married, have been willing to run the risk of
fire and brimstone to get divorced. It is by no means certain that because
persons are wretched before marriage they will be happy after it. The
wretchedness of many homes, and the prevalence of immorality and divorce is
a sad commentary on the evils which result from unwise marriages.

2. UNAVOIDABLE EVILS.--There are plenty of unavoidable evils in this world,
and it is mournful to think of the multitudes who are preparing themselves
for needless disappointments, and who yet have no fear, and are unwilling
to be instructed, cautioned or warned. To them the experience of mature
life is of little account compared with the wisdom of ardent and
enthusiastic youth.

3. MATRIMONIAL INFELICITY.--One great cause of matrimonial infelicity is
the hasty marriages of persons who have no adequate knowledge of each
other's characters. Two strangers become acquainted, and are attracted to
each other, and without taking half the trouble to investigate or inquire
that a prudent man would take before buying a saddle horse, they are
married. In a few weeks or months it is perhaps found that one of the
parties was married already, or possibly that the man is drunken or
vicious, or the woman anything but what she should be. Then begins the
bitter part of the experience: shame, disgrace, scandal, separation, sin
and divorce, all come as the natural results of a rash and foolish
marriage. A little time spent in honest, candid, and careful preliminary
inquiry and investigation, would have saved the trouble.

4. THE CLIMAX.--It has been said that a man is never utterly ruined until
he has married a bad woman. So the climax of woman's miseries and sorrows
may be said to come only when she is bound with that bond which should be
her chiefest blessing and her highest joy, but which may prove her deepest
sorrow and her bitterest curse.

5. THE FOLLY OF FOLLIES.--There are some lessons which people are very slow
to learn, and yet which are based upon {218} the simple principles of
common-sense. A young lady casts her eye upon a young man. She says, "I
mean to have that man." She plies her arts, engages his affections, marries
him, and secures for herself a life of sorrow and disappointment, ending
perhaps in a broken up home or an early grave. Any prudent, intelligent
person of mature age, might have warned or cautioned her; but she sought no
advice, and accepted no admonition. A young man may pursue