Year: 1871

A young lady in Chicago, whose we'd
ding was to take place on Tuesday, Oct.
10, in church, whose .'trousseau,n with
all modern elegances, was ready, and
whose bridal presents were in state of
elegant ''forwardness," found herself on
Monday, Oct. 9, minus "trousseau," pres
ents, house and home. The other SUBJ
stantial requirements for excepting house,"
and for daily costume. and requirements,
were also a ''total loss'' The bridegroom
was in similar if not worse predicament,
and the church in which the ceremony was
to take place was q heap of blackened
ruins.


Here was question of unusual impor-
tance before the joint family council. But
it is more than probable that if the young
people went into the caucus, they went in
as people usually do into conferences, with
their minds made up; for on Wednesday,
with only delay of twenty-four hours,
! the twain werelmade one, the lady APP
pearing on the interesting occasion in a
calico dress, the only dress saved from the
| fire. The gentleman, il he is gentleman
as from his connections he is presumed to
be, was habited in a similar unpretending
guise. No gentle man would outshine his
bride on their wedding-day, as in all
''fashion reports" the gentleman's costume
is unreported, woman's rights in this par


icular being 1igidly respected. aa
| The gentleman is to be congratulated on
having found, in the ruins of the fire, q
prize which he might otherwise have been
all his life in discovering. He might have
worn the jewel, whose price is above rich
es, all his days, without knowing its value.
But the great and terrible disaster, the
date OF which will mark the beginning of
the married life of this young couple, will
equally mark the beginning of their nup-
tial happiness. Men andwomen are much
more useful and essential to each other in
poverty and adversely than in wealth and


prosperity. These two, with life before


them, have the pleasure and advantage of
striving together to secure life's prizes.
And whatever of this worlds goods and
conveniences they may secure will be a
| Joint acquisition-all the more valuable
that they have in their property and be-
longings mutual interest. More than the
usual degree of confidence must be felt in
her husband by wife who dares to marry
under such circumstances. And more than
husbands usual love and protection must
be given to the wife who so unreservedly
trusts in him. Every man thinks, or
would be glad to think, that his wife is a
superior woman" This young man
knows it. For his bride, if she cannot
control circumstances" does not permit
circumstances" unduly to control her.
OF course improvident and careless mat
rimonial alliances are not to be defended
or promoted. In this case. however, there
is no evidence of the undertaking being
made ..'unadvisedly or lightly And the
present artificial and ambitious customs of
society have interposed so many objections
to marriage in its higher and better con-
ditions, that it seems to require the burn
ing of city to set such objections aside.
Young people are too often unwilling to
commence life'' together. They are too
ambitious of beginning life in the wealth
and style of living to which their parents
have attained only after long life of la
Dor and diligence. Whatever pleasures
wealth properly used may confer, nothing
in the possession is so pleasant as the
qualification of acquiring TO look for
ward is mans true incentive and happi-
ness. The future offers the cheerful out
look, and man and wife should enjoy it to-
gether. Then. the retrospect also is pleas
ant. But for two fatigued individuals,
worn and weary with labor and waiting
whatever that labor and waiting may have
produced for them-to think they can
come together and enjoy married life when
there is little or nothing to look forward to,
is simply absurd. There is quite as much
truth as poetry in the famous ballard of
John Anderson my Joe" though fashion,
able young ladies perfer more fashionable
music-with more execution" and less
heart in it. Success 10 the calico bride in
Chicago! 1t is to be hoped that the groom
"stood up" in business suit" for then
both wife and husband would start fair
Philadelphia Ledger.