Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 19, Number 19, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 27 October 1888 — Page 1

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Vol. 19.- No. 19.

THE _MAIL.

A PAPER FOR THE PEOPLE.

Notes and Comment.

I'HHi't bet. nn the election. Bat if you do bet, pot your money on the winning Hide. __

Mr*. Ida. A. Harper's article on Dress Reform in this issue will interest every lady render in the Malt,

It is an ill wind that blows nobody

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What a harvest the hat dealers

will reap after the election is over!

We have beard enough about the nude In art. How would it do for a change to have something about the dudo in art.

Harper's Monthly say* there are no great newspapers in Indiana. Can it be that all the work being done in Terre Haute'* printing house square is going for naught?

Two well-known editors have decline! to le transferred from journalism to Congress. Henry Watteison tried it mid did not enjoy the change. A faithful and competent journalist is of more value tlian many Congressman.

Tho weather prophet has ventured his predictions regarding the winter. One farmer was heard to predict a rough winter. Ho based his prognostication upon the condition of the corn husks which this year are largo and tough from which tho idea of sevorlty In tho woather Is doducod. Another farmer took a view diametrically opposite. Ho declared the winter would be open, foundiug his opinion upon tho woather we have passed through, which has not been cold, yet disagreeable. ______

Politically speaking we are now on the homo stretch. Another week will see the campaign work completed and the quiet battle of tho ballots will succeed the noise and fury of the past month. Kverybody will feel relieved when It in over. The politicians will bo able to relax trom the intense strain that has been on them, while tho averago citizen, who has had no office in tnlnd, nor any political aspirations, except to work for the general good, will return to his usual vocation to earn oread and buttor for hi* family by steady application to business. Yes, we will alt feel re'leved, decidedly relieved, when tho great quadrennial hippodrome shall have emtio to an end.

A morsel of political gossip drifted in from a «ity SOIU© distance removed In the State, the past weok. It seems that a warm friend of John liftinb had stated In away which was Intonted to^e kept quiet, that tho lamb men were not hankering nfter the election of Brookshire and that they would quietly slaughter him at the poll* to Improve Lambs future chances. Tho gentleman who waa let Into the secret permitted the cat to get out of the bag and tho statement soon reached the ears of the Kiokers. They were considerably excited over the report which came rather direct. Considerable feeling wm manifested and an open tight may yet take place between the I«amb and Kicker factions, before the election take* place, and there may be much spilling of political gore.

It ia one of the hopeful signs of the present campaign that the yonng men are heartily enlisted on one side or the other as they have not been before since the old days when those who are now nriddle-agwl fogies wore oil cloth capes aud carried smutty torches. It is the habit of many people to aneer at torchlight pi occasion*, and considered as a missionary force they certainly involve a great waste of energy and means. But as a sign and symbol of political vitality they are of genuine importance. The principal eflfcet of a torchlight parade Is not upon the spectators but upon the participants. This is not the usual view of the matter. A parade Is commonly spoken of as "imposing," and it is supposed to make such an impression on ihouc who wltneaJ* it of the conquering strength of the party as to Indue© them to fall in line and vote for tho candidates whose portraits are carried on the transparencies. As a matter of fact, a parade does nothing of the kind. The mass of voters look upon a parade with about equal interest, indifference or impatience. as the case may lie, whether it represents their own aide or the other, nut the ycung men who are carrying the torchea do receive an ii«|ulse of enUmalAMU. They feel that they are performing a patriotic function and doing a service for their party, and their zeal kindled by the blare and blaitc and their party work i» thus made more eflf«vtl\*e. __

When you see a man carrying a book bearing on it* cover the title "Ore** Expectation*," or "Our Mutual tVicnd," don't rush the conclusion that he Is jroln road lHckwi-* Many of the dainty volume* so labeled are hollow, except that they contain a half-pint flask of whisky. By touching a spring the mouth of th» flask springs lnV view, and there you are ready for snake bitea «r malaria, and wiring an innocent stniic a'I the time.

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News and Interviews.

The life of a candidate is by no means an easy oue. A gentleman who ia on one of the tickets said to the writer: "I am completely tired out. I have been up so much at nights that it has gotten the best of me. This ia the last time I shall ever run for an office. I would not again make the race if the nomination could be secured without any eftort and a cool $1,000 were placed in my hands. A candidate on either ticket must make a vigorous canvass if be hopes to be elected. The county is close and it is hard work that counts, and while one ia working there is little certainty that he will be successful. No, I tell you I have enough and some other fellow may do the hustling after this."

