Year: 1874




IN the procession will cease to be the
most wretched object in existence.


Marriage as a Sanitary Measure


The papers cast tell rs that Mr..
Ovington, a wen-known BROOKLYN mer-
chant, has fled a petition for the di-
vorce OF his daughter, Mrs. Spiers, on
the ground of hopeless imbecility.
Miss Ovington, it seems, a few years
since, having graduated with high hon
Ors at Packer Institute, was ush red in
to the social world with fairest prom
ise. Alas, the old story of over-taxed
immature brain repeated itself and
those unhappy symptoms appeared which
only developed as time went on. The
child of wealthy parents, she doubtless
received every attention which affection
could suggest or money command
travel and rest, sea-bathing and noun
tain Air, various diversion by land and
waterfall TO no avail. AS last re-
sort, "she was married to her present
husband


Comment is here taken up by the pa
pers on the inability of the female
mind to cope with the more difficult,
abstruse collegiate studies an old
theme. and still worthy Of considera-
ton, Notwithstanding the prominent
exceptions TO the contrary. But the
novelty of the final attempt to minister
to mind diseased must give us pause.
Any new social experiment demands
close and respectful attention from the
possible Importance of It's results. IL
mans power become so developed BY
the execution of the marital bond that
he can recover for his wife lost reason
why we ought to know it at once, be-
fore we send any more girls to the lu-
natic asylum, or suffer young men to
idle away single lives, while their agen-
cy might be such useful one. It was
bold experiment to make, for there was a
disagreeable acknowledg in event of
failure, and in face of experience that
was almost inevitable. Sometimes there
is decided improvement physically
brought about by marriage IEccen-
tricities are corrected by husbands of
tact like Petruchio wives are brought
to reason, but who ever heard of reason
being brought to wives ? 1t would in
deed be a happy condition of things
could one mind by constant sympathetic
intercourse lure back another which had
taken flight. Worthy won1d be the
cause for sacrifice, and beautiful the ae-
tion of its devotees. To our sorroE,h
there is no such encouragement. Mar
riage seems to bring out imbeeility
rathei than to stay it. In these days Of
laced waists and high heels, girls not
only pay the penalty of q mothers
folly, but borrow largely on their own
account. We regard them with wonder
as night after night they tread the
measures of the mazy, way past the
smallest hours, rise in the morning TO
pay calls or shop, and to put saddle-
horses to severe tests in the afternoon.
A young man is completely deceived.
for this wondrous endurance ceases after
marriage as though that were the one
grand blow which swept away all props.
German figures of a domestic cut won't
answer; the illusion is over when there
is no prospect of changing partners. A
baby iEtrudes and the milk bill in
eresses, as the home supply is apt TO
run short. Did this happen in the days
Of Spartan or Roman glory 2 Is ib
and muscle througnN an india rub
Der tube? And since being is denied
that aesthetic education which An ac-
quaintance with his mothers breast
gives, but is brought up on the fraud
of bottle, is it at all strange that his
affections often cling tenaciously to this
latter the rest of his days Time was
when wives could give ample evidence
OF affection and backbone combined,
when the witty fraus of Weinberg tri-
umphantly bore off their husbands
from the beleagured city. A fellow
would stand good chance now of be-
ing left to the tender mercies of
Krupp's cam on for ,aughs his better
half could do to help him.


Yes, the imbeeility most often exhib-
its itself in lackof energy and strength,
in poor infringement of husband,
children and household but there
isn't always the kind father in-law to
step IN with his petition of divorce.
Had the effort succeeded, the conse-
offences might have been startling in
the extreme. There would have been
such rush on the eligible young man
as was never known. Marriage would
be justly known as the true Pierian
fount, and the article husband drive all
other tonics out of the market. A
mother would regard them critically
she might the Jars in drug store, while
the father would count them as so much
off his doctors bill. In short, they would
cease to occupy the simply ornamental
position OF to-day and be considered thor
oughly useful as the universal health Ie-
storer. Stock would rise, and plenty of
those now ready to sell out at a mod er-
ate figure would hold of for higher
bids-terms in proportion to serious
ness of case. 1t might pay to organize
joint stock company, with every hus-
band warranted.


But there was only failure to chroni-
Gle, and the young mans chances are
as poor as ever. One consolation must
be, that he who weds it wealthily in
Padua isn't of necessity happy and
that should we ever have a case pre-
sented which viii test our gallantry as
sorely as Miss OEingtOn's, we must leave
the gate open for graceful retreat. The
grOom's expenses were doubtless well
covered. but fer our part we think ii
very fortunate that he escaped the aame
of father -C0lfrieT-,JouTndl.