PIRITUAL AND
THE WORLDLY MAN.--WHICH OF THE TWO IS NOW THE MORTIFIED MAN.

Marriage gives the husband a single and momentary opportunity to become
in reality the master of his wife, to withdraw her from the influence
of another, and make her his own for ever. Does he profit by it? Very
rarely. He ought, in the very beginning, when he has much influence
over her, to let her participate in the activity of his mind, his
business, and ideas, initiate her in his projects, and create an
activity in her by means of his own.

To wish and think as he does, both acting with him and suffering with
him--this is marriage. The worst that may happen is not that she may
suffer, but that she may languish and pine away, living apart, and like
a widow. How can we wonder, then, if her affection for him be
lessened? Ah! if, in the beginning, he made her his own, by making her
share his ambition, troubles, and uneasiness:--if they had watched
whole nights together, and been troubled with the same thoughts, he
would have retained her affections. Attachment may be strengthened by
grief itself; and mutual sufferings may maintain mutual love.

Frenchwomen are superior to those of England or Germany, and, indeed,
to any other women, in being able not only to assist man, but to become
his companion, his friend, his partner, his _alter ego_. None but the
commercial classes, generally speaking, are wise enough to profit by
this. See, in the shop-keeping quarters, in the dark storehouses of
the _Rue des Lombards_, or the Rue de la Verrerie, the young wife,
often born of rich parents, who, nevertheless, remains there, in that
little glazed counting-house, keeping the books, registering whatever
is brought in or taken out, and directing the clerks and porters. With
such a partner the house will prosper. The household is improved by
it. The husband and wife, separated by their occupations during the
day, are the better pleased to unite together in common thought.

Without being able to participate so directly in the husband's
activity, the wife might also, in other professions, be able to
associate with him in his business, or, at least, in his ideas. What
makes this difficult (I have not attempted to disguise it) is the
spirit of specialty which goes on increasing in our different
professions, as well as in our sciences, and driving us into minute
details; whereas woman, being less persevering, and, moreover, less
called upon to appl