ll permit I will give you
my opinion on the subject.

Esteem and friendship between husband and wife are like our daily bread,
very pleasant and respectable; but a little jam would not spoil that,
you will admit! If, therefore, one of your friends complains of the
freedom that reigns in this little book, let her talk on and be sure
beforehand that this friend eats dry bread. We have described marriage
as we think it should be--depicting smiling spouses, delighted to be
together.

Is it because love is rare as between husband and wife that it is
considered unbecoming to relate its joys? Is it regret, or envy, that
renders you fastidious on the subject, sisters? Reserve your blushes for
the pictures of that society of courtesans where love is an article of
commerce, where kisses are paid for in advance. Regard the relation of
these coarse pleasures as immodest and revolting, be indignant, scold
your brethren--I will admit that you are in the right beforehand; but
for Heaven's sake do not be offended if we undertake your defence,
when we try to render married life pleasant and attractive, and advise
husbands to love their wives, wives to love their husbands.

You must understand that there is a truly moral side to all this. To
prove that you are adorable; that there are pleasures, joys, happiness,
to be found outside the society of those young women--such is our
object; and since we are about to describe it, we venture to hope that
after reflecting for a few minutes you will consider our intentions
praiseworthy, and encourage us to persevere in them.

I do not know why mankind has chosen to call marriage a man-trap, and
all sorts of frightful things; to stick up all round it boards on which
one reads: "Beware of the sacred ties of marriage;" "Do not jest with
the sacred duties of a husband;" "Meditate on the sacred obligation of
a father of a family;" "Remember that the serious side of life is
beginning;" "No weakness; henceforth you are bound to find yourself face
to face with stern reality," etc., etc.

I will not say that it is imprudent to set forth all those fine things;
but when done it should be done with less affectation. To warn people
that there are thorns in the path is all very well; but, hang it! there
is something else in married life, something that renders these duties
delightful, else this sacred position and these ties would soon be
nothing more than insupportable burdens. One would really think that