The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1917-12-06

coMRADESHIP IN MARRIED LIFE.
There as 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-
haustlng 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, 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 corlradeship
and trust that it is at it's 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 few chosen ones, the
elect of the earth; it needs only loving
comradeship and confidence, a little
! self-control, courage, kindness, unset
flshness, 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 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
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 I'M
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. It seems like a test ex-
animation for a front seat in paradise
and few of us would get more than
nine per cent rating on an honest
marking.
Let us be thankful that two who are
just human and with all their faults,
foibles and failings can have happiness
If they determine to have ii and pay
the price in thought and effort. 1t is
not gamble; II is a certainty If both
determine to do their best and work
in union and unity. 1t does not mean
life unclouded by trial, sorrow, or
suffering but home filed with love
and peace. a rest and a refuge where
no real discord can long throw dark
ening shadows.
Comradeship is one Of the strongest
ties of married life. Comradeship is
friendship in a negligee suit; it is free,
near, trustful, comfortable, familiar
and intimate. IT has basic respect
that makes formality out of place, and
pretense and pose seem treason; the
two are their natural. selves, sponta-
neous and unrestrained except by that
respect for each others individuality
that makes each careful not to wound
or offend the other.
Comradeship between husband and
wife is the finest type of friendship,
for pulsing through 1t is the constant
current of love, tenderness, sympathy,
nearness, dearness and closer COM
munion Of interests, that ever vitalizes,
intensifies and freshens. Comrade-
ship gives to each a finer, truer under
standing of the other that comes, not
from the mere observation of acts and
of moods, but from glimpses into the
depths of each others thought, the
revealings of standards and ideals, the
unconscious confession Of hopes, fears
and longlngs and restless ambitions
that are hidden forces struggling to-
wards expression like the root of a
plant seeking to penetrate the soil and
reach the light. These come only in
easy conversation where there is no
thought of talking for effect, no sense
of being on dress parade.
When the two are.real comrades the
wife is interested in the hobbies,
games, business, friends and politics