes, telling their beads
of sweet memories Of past joys and or
sorrows outlived, and as her thin worn
hand rests lovingly in his, there seems
benediction of calm peace and conse-
Grated love that makes mere intellec-
tual wisdom seem worthless by con-
trast.
There are some who tell us the quail
tiles necessary in husband and WIFE
The long inventory sounds like an un-
abridged dictionary of all the virtues
and one can imagine the saints blush
Ing with shame at the sudden realiza'
ton of how far short they are of this
perfection. 1t seems like a test eX
animation for front seat in paradise
and few of us would get more than O
nine per cent rating on an honest
marking.
Let us be thankful that two who are
lust human and with all their faults
foibles and failings can have happiness
If they determine TO have it and pay
the price in thought and effort. 1t IL
not gamble; it is a certainty II botf
determine to do their best and WORK
in union and unity. 1t does not mear
a life unclouded by trial, sorrow, o.
suffering but Il home filed with love
and peace, rest and refuge where
! no real discord can long throw dark
ening shadows.
: Comradeship is one of the strOnges
ties of married life. Comradeship l!
} friendship In negligee suit; 1t is free
near, trustful, comfortable, familiar
and intimate. It has basic respec
| that makes formality out Of place, AM
{ pretense and pose seem treason; tn
| two are their natural selves, sponta
neous and unrestrained except by tina
respect for each others individualit.
that makes each careful not to wount
or offend the other.
Comradeship between husband an
: wife is the finest type Of friendship
] for pulsing through 1t is the constan
l. current of love, tenderness, sympathy
d nearness, dearness and closer com
J. munion Of interests, that ever vitalizes
g tntensifies and freshens. Comrade
e ship gives to each a finer, truer under
standing of the other that comes, no
!. from the mere observation of acts an
o of moods, but from glimpses into tn
Il depths of each others thought, tn
= reveolings of standards and ideals, tn
e unconscious confession Of hopes, fear
t and longings and restless ambition
C that arc hidden forces struggling to
|. wards expression like the root OF
plant seeking to penetrate the soil an
reach the light. These come only 1
easy conversation where there is
y thought of talking for effect, no sens
n of being on dress parade.
s When the two are real comrades tn
e wife is interested in the hObbie!
n games, business. friends and polite
l. of the husband. She may not see wha
l. fun he can have knocking little ba
It over the landscape and then pokin
round big field to find it. but if go
giSes him any real pleasure she
., glad, and is interested, and wants
81 understand. Politics may seem to HI
q. lust something we pay officeholders