Ellsworth American., 1921-01-19
TOO MUCH Alike
Why Some Married Couples Are
Not 0ver-Happy.
Chances for Domestic Felicity Great
est When There Is a Marked Dis
similarity in Character.

Two young people whom l knew
very we'll recently married, remarks
writer in London Answers. They
had each taken q distinctive degree
at university, and, to all outward
appearances, were admirably suited
to each other.
Some time after, when l went to
visit them in their new hUne, l
failed to see the suitability.
do not know for certain that they
bored each other-I hope not, since
they are Joined up-but, OH how they
bored me!
The atmosphere was laden with
knowledge; the eatables on the table
seemed spread on geometrical plan.
Nay. the very jam looked scholastic.
They meant to be very charming,
do not doubt, and their conversation
was edifying but there was an alb
sence of jokes-poor or otherwise
and lightness or gayety was nil.
When l got outside l longed to see
the wind lift the hat off the head of
stout man and watch him chase it in
vain, or something-to me-equally
funny and undignified, so that l could
laugh away the oppression caused by
my visit. There was bit too much
"like" in that wedding, 1 thought.
She was a real sweet girl but felt
as if she ought to have married some
good fellow with more love than
knowledge in his composition, who
would have greeted her with good
hug that would have disturbed her
smoothly brushed hair, instead of the
cold "peck" she received.
He ought to have had woman who
would fearlessly have poked fun at
him, as well as having spirit enough
to tell him of his selfishness in taking
the most comfortable chair in the
room and appropriating the whole of
the fire. True, there might have been
an occasional flash in the pan, but at
least it would have been living and
not collegiate stagnation.
In the days when l used to think
knew something l remember being
surprised at the choice Of a wife made
by a professional friend Of mine. 1t
seemed to me as though he, with all
his attainments had simply thrown
himself away on a demure, domestic
mouse.
"What a companion for him." said
to myself. "Why, she doesn't seem to
have two intellectual ideas in her
head!"
That marriage proved perfect sue
cess, and I learned why, for l visited
them frequently.
She just adored her clever husband,
and he, coming home in the evening,
often tagged in body and brain, was
glad to find thoughtful consideration
and restfulness. Later, when the
children came, he said, too, that they
were brought up and cared for as
only a true mother knows how to
do 1t.
Once mentioned something like
the subject of this article to him. His
words in reply are, think, worth
repeating.
"If I had married brilliant or
very intellectual woman l fear my
club would have had more Of my
company. AS 1t is, I turn my steps
most willingly each evening toward
my haven of rest. You see, after
day in the business arena, a man
wants a change, not a new battle
to lay down his tools, so to speak"
once asked lady how she had
managed to keep her husband still
her sweetheart after so many years
Of marriage
She replied, with merry laugh,
and her eyes shone quizzically: "John
is such big, good, serious fellow,
quite my opposite, so l expect it is
Just the spice o. the devil in me
that has a charm for him."
From my little gleanings and ex-
periences have been brought to the
conclusion that the chances Of hap
piness are greater where contrasts Of
temperament exist than when like
marries like.