Marrying

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1, 7 January 1909, Page 9

Marrying

Because of rather trying experiences of wedlock, Socrates — and John Wesley — would never advise young men to marry. Punch's historic ' advice to those about to marry' was an emphatic 'Don't I' Max O'Rell contends that all men should marry — and no woman. An old Italian proverb discounts marriage, with a beauty. So do sundry Dutch and Gorman ' wisdoms,' while an ancient Rabbinical writing pronounces ' happy the man that hath a beautiful wife,' for ' his days shall be increased-.' And a Russian advice to the young man about to marry is to take his life-partner by all means — and beat her with a .hammer ! The author of a now rare book. Husbands and Wives, written a century ago, discounts, from personal experience, the savage' method of ruling the 'better half 'of his household. ' You may,' said he ruefully, ' beat the devil into your wife, but you can never bang him out again ' — a ' wisdom ' which we commend to all whom it may concern. But marriage is the common lot. And its failures should not deter those whose course through

life should be run in double harness. So many men find marriage a failure because (say they) they have married the wrpng women. ' We very often find that . their wives have married the wrong, men. .Philip D. Armour, the millionaire' organiser of the Chicago stockyards, gave some shrewd' advice, in this connection, to young men, which we may appropriately quote at this season of marrying and ' giving in- marriage. ' The young man,' says Armour, . '. whoVwa'nts t6" marry happily, should pick out a "good mother and marry one of .her daughters— any one will do.' Tor Catholic young men we further stipulate that mother and daughter shall.be practical children of the Old Faith.