CHAPTER IX.

SEPARATION.

Marriage defined-Urged to it by passion for reproduction of spec Parents-Children-Of the married in London-Discontented ma not peculiar to large cities-Paris as to this-Causes of illicit conne -Divorce for all good causes-For disagreement, and personal d -No force-Issue-Definitions of wife and husband-Marriage religious ordinance-The Athenian law as to marriage-Disaffinitie be affinities on a change-All prefer marriage-Relief in law for dilemma but marriage-Public opinion-Arabs-Indians-Ishmae Isaac-Widows-Washington-Napoleon-Present system.

MARRIAGE is defined to be "a compact between man woman, for the procreation and education of children." "Society has ordained that it shall continue for life; and reason is, because, children gradually succeeding one anothe parents have hardly done with the care of their education fore they are themselves unfit for a second marriage." ancients awarded bounties to parents, and deprived bachelo the rights of inheritance. "With the laws hold out no t tations to marriage; and prudence will in general recom celibacy."-(2 Bac. Ab. 524.)

The same author

says,

us,

This theory is sustained by all writers; and appears to b philosophy of marriage.

The primary temporal purpose of man's creation, there was for the reproduction of his species.

To this great end the woman is most distinctly and intim dedicated. The impetuous passions of our common natur cite reciprocal irritations, by which the sexes are precipi together.

and t

The secret design of nature in this is procreation; cure this result with the best advantage, and with no exp to society, it has ordained marriage; so that the parties, and society, shall be responsible for the bringing forth and brin

111

bringing forth and bringing up slavery.

But it seems to be literally true; and it an old man, broken down with servitude, ery of nature and society, should have n fellow-men this prudent admonition for ce

We are urged by passion to marriag struggle through the anxious task with su and suffering.

We are held, by the crafty purposes of thrilling raptures of animal excitement, complished, and then it condemns us to tl In this heyday of impetuous passion, the purity than vanity and pride.

The same trick and guile, by which n bring forth, defend, and protect her cul woman to feed and cherish their offspring

All these affections are artfully contri of successful propagation. They are ele not of morals. Parents have much les children than is supposed; and too much i is called a good bringing up.

If the blood and breed are perverse ar more apparent than real efforts made for r

Men and women, who feel it a matter respectable exteriors, go to church, and so school; instil into their minds no sentime have none themselves; and hence their chil and are censured for neglecting opportuni or could appreciate.

These, and similar examples, infect w who are a constant source of anxiety at ho

Many honorable and devoted fathers a fractory dispositions of their children, wh ferring to out-door examples as authority insubordination.

And they are too often frustrated, by pensity of a weak and infatuated mother

mysterious design of her succedaneous creation! How old and worn-down fathers have slaved and dragged their away, in toil and self-denial, to give their sons and dau smart and encouraging portions, in land and stock, wher to start the world; and fastened, safe and sound for life maintenance for their helpless wives and offspring; and wards ruined themselves by being surety for their childre have sent help and succor for them to a distant land watched and doted on them to the last, as first they love fondled over them in helpless infancy!

How many parents, meek, devoted, patient, and self-resi have thus by nature's instincts lived, and final respite had all their toils and pains by death in dismal pauperism heeded and forgotten!

What son or daughter ever made a joyful sacrifice for that gave them life? or died in infamy, within a living pa reach?

This is the high and mighty course of nature-the arb law for constant fecundation.

The last-begotten blindly blunders on his doom, and behind him far away, by instinct, not from choice, parental

which stands aghast.

Until the sear and yellow leaf of time has fallen upon narrow path, they do not learn that nature has ordained children for their destiny; and that the infinite emergenc its execution leave no room for those behind.

Alas for the faithful father and mother, whose lives been, with singleness of love, piously and devoutly devo the protection and companionship of their beloved babes! will find them, as maturity dawns, reserved, unkind, t rebellious, and, at last, scattered and gone, without regret titude, or remembrance.

Oh! it is then a lonely time of night—very dark, and cold! Still, it is nature's sentence; if cruel, there is mer the judgment; for life is now wasted, and sorrow hushes the bursting heart, and gently lays it in the grave.

Why then should the bonds of matrimony, designed f dulgent love and harmony, be perverted to purposes of di

and rudo

meint 2 If

beg contrived this

turmoil; that one-fourth did not cohabit; were separated, and lived apart. This, p the married world.

The moral contumacy thus exposed c attributed to the supposed licentiousness cities; on the contrary, there were 12,70 gistered in Paris, from 1816 to 1831, a p of whom 12,201 were French; and of thi but 326, were from the country parts of F being almost four to one against the rural of the capital.

To be sure the whole population of F the population of Paris; but only a smal men came from the country; whereas, p who belonged to Paris had gone from it.

The immense proportion of men and single, found in this condition, no doubt n vile and unnatural celibacy which the f forces on those who cannot live in concord means of shaking loose from abortive m therefore tempted, and led off into unlaw

Is it not wonderful that there is a rem and is it strange that in some places the il legitimate births, and that licentious deba and pollute all the channels of society?

Why not give by law the free and hono and absolute divorce, wherever incongruiti this remedy, by its present restrictions, to o places the innocent in the power of the ceal their infidelities by the plausible disg course; defy, insult, and condemn a wife or abstinence.

Evidence of flirting with other wom conjugal denial or unfitness, drunkenness, refusal or omission to provide, laziness virility, sterility, and every such default, wh

ness, conjugal denial, Messalinaism, disobedience, impe talking back, insolent behavior, obscenity, being from and flirting, tramping the streets without leave, by a v should in like manner be good cause for a divorce.

The result would be to maintain conjugal proprie give millions of honest and valuable members of so chance to rid themselves of the curse of involuntary ce more odious than any calamity which has ever fallen human race.

The idea of forcing husband and wife, against their live together, and rear children, is beastly, unnatural, a practicable.

Discoveries, creating occasions for separation, seldom until after the birth of one or more children.

This is most unnecessarily made an excuse for public to force upon them the endurance and continuance of tion; which must increase, and never is diminished b and which therefore turns the existence of the child into of wretchedness, moral and physical.

The early months of infancy demand a mother's car it remain with her during this period, if proper; and aft male or female, the child is better off with strangers home with strife.

If it is poor, it should be placed with an industrious m or farmer; where it will be, nine times out of ten, be and brought up than if at such a home.

If it is to be educated, every one knows how much be restraints and discipline of a school are than the su oversight of quarrelsome parents.

Cut quick this chafing rope; knock loose the galling and strike for glorious liberty.

It

Out upon vile bondage for a man or a woman! If they are glad in unity, the chains are gold; the silk are heavenly slavery, mutual joy, and glorious love.

But if there is hate and loathing, to hold them fas one hold the other tight for life, is revolting, detestal unnatural.

The obiects of matrimony are clearly defeated by these