The Rev. Father McEvoy, of St, Josephs church, raid that work had been delayed somewhat on the new school building at Fifth and Ohio street. It was expected that the building would be further advanced than it is. The carpentors and brick mu-ons have both been delayed. The father could give no definite statement when the school will bo removed to the new building. It will l:e occupied as soon as it is finished which will be longer than the time specified in the contracts but before the close of the year. The new building will be oponed with a fair, tho *tyle of architecture is unique and the building will be a beautiful one. In the basement there will be a library, a lecture room and a reading room besides furnace rooms. On tho second floor there will be four school rooms and on tho third floor a large ball, with large seating capacity. .Superintendent M. N. Diall, of the gas well, stated that tho drills had penetrat od to a depth of over 100 feet since the water was excluded. The well is now porfectly dry. Progress Is slow, but is much faster than with the water for it was almost impossible for tho drills to work under such tremendous, pressure, The drills descend only about eight feet per day, but this distance is not averaged. They are still in the 11 mestono stratum which Is the hardest jet encountered. Not tho least sign of water has been obsorved. Another flow of artesian water will occasion a great deal of annoyance. If a flow of gas is struck the well will bo a monument to pereerveraoceand a compliment to Mr. Dial** ingenuity, which has overcome obstacles when othor known methods failed There is porhaps not another well in the country with such a history.

The present campaign has been characterized to a commendable extent by the abscence of tin horn blowing. There have, however, been a sufficient number who have obtained the deadly weapon which if not in fact is in reality one of tho relics of barbarism. There have been other inventions which have succeeded the tin horn, but oven some of them grate upon the delicate sensibilities of the musical ear. For instance the "He's all right" whistle,which has furnished so much amusement although in an earsplitting pitch. Then the tin cans with strings tied to the bottom. Experts can givo a fair Imitation of the crow of a rooster by means of pulling the string. A gontloman who has knowu of numerous campaigns, saio that forty of fifty years ago the Instrument of torture was known as tho "mad $11." In those days they were made much larger but the march of civilization has reduced their size and their deadliness. The favorite "mad bull" of early campaigns was made by*tretchlng a hide over the end of a barrel or keg and attaching in the center a strong strap. This was covered with rosin and to operate it, it was only necessary to poll the strap with the fingers. A large "mad bull" could drown out any other instrument and could be heard for a distance of five miles with the conditions favorable. Often persons wore ont the ends of their finger* by too freqnent and vigorous nse of the strap. In those days they also wore ont their throats as now hurrahing for their favorite candidates. ______

So far as beard from the committee on streets and bridge* have not completed their itemized bill of expenses of their trip to Chicago and St. Louis. The statement was not reported to the council at its last meeting, but it is hoped it is still in preparation. One gentleman, slslng up the junket, said: "It cost *600 to Cincinnati and the two other cities. Willi that amount of money a good lot could bo purchased." This was given as another way of considering the expenditure which profited the city nothing for Main street can not he graded until the finances of the city improve and with coo net I which is anything but economic in its Ideas, the improvement is some distance in the future.

W. O. Onnkks and Charles Noble, of the county clerk's office, have a patent feed for steam hollers which has been found to work admirably. It was tested at the water works one day this week and it did all that was claimed of it. The automatic arrangement is *wy simple. In a chamber connected with the holier floats a ball at the eod of a lever. When the water fall* the hall sinks aad

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opens a valve permitting water to be forced into the boiler. As the water valve is opened the steam in the chamber out by the opening of a valve above. Inn* stwn is cirtied to the pump and the grt iter the fall of water in the boiler the raster will tho pump operate. The patentees claim for the device that there will not be a variance of half an inch in the amount of water in a* boiler as long as tho feed is attached. The feed can be so adjusted that any stage of water can be carried. There are no complicated parts to the arrangement and no ti^rht joints. The fwnl will bo used cdujuiu ly at the water works.

The private office of Superintendent Stout at the c!ry building was papered and repaiuted il^jfejsrek. Thecolorused in decorating the r"ui is a bright red. This is in rather striking contrast with the police board room where so many whitewashings have taken place. But now and then, as in the case of Office Hall, who was discharged, it becomes necessary for the board to smear itself with the lime wash to conceal tho untenable reasons for the dismissal of one of the beat officers on the force.

