Year: 1872




Foreigners often inquire what becomes of
all the fascinating girls for which America is
so renowned. The question is easily answer
ed. They die in early wedlock, which too
frequently proves the grave of love. The
connubial state, as mismanaged by us, gen.
crates an asphyxia in which gallantry, senti-
ment and tenderness soon breathe their last.


A few years ago there were two lovely sis
ters hereabout. Their beauty was the theme
of general praise and their beauty was mental
and spiritual no less than physical. Their
whole being had rythm and rhyme that
belonged to the madrigal of fine flesh and
gentle blood. They were from the inmost
soul to the externalist line of their graceful
ness, such creatures as Nature makes in her
happiest moods, as if to compensate for her
innumerable blunders.


They were married, and both, as,it was con-
sidered, fortunately. Griselda's husband was
a prosperous merchant, instinctively gener-
Gus and sympathetic, knowing little of the
world and less of women. Statira was mat
ed with worthy and wealthy gentleman who
had travelled far and seen much; was cynical
in speech because tender in feeling; called
skepticai because he had such ample faith.
Their first year was as if all the months had
been May and June, and then, as usually hap
pens, there came a change. Griselda ceased
to appear in public with her liege lord, and





most Indifferent of husbands. He cultivated
new tastes and found newlpleasures. Billiards
and whist became passions, and he is regu-
lar hdbitue of the club to which in his bach
elor days he was almost unknown. During
the third year of wedock Griselda no longer
looked like herself Her freshness and round
ness were gone, and those tyrants of femi-
nine natures, the nerves, ruled her merciless-
ly. If Napoleon's rude speech to De Stael
Iao G,,ca do 10 Elyalxr ha Otan of M
greatest of women. Everybody deplored her
decline, but him who had most reason to de-
plore it. To-day hardly any one could be
persuaded that Griselda could ever have laid
the smallest claim to beauty, or that elegance
and brilliancy had ever been remotely ac-
quainted with her. Barely thirty, she seems
tive-and-forty, and all the brightness of her
life is dimmed forever.


Statira's first year was like her sisters but
when her husband showed signs of weari-
ness, she resolved to charm his WEAKNESS
away.


"You would be well-bred truant," she
said, "as you have been before, but shall not
let you. You have thought it well to fiirt
with other women, but with your wife your
intentions must be serious. You have vowed
to love me, and 1 shall make you keep your
word by always appearing lovely. l am
| young and fair and accomplished, and what is
uOIt, L lutcuu W 81. IOu AdNC iiOe
exhausted me and you shall not; for every
day shall unfold new leaf of beauty, and,
sentimental botanist as you are, you cannot
fail to be interested. l shall be true wife,
| but shall be a charming woman also When
you come home shall read and play and
| talk to you; and it will be strange if your
affection grows languid and your caress con-
ventional. Is you go out in the evening
shall go with you. No more club or bachelor
dinners if l can wean you from them by such
means as are at my command. My quiver has
begun to be emptied yet of cupid's arrows, not
and the boy-gOd is, am sure, my tirmest
friend l shall so show my love that you can
not help but love me in return; and even
when we have grown old shall expect from
| you the courtesies and gallantries you show
cred upon me ON our bridal morning."


Statira was true to her word. She contin-
ued lovely in every outward detail no less
than in the inward spirit and she was fondly
loved. The years that have passed since her
wedding find her fresh and bright, for hel
heart is as happy as in her girlhood, and hei
husband falls newly in love with her every
radiant morning and every blessed night
She has made the name of wife sacred to him
who was wont to jest at marriage, and all the
swallows of his fancy have flown home t.
rest.


Statira has wrought miracle by the sim
plest means. She has kept her husbands
heart by the tender sympathy to which strong
and chivalrous men are prone to submit
The Gala1y.