Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Beatrice.
unhappiness in the world if prudence and forethought were more considered in our matrimonial arrangements , if people were not allowed to marry unless their present was comfortable and their future provided for . " " I don't agree with you , most agreeable of preachers , " I replied . " Society is in a veiy ' hard and fast' way of mercenary desperation just now . It is not virtueor talentor kindnessor compatibility of dispositionor
, , , , mutual likes and harmonising tastes , which are the ' inducements' to matrimony . Money and money , how much they have , what they can afford , how they can live , what they can do—these are the motive causes , the salient arguments for the matrimonial voyage . Now , without depreciating money or deprecating a ' quantum suff , ' I have a strong conviction , after some experience , that the happiest couples are those who start on ' moderate
means , ' humble even as this world regards them , who learn to ' bear ancl forbear , ' and who appreciate the luxury both of doing without much and being able to obtain more . For a young man and young woman to begin life ' s journey with great wealth , not knowing the value of money , not counting the limit of gold , is too often utterl y destructive of after happiness . But to learn to live together on mutual dependence and trust , to share each
others' wants , wishes , longings , pleasures , is a good trial for ns all , and serves to make that marriage a prosperous ancl a contented one , where normal wellto-do-edness with moderate wealth is the rule , ancl abnormal means with a full exchequer is the exception . Besides , our young people want to remember that money is , after all , one , though a needful , ingredient , no doubt , in personal contentment , not everything—no , not by a ' long chalk , ' as our
young men have it—ancl too often turns to utter dross , and ends in dust and ashes for those who seek to make it the link of affection , or the end of happiness here . " " Ah , my dear madam , " I said at last , " let us set our faces against that material and mercenary view of things , which , in my humble opinion , is the reason why so many marriages turn out so ill , ancl why couples who might be the happiest of the happy here often end their career , in bitterness , and tears , and severance for ever . Brummer , who had come up while I was speaking , here chimed in .
" Yes , " he said , " ma chere maclame , I agree with my friend T omlinson dat marriage is a very peculiar institution , very delicate , very dubious . I hope I do not offend you ; for who can tell how two people can get on together ? and den dere is no possible separation , remember ; no change , no practicable agreement to be quit of each other . No , there you are tied together , for good or evil , for your lives , and if you don't get on well , wat den ? If yon do it ' s all right . Many a young man or young woman struck with dis or datthinks
, dat he or she is in love , and goes and gets married . Himmel , they forget dat they have mutually to see de same face , to hear cle same voice , to share in de same life , to form one of cle same tete a tete for ever here below , and den , after a little , when sentiment is over , and when novelty is forgotten , dey find dat dey have made a great mistake , a very great one indeed , de greatest of all mistakes , for which there is no remedy , no cure . So dat
if peoples marry thoughtlessly it is very bad ; if peoples marry for money it is still worse , and de only possible chance of matrimonial happiness lies in dis one little fact , dat mutual affection and mutual sympathy are de foundation stone of that gay and glittering building which Hymen raises . I have known many people repent of being married , but I have never known a case where , if one of de two , or both , happily , had good princip les , there was not
some consolation to be found , when all else was of the darkest and the dreariest around . " " What makes you all look so serious ? " said Twamley coming up , " and what in the name of the 'beaux yeux' of 'Madame Dottore' are you talking about so grandl y ? "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Beatrice.
unhappiness in the world if prudence and forethought were more considered in our matrimonial arrangements , if people were not allowed to marry unless their present was comfortable and their future provided for . " " I don't agree with you , most agreeable of preachers , " I replied . " Society is in a veiy ' hard and fast' way of mercenary desperation just now . It is not virtueor talentor kindnessor compatibility of dispositionor
, , , , mutual likes and harmonising tastes , which are the ' inducements' to matrimony . Money and money , how much they have , what they can afford , how they can live , what they can do—these are the motive causes , the salient arguments for the matrimonial voyage . Now , without depreciating money or deprecating a ' quantum suff , ' I have a strong conviction , after some experience , that the happiest couples are those who start on ' moderate
means , ' humble even as this world regards them , who learn to ' bear ancl forbear , ' and who appreciate the luxury both of doing without much and being able to obtain more . For a young man and young woman to begin life ' s journey with great wealth , not knowing the value of money , not counting the limit of gold , is too often utterl y destructive of after happiness . But to learn to live together on mutual dependence and trust , to share each
others' wants , wishes , longings , pleasures , is a good trial for ns all , and serves to make that marriage a prosperous ancl a contented one , where normal wellto-do-edness with moderate wealth is the rule , ancl abnormal means with a full exchequer is the exception . Besides , our young people want to remember that money is , after all , one , though a needful , ingredient , no doubt , in personal contentment , not everything—no , not by a ' long chalk , ' as our
young men have it—ancl too often turns to utter dross , and ends in dust and ashes for those who seek to make it the link of affection , or the end of happiness here . " " Ah , my dear madam , " I said at last , " let us set our faces against that material and mercenary view of things , which , in my humble opinion , is the reason why so many marriages turn out so ill , ancl why couples who might be the happiest of the happy here often end their career , in bitterness , and tears , and severance for ever . Brummer , who had come up while I was speaking , here chimed in .
" Yes , " he said , " ma chere maclame , I agree with my friend T omlinson dat marriage is a very peculiar institution , very delicate , very dubious . I hope I do not offend you ; for who can tell how two people can get on together ? and den dere is no possible separation , remember ; no change , no practicable agreement to be quit of each other . No , there you are tied together , for good or evil , for your lives , and if you don't get on well , wat den ? If yon do it ' s all right . Many a young man or young woman struck with dis or datthinks
, dat he or she is in love , and goes and gets married . Himmel , they forget dat they have mutually to see de same face , to hear cle same voice , to share in de same life , to form one of cle same tete a tete for ever here below , and den , after a little , when sentiment is over , and when novelty is forgotten , dey find dat dey have made a great mistake , a very great one indeed , de greatest of all mistakes , for which there is no remedy , no cure . So dat
if peoples marry thoughtlessly it is very bad ; if peoples marry for money it is still worse , and de only possible chance of matrimonial happiness lies in dis one little fact , dat mutual affection and mutual sympathy are de foundation stone of that gay and glittering building which Hymen raises . I have known many people repent of being married , but I have never known a case where , if one of de two , or both , happily , had good princip les , there was not
some consolation to be found , when all else was of the darkest and the dreariest around . " " What makes you all look so serious ? " said Twamley coming up , " and what in the name of the 'beaux yeux' of 'Madame Dottore' are you talking about so grandl y ? "