Every ffew days advertisements appear in the Philadelphia papers for young ladies of good figure to try on cloaks. The Times of that city says good figures are rarer than many suppose and girls who ean fill this position are in demand. They must be fairly tall, bo well developed, graceful and have what is called "style." Such girls are, of courfe, in demand as wives hence the sou city. Nearly all the loading dry goods stores have ono or several young ladies who do nothiug nt this season but try on cloaks and wraps, and many an angular or pudgy customer buys a garment under the delusion that it w|ll look as well on them as on the Hebe selected fo^ tbifj purpose.

The fact is not generally known that woman nro already occupying places and doing work in iron mills and in manufactories of wire. Three years ago the men in a Pittsburg bolt manufactory gave so much trouble that they were displaced by women. The venture proved to be a marked success, so that the employers could not be induced t$ go back to men and boys. Tho wire mill, which was established about that time, £Qok up with, everything worked satisfactorily. Then a hinge fact try was opened to them, and onco more the women proved better workers, more reliable and less troublesome than thrir iualev riyals. How far the Innovation will go cannot be estimated. Evidently the end is rt£t seen. Meanwhile girls as 'Iwcountaints and office helps are winning their way. Bj and by the boys will h»ve to agitate for equal rights.

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George Alfred Townsend says that the particular vice of Virginia is gambling, and he relates this incident of his recent tour through the State: "When I returned from Lcesburg I heard two men talking behind me for the space of two hours, and their whole conversation was descriptive of games of cards held the night before—bow one man had hel I two pairs and another had a full, etc. Into this game these grown up men of respectable appearance—men probably fifty years of ago—want with a minutin? and a relish that was astonishing." At the Virginia villages, he says, you see the youngnien ride up about 11 o'clock and hitch their horses. They enter the gr«igerieat in the back part of which, bebehind a sheet, are tables for card playing. There they drink bad whiskeyand win each others' money until abont 5 o'clock in the afternoon, when they mount their horses and ride home.

The Massachusetts statute books con* tain a law giving female citizens the right to vote for achopl committeemen in all eity and town elections, provided they are assessed, pay a pay tax of fifty cents and are properly registered. Until recently the Massachusetts women have not prized this privilege very highly, not more than two thousand presentIngthemselvea for registration In Boston, the ratio of female voters in the rest of the State being no greater. The recent agitation growing out of lh» exclusion Swljbtou's History from the Boston schools on the demand of the Roman Caibolics has led laigv numbers of Protenant women to seek regirtratl i| It is thought not lees than 12,000 wou|tn will register and vote at the local *!"tion, to iheld in December. Sat»: Vly lion Protestant women enpriii«on''«: of this kind, taking as IL'..: «*lcL "No Oithnllw In our School Board, no m«rr- a«rs in thf schools," th« Chtfaoiie Bostoni rally In def^nv.t of tb Up^-iip :»n-i It Is tL^' w-.:i «mtn

Pro** .: int women a- the j. tion 1 /. The t: --»s «»to thermit of #4r.-^-n born 0 O their there ami JMMtl the*:::

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TERRE HAUTE, ESTD., SATURDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 27, 188S. Nineteenth Year

PRESS REFORM.

WHY AND HOW IT SHOULD BROUGHT ABOUT.

The question of dress is of more importance in America than in any other country for this reason, that here all classes of people attempt to dress alter the same model. In foreign countries there is one style of dress for what is known as the aristocracy and another and entirel3' distinct stylo for the working people and very little effort is made to combine tho two. In this country the wealthy women set the fashions for the poorer women to imitate as far as Possible in cheap and inferior materials. Without-entering into a discussion as to which Is the more desirablo of these two customs, wo must admit that they exist and that we of the United States must consider the question from this standpoint. The woman of wealth can better afford to be the slave of fashionable dress tho business woman or the one ks for a living. The former can ay so that she may dissipate all has the money to indulge her extravagance and when she od her health by improper (if can «&ud t=o bo idla or to ev wealth in seeking to restore it. orking woman cannot do any of hings and yet she takes all the ,nd suffers the consequences. The able lady of society is, therefore, not only responsible for her follies ai they afreet herself and her family, but also fol the harm she has done to those members of her own sex who have taken her for an example.

