The Washington times., 1923-01-17
SACRIFICE JOY
FOR BRIDE
Of 81
Spouse, 90, Agrees With
Third Wife That Happiness
Lies in Service.

NORWICH, N. T., Jan To-
think IL more women looked at mar
riage as an opportunity to serve and
love instead OF q chance to demand
tribute Cor themselves there would
be moro welded happiness. And
that applies to the husband also"
This Is the matrimonial philosophy
Of Mrs. Elizabeth Preacott Smith. Of
Smyrna, sixty-four-year-old bride of
Abel Comstock, eight-eight-yeareold
bank director. It was the third mar
rage venture for both Of the white
haired sweetheartS.
Neither insists that these are ideal
ages for marriages, but both agree
that the marriage state in their par
ticulac case is ideal.
When to Marry.
The time for man to marry, says
Mr.. COsnStoclx, is just as soon % he
has obtained position which will
enable his to support q wife in rea-
sOnable comfort, but let 1t be hastily
added that II didn't take Mr.. Com
stock eightyelght years to arrive at
that point. He was twenty-eight
when he took his first wife.
Mrs. COmstock was eighteen when
she dropped the miss before her
name, and she did not try to talk
herself out OF the idea Of marriage
on the grounds that she was too
young. She hasn't set any limits
either way yet. and she considers
that the time for a woman to marry
10 whenever she finds a man who
win make her q good husband.
"The most important factor IN Q
happy marriage" said the white.
haired bride, els the ability Of each
to forget self and to concentrate on
the others happiness instead Of con-
sidering everything from the selfish
standpoint"
Happiness IN Service.
With two happy marriages back
Of her, Mrs. Comstock's views ac-
quire value above the ordinary. She
said as she rocked contentedly in the
low-ceilinged room Of her new home,
that this ideal Of service was the
foundation OF all her happiness.
And Mr.. Comstock said. 40 he
beamed at her from the other side
of the table, just out OF the reading
lamps glow. that marriage for each
Of them must have been q great
deal Of a success or they wouldn't
be trying 1t so often.
There's no question about II. Mr..
Comstock affirmed, smiling through
spectacles with narrow lenses and
shiny rims, "a good wife and g cozy
home are the best things that can
coma to any man. And good dispo'
sitionS and the win to serve each
other are the things most essential
to married happiness
How Romance Began.
Mrs. Comstock went from Oneida
three months ago TO nurse Mr.. Com
stock through an illness. He sui.
fered injury from Q tall after his
recovery from the illness and she
continued as nurse and houeekeeper
In the home at Smyrna. By that
time Mr.. Comstock had decided that
he could not 50 back to the loneli,
ness which had prevailed in the little
white house before she came. They
were married In Norwich at the
uO1u0 "a 01EDs DS9SA6 AOu1DOOEA 0O1BS4t
sister Of the bridegroom. The Rev.
William Barnfather, pastor Of the
Methodist Church at Smyrna, OF
which Mr.. Comstock Is q member,
performed the ceremony, and the at.
tendants were James T. ComstOck
and Mrs. Marie Simmons. both OF
Smyrna, the former being the son Of
the bridegroom and the latter the
brides niece.
Was Village Druggist.
Mr.. Comstcck has been for nearly
sixty years "a resident Of Smyrna.
He was the proprietor Of the village
drug store until 1900, when he re-
tired. and his son, James T, Com
stock succeeded him. He IL q dlrec-
tor Of the First National Bank OF
EaFlSvIiIe and a trustee OF the
Smyrna Methodist Church. His first
wife died ten years after they were
married and the second died three
years ago after forty years OF mar
rted life.
Mrs. Comstock has two sons and
two daughters by her earlier mar
riages. Her first husband died forty
ago and the second IN 1906.
Mr.. Comstock's hair is not alto
gether white. despite his almost
ninety years and neither his sight
nor hearing IL impaired, while Mrs.
Comstock's mild cOuntenance, be-
meath silvery locks, il smooth and