newal of life for every
weariness, comfort for every affliction, a multiplication of every joy, a
doubling of every triumph, encouragement for every fond ambition, and an
inspiration for every struggle. Those who are thus mated and married have
found a true heaven on earth. But such a mating and such a marriage is
not, as many fondly suppose, based solely upon the incident of "falling in
love." If we have no other advice to give the young man or the young woman
than that which has so often been given, "let your heart decide," we
have, indeed, little to offer.

MARRIAGE A PRACTICAL PARTNERSHIP

The marriage relationship is not wholly, or even chiefly, a romantic and
ethereal social union far above and unaffected by material and practical
considerations. While this spiritual union is an essential part of every
true marriage, it cannot exist unless there is also a true union upon
intellectual and physical planes. Marriage is, in one sense, a business
partnership. In another sense, it is an intellectual companionship, and in
still another sense, it is a friendly, social relationship.

A man and a woman are, therefore, mated in the true sense of the word, not
alone by a mysterious and intangible spiritual identity, but by mutual
beliefs, mutual ideas and ideals, mutual or harmonious tastes, mutual
physical attractiveness, and mutual respect and admiration each for the
other's talents, disposition, aptitudes, and character in general. One of
the reasons why there are so many unhappy marriages is because a blind
instinct, which may be purely physical or purely intellectual or purely
psychical, which may be a mere passing fancy, which oftentimes is based
upon the flimsiest and shallowest possible knowledge of each other's
characteristics, is mistaken for love. Many marriages, of course, are
consummated without even the existence of an imagined love--marriages for
convenience, marriages because of pique, marriages arranged by parents or
others. When such a marriage is a happy one, it is, indeed, by virtue of
great good fortune, a happy accident.

KNOWLEDGE THE BASIS OF CHOICE

Since a true marriage, therefore, must encircle with its golden band and
harmonize all of the psychical, intellectual and physical qualities,
activities and interests of two people, it follows that it must be based
upon knowledge as well as intuition. He who would choose a mate must,
first of all, understand himself, so that he may know what qualit