risks

The freedom which the woman of today needs above all else is emancipation from the present mode of dress which enchaini body, inind and soul. The best work, either mental of physical, is incompatible with bodily weakness or discomfort and the conventional dress worn by women Is neither healthful nor comfortable. It has a tendency not only to impair the usefulness of the wearer by injuring her health and making it difficult for her to do the work that she might easily do if not hampered and restrained, but it also affects her disposition, causiug ber to be nervous, irritable, fault-finding and lacking in many of the Christian graces that go to make up the true womanly character, tt is often said that if men led the narrow, cramped lives of women they would have jnst as many of the petty, frivolous ideas and habits. It may also be truly said that if men confined their bodies from head to foot as women do, they would never attain that broad outlook, that liberality of thought and expression and action, in the highest sense of the words, that distinguishes this sex from theother.

Those who are interested in the qnestlon""of dress reform for woman have long realized that to be successful it must originate with women of wealth and influence, because they "set the fashions," *nl garment to be popular must first be worn by them, but it could not be expected that these women or any others would wear anything ugly and unbecoming, no matter what might be Its good qualities. This Is exactly as should be. We might aa consistently jbuild ugly houses, paint Lomely piciuies, banish all decorations and plant weeds instead of flowers, as to array woman, God's fairest rraation, In garments that would detract from instead 'add to her natural wty. fhi* *Tpre««kn F+f mi" •,! lip a Vii-i'tH Of tii-it pi in this direction, the Bloomer

m«B of j^tuine, Bio4 aptly de-w-ritied by Mim Own A: UMilv an '-a ph* .'*l r'.mf-ft ut-a •si'-r.f!Tiii A nk- i-'fr Wbd:-' uv-iu^r tLi- -ub^.'Ct,"I

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on I raw**! Worsen r- o(! »u is--Uttsrt.

Tit of J«- G. It a n*. ^r., is reported u» morning as dying.

lalwayn *rof -tief rm withashudMr, I a:n so a'.'-ud wooi-n will leave off VV'-iji'-n are n-»t a bit more Anxw to H^.iti'n! IhUUBMM* .• in It t« a 'n "ifl! to *ee •\*eh her. 1 -i may be tro»- a* regards :h .a tyacd st !e of tfc-.r gaum" is% ror wo observe these thin.*

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BE

THE MOr»KUSr APOSTLE OF DRESS riE-FORM-VH*. ANNIE JENNESS-MILLER.

Ire-s "Reform! There is at once s'6m6 thing atartlinr and yet fascinating in Jthe idea. As the devoteeof society bends dev..htly over her prayer book and cons the-litany, she should never fail to add :ih, a concluding petitiou, "From tho sin anu bondage of fashionable dress, Rood deliver us." But why, indeed, should this apply only to to the lady of society? There Is scarcely a school girl in this city or a saleswoman behind the counter or a domestic in the kitchou that is not a victim in a greater or less degree to the tyranny of the present mode of dress. Whether it is bettor or ^tefcorsothan that of our respected ances-

tors we have not time to discuss. If we go back to the early days of our nation orto the former styles of England and France, we shall probably find that our modern fashions are an improvement in beauty and healthfulness, but if we penetrate still farther into the so-called heathenish countries of Italy and Greece we shall discover a dress far in advauco of,our own in comfort, loveliness and grace.

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more cloeely, but the face, the figure arid the general appearance are all made up with an eye to tho impression it will make upon men. If they wore only to be seen by one another, women would have adopted a more comfortable costume long ago. Witness how gladly they jutup into a "Mother Hubbard" when they are suro of escape from masculine eyes.

Comes now a modern apostle of "Dress Reform," Mrs. Annie Jeoness Miller, "Boston-born and Gotham bred," young handsome, graceful, stylish, bringing a new gospel and a new dispensation to the daughters of Evo. Beautifully dressed for a dinner or ball, Mrs. Miller can raise her arms to their full extent and can bend forward or backward touching the floor with her hands. In the ordinary street or evening costume a woman is about as flexible as a log of wood, and If she should lose her balance on her high heels and fall down shu is so trussed aud girted that she would have to remain prostrate until some good Samaritan came along and set her upon end.

