TO BE OR NOT TO BE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 72, 14 March 1908, Page 3

TO BE OR NOT TO BE.

WHO'S HAPPIEST—TOE WEIJ 01! THE UNWED?

Su much can be said for ami against marriage that to thoughtful minds this i- a very difficult question to answer, Even to so great a thinker as Socrates the question as to which of the two states most eondueed to happiness was unsolvablc, for he said: " Whichever vou do—whether you marry or abstain—you will regret." The renowned authority, Dr. Johnson, lias summed up the position by saying-. " Marriage has many pains, but celibacy no pleasures." Perhaps the whole question as to the beneficial or reverse nature of marriage was never better treated than by a, Scottish minister, who alwaysliegan the .Marriage Service with these words: My friends, marriage is a blessing to a tew, a curse to many, and a gre.it uncertainty to all. 'Do ye venture!" After a slight pause, lie would repeat with great deliberation and emphasis:"Do ye venture!!" And if no objection was made to the venture, he then said: " Let's proceed." Tliii great question should receive much careful thought from us all. 'Par-, ents should ever keep before them the fact that one day their children will, for better or for worse, have homes and, families to manage or mismanage, they should therefore educate them for this sacred duty. Though much may be written and, many opinions expressed aljout this great question, it is impossible for it to be treated in the abstract. All persons thinking of marriage should consider their Cjjse upon its own merits. They, should *ask themselves if they are lit and worthy of marriage, do they intend, to use well their matrimony, are they of the proper age. and have they sullicieut money or likely prospects of o.ivn, iug enough to keep open the home, and, lastly—but in no wise the least important question should be—are they In a position to present the best of all mar-, riage settlements—a clean bill of moral health'/ , What does this " holiest of holy ties mean'; If we marry "husbands" and.

-wives," and not "circumstances." marriage means more than mortal mind call imagine. By its indulgence we obtain a lifelong companion, helpmeet, and. fi'leii'i. J' means the founding of a. home, and suli greater blessings too numerous to mention.

Let us carefully consider the question < of money when we are-weighing this important matter in the balance. It i* not everybody who holds the romantic low-in-'a-eot'tage" theory., or who agrees with Hi': Irish girl who said tliat"(t kiss and a erost "i <l;y bi'°ad ma'<o vi-vy »m>il breakfast.'-' (hi the other hand we lou-t renii'iuii.'ithnt no amount oi money I>v itielf will make a married couple hsi|>|>y. ami for ~\vty home niiuli- unhappy through, limited ,-iivmiistanec.- a dozen arc mado miserable through other causes. We lujjsi l'Onieiniier that marriage is the beginning. ajui ;jnt the end. ot all thing*; also,that matrimony ii, itself is irood, lmt time are fools who turn evenblessings into eurse^ —like the man who >aid: "This is a good rope: I'll hangmvself with it." let us not forget that it is far better to he ealled a "sour old maid " or a "mad old liaehelor" than to make the great mistake that would eause us i lifetime of tvgret: and. also, that the path ot h./uje, love, and doty does not always tend to w&Uu married people, sweet.

No man e'er gained a liappv life by chance, Or yawned it into being with a wish.''