Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-12-20
Little roll
6cMarriedLife
BY
WILLIAM GEORGE JORDAN
N0ONNNNNNNNNN



coMRAoesHIP IN MARRIED LIFE.
There is but one reason. but one
Justification for marriage. and that 10
love; all the other motives are not
reasons. they are only excuses. Those
who start In married life with q good
capital Of love feel that they have an
absolute guarantee Of harmony and
happiness that will endure through
oil their years, but II they depend sole
" on love they may find they IRE ex-
hausting their capital instead Of living
on the interest and may s0On become
bankrupt of love. But love alone 10
too fine. delicate and emotional to
stand the constant hard usage Of daily
life. Like gold. It 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 comradeship
and trust that 1t Is at Its best.
The truest, sweetest and happiest
marriages are those Of two who just
are welded s~weethearts and good
chums. With this duality Of condition
and trust that keeps their atmosphere
pure, clear, bracing and wholesome, oil
sources Of discord are neutralized, all
Joys are doubled by sharing. all sor.
rows lightened by mutual sympathy.
comfort and inspiration, and oil prob
lens solved In the sweet %sacredness OF
conference, with the united wisdom OF
both ever ut 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; 1t needs only loving
comradeship and confidence, q little
self-control, courage. kindness, unset
iishness, 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 nged lovers,
hardly able to read, may sit together
in the sunshine by a cottage door at
eventide, finding all their world In
each others eyes. telling their beads
Of sweet memories Of past joys and OF
sorrows outlived, and as her thin worn
hand rests lovingly in his, there seems I;
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 I'm I'm
abridged dictionary Of all the virtues
and one can imagine the saints blush
Ing with shame ut the sudden reallza
ton Of how fur short they are of thi
perfection. 1t seems like a test ex
animation for n front seat4in paradis
and few of us would get more than
nine per cent rating on IN homes
marking.
Let us be thankful that two who ar
Just human and with all their faults
foibles and failings can have Happiness
if they determine to have 1t and pa
the price In thought and effort. 1t !
not a gamble it Is n certainty II bot
determine to do their best and wor
In union and unity. 1t does not mea
n life unclouded by trial, sorrow, {
suffering but a home filled with low
and peace, a rest and a refuge wher
no real discord can long throw darl
ening shadows.
Comradeship Is one Of the stronge'
ties of married life. ~Comradeship
friendship in a negligee suit; it is fire.
near. trustful, comfortable, familit
and intimate. 1t has u basic respe'
that makes formality out of place. al
p%retense and pose seem treason; Il
two are their natural selves. spont
neous and unrcstrnined except by TIL
respect for each others individualil
tint makes each careful not to won't
or offend the other.
Comradeship between husband III
wife is the finest type of friendsh'
for pulsing through 1t Is the consta'
current of love, tenderness, sympath
nearness, dearness and closer col
munion Of interests, that ever vitaliz'
intens,Aes and freshens. Conrad
shin gives to each q finer, trner undo
standing Of the other that comes, n
from the mere observation Of acts al
of moods, but from gllmpses into t
depths Of each others thought, I
~reyealings Of standards and ideals. t
unconscious confession Of hopes, fen
and longings and restless ambitio
TINT are hidden forces struggling
wards expression like the root OF
plant seeking to penetrate the soil n
reach the light. These come only
ensv conversation where there Is
thought Of talking for effect. no scr
of being on dress parade.
When the two are real comrades I
wife Is Interested In the hobbi
business, friends and polit
az the husband. She may not see WI
fun he can have knocking a little b
over the landscape and then pok'
round a big field to find It, but II 8
siyes him any real pleasure shc
glad, and Ia interested, and wants
understand. Politics may seem to
rust something we pay ~officeholdera
manage, but II he sees anything In
she IL pleased to give him a chance
80 Ar~ u nm tho nNeV0n M