Year: 1872




and sentimental point of view, nothing
can be more repulsive. An American
marriage is i'm theory, q lovematch, and
il is generally so in practice. Now two
persons in love want to see much ~ pos
sible of each other, and az little as posi-
BILE of other people. It is true that we
find exceptions; there are individuals
whose diseased vanity desires to give pub
licity to every act Of their life. But
these vulgarians are, happily, rare in any
class. An instinct of scclusion and mod
eety is the general rule. Yet this absurd
custom forces q newly married couple
either to put an unnatural restraint on
their Legitimate affection, or make them
selves ridiculous before the public. All
this, however, it may be suggested, Is
matter Of taste. But what follows is not
questionable point of taste or comfort;
it is matter of downright fact, rs GER
tain as it could be mathematically demon
etrated. The consummation of marriage
is, with one exception, the most critical
period, physically, of woman's life. After
the moral and physical excitement which
attends it, her system demands absolute
rest, repose, quiet, regular and good liv-
ing, a supporting and restorative way Of
life. II these can be secured for some
weeks, 60 much the better, but at any
rate they are necessary for some days.
Not only her health for the rest of her
mortal existence but the health and
strength of her offspring may be, and
often are, materially affected by the want
of proper care at this time. Instead Of
which the bridal tour piles on additional
excitement and fatigue, makes regularity
of life impossible--in short involves the
exact reverse of all that the rules Of
health and physiology require. All peri
of being thought effeminate. / will g
further and say that for the man, too, al
this time, repose and calm, though moi
SO necessary, are highly desirable. II
constantly happens in the case of both
sexes, that a slight indisposition, which,
passed unnot;ced in The hurry Of prepara
ton, is aggravated to a serious and ever
fatal extent by the excitement and expo
sure and neglect consequent on the wed
ding tour. No man, for instance, would
think of postponing his marriage on &C
count ofa slight cold. If he staid quietl,
&--x----r-
at home, afterward, and took care OF HIM
self, it would pass away like other sligh
colds; he gees on bridal tour in tn
depth of winter and the malady develop
into a chronic pulmonary complaint
Nor would young woman put off heI
marriage because she felt little extrs
lassitude and want of appetite, with al
occasional headache, which, however
may be premonitory symptoms of typhoid
fever. If you take typhoid in time, there
is nothing specially dangerous about it
care and patience only are necessary, and
it runs its course. But neglected at first,
it is almost inevitably fatal. Last year
two cases came under my observation,
the one Of bride, the other of bride
groom, dying of typhoid feverjust after a
wedding trip, which had caused the early
symptoms to be misunderstood and neg
lected. And | have known things worse
than death to happen-insanity, tempo
rary or permanent, brought on by extra
fatigue and excitement Of the wedding
journey.-CaH Benson in ~ y. Times.