Year: 1869




generally vibrate from one extrsme to
another. 1t is but rarely the case that those
who enter into these discussions really un-
derstand the subject of marriage, and
therefore their preferences are to be looked
upon with caution. In most cases, however,
these opinions are based upon the evil or
| good that has CHANGED to result from what
are considered early marriages, in instances
that have fallen under the notice of those
who advocate or condemn, instead of pro-
ceeding from knowledge of the true laws
| that ought to govern marriage.


We are advocates of early marriages
between men and women-not between
boys and girls. That which makes man,
man-and woman, a woman-ls nationality
NOT the legal age. Freedom from the
restraints of youth, and an requirement of
the legal rights of majority, are very far
from giving this. 1t comes from experience,
to which have been added thinking and
observation. Nothing is seen in its true
light when we first enter upon life; and it
is only after our judgement has been ma
tured by experience that we can really see
things around us in their true relation one
to the other. A few years, too, make us
see not only deeper into what is without
us, but also into what is within us aud
scarcely a month of this period passes with
out our being led 10 correct some error or
misconception into which we had fallen
If during this period, mistakes are constant
ly made in matters of trivial Importance,
,kok &C n 10
not be made in that most important Of all
acts of woman's life-marriage?


Marriage from the age of twenty two CT
three, we think, are early marriage for
woman, and believe that evils almost always
arise from an earlier consummation of
marriage contract. Mr.. Combe is of the
opinion, that many young people of both
sexes fall sacrifices to early marriages, who
might have withstood the ordinary risks of
life, and lived together in happiness, if they
had delayed their union for few years,
and allowed time for the consolidation of
their constitutions" And this musts trike
every rejecting mind as true, without the
necessity Of looking round to see the hun
dreds of young mothers with shattered
constitutions, lingering over the grave or
sinking down into its chilling precin cts
Neither physical nor mental health can
follow marriage that takes place too early.
1t is almost impossible to make right
choice, and the constitution is not well
enough formed to bear the great physical
changes that usually occur. True love-
that which abides-has its foundation in a
knowledge and appreciationof of moral quail
ties. These cannot be known without the
power of discerning them, and this power
is not sufficiently developed, in very young
persons, to enable them to decide upon the
fitness of another to become wife or a
husband. Family connections; talents,
beauty of person, and exterior grace, may
all be decided upon, but other qualifications
are required without which marriage is
only an external union.


Too early marriages, from the causes
briefly alluded to here, are productive of
much unhappiness. From their bewilder-
ing dream, young couple. who have un-
wisely rushed into marriage before either
of them was old enough really to upder-
stand what love meant, not unfrequently
awake to the painful consciousness that
they have welded unwisely. If the mind
of each is groundwork of good sense and
good feeling, the consequences may not be
so very serious, although through life there
will be times when each will bitterly regret
their early act of folly. But in numerous
cases, there exists popularity of temper
ament that mars the happiness OF BOTH
Open disagreements or secret chickering's
turn the holy state of marriage into a
condition ofinexpressible misery, the larger
share of which usually falls upon the head
of the one least able to bear 1.-THE wife,
Or actual hatred of one towards the other
is engendered, and they ale driven asunder,
aud stand in society as the disfgured and
disfguring mementoes of the folly of too
precipitate marriage


When, however, young woman has
reached the age we have named, and man
known to be virtuous and honorable, has
! formally offered her his hand, and been
accepted, the marriage ought not long to
be delayed, if no impediment exists, such
as inability on the part of the man to sup
port wife. Among the reasons that have
been urged against young lady's contract
ing marriage Immediately, is the following
by Mrs. Farrar, which is we'll worth con-
sidering. She says: {" The married school
girl deprives herself of most delightful
and useful stage in her existence-that of
grown-up daughter, maturing under the
eye of a mother, and the influence of
home circle, with time enough for mental
culture, and useful experience of domestic
affairs, without the care which belongs to
the mistress of a family. She loses all
the varied pleasures of young lady, and
skips at once from childhood to married
life. Early marriage also prevents the
literary education of girl being carried
far enough for it to go forward easily amid
the cares of family, and therefore it often
ceases altogether; in few years, she loses
what little she acquired at school, and
degenerates into mere housekeeper and
nurse "-EI Dorado.


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