It was tho prlvilego of the writor to hear Mrs. Jenness-Millor lecture a short time ago in Indianapolis. Tho large hall at the residence of Mrs. May Wright Sewall was filled with three hundred of the city's representative women, drawn by the fame of the lecturer and tho absorbing interest of tho subject. As Mrs. Millor stepped upon the platform, tastefully attired in black lace, there \yos a murmur of disappointment, "That is not a reform dress." "That looks like any pretty lace dress." The lecturer began in a musical, well-modulated voice to say that contrary to her custom and at the entreaty of Mrs. Sewall, Bhe had agreed to exhibit tho reform underwear as well as the dresses. She then deftly unfastened two or three hooks and, without any contortious or struggling to get out of it, tho dress fell in a heap of black laco at her feet ond she stood beforo the audience like a draped statue. Over her union suit of woven silk .was a glove fitting waist of while silk tittod by curved se.ims and trimmed in lace and baby ribbon. Rut to nod on this were tho full Turkish drawers of white surah silk, made very full and long and fastened at the knee. Only this and nothing more. Varying this costume by tnohair, fKnnel, etc., she was prepared for all kinds of weather, with no »WeIs, no bands, no heavy or drabbled skirts. A round of applause greeted this pretty picture and she was overwhelmed with questions from the audionco.

Mrs. Miller then spoke earnestly upou the evils of the present style of dress, the nervousness It produces, tho effect will have upon future generations. Sho explained tho beauty there is in harmony and spjke of tho foolishness of women who follow the fashions blindly instead of studying their own facos and figures and adapting their clothes to their own particular style. She dwelt especially upon the discrimination women should make iu dressing for the house, for tho street, for church, for parties, etc., a dress, beautiful and appropriate for auy ono of these places, would be out of taste at the others. Stepping behind a screen she rapidly changed her costumes to the increasing delight of the ladles. She first appeared in a tea gown of suruh, shaded from canary to a golden brown, made princess with a train arid trimmed at neck and sleeves with lace.

The weight of tho dress was just one' pound, hor underwear and all togethor weighing a little over two pounds! This was followed by an evenlbg dress of emerald velvet, made with along train, the entire front of sea foam silk In long loose folds, the velvet sleeves slashed with puffs of silk. Mrs. Miller dropped into a chair in various positions to show the ease and grace of the costume. A street dress was shown of chinchilla cloth trimmed with bands of grebe plumage a visiting dress of black brocaded velvet, radiant with the light weight Whitby jet one of wine colored velvet with fawn silk. These dresses were all short, in one piece, with simulated basqne. A bouse c&ess of pale gray cashmere, trimmed In pink silk and looped in milkmaid style, was very pretty. She quite brought down the boose with a gown made from a picture by Paul Veronese, of crushed raspberry brocaded satin, garnished with heavy flounces of dnchease lace. The last and loveliest was an evening dress of "old pink" silk with a front brocaded in white crystal and pink pearl passementerie, with elbow sleeves and shaped corsage filled in with p-'nt I t.

While the changes were bUtig Ui*do there was a perfect babel of tongues, every lady expressing her views and asking her -r*s. The lecturer gave some vs! i-, viee to stout women, both iu iu*fr *!raperv and to

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to mothers, they were bound to the chariot wheels of fashion, if they were wi-! to t'i ii\ /tI'»n,:Ii!|eaof style, ?frv

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itiiaiiJ \hiia uy i-j uiulvr.i:ancl :^at this new d« irture In dress means not only beauty and harmony but it also 1 ,at.-' and ..applf«* 11.'-:n' Ives ai l, tsto'-'ulnea to wwseab .i.t it. -u. Itu A. ilAwmt,

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A Woman's Chat.

BV KKRKNDA BLOUNT.

"My Trivial Life" deserves a reading by ever woman who pretends to keep up in the jrood liteiature of tho day. Wo lovo thos© authors who translate for us into words our own most inmost thoughts We enjoy people who sivy for us things wo never found words for, and yet have felt most deeply. We need expression, we must have it. We are so constituted that our inner selves seek to be known in some outward way as flowers push up through the soil aud burst into bloom when they reach tho sunlight.

If I should quote for yon one tenth of tho marked passages in my volume, my column would bo filled in a very fow moments.

The story Is of a girl without beauty or accomplishments beinc reared in a very dull and narrow minded family. Her surroundings were such that she was virtually in prison for the beat years of her life. All her young years, when girls love fun and brightness, wore spent iu a dreary round of duties, aud in the companionship of an old undo and aunt who would havo seemed tiresome to a mummy.

With no attraction, no beauty of face or figure, sho naturally had no lovo affairs. But at last, a man who had beon in lovo with a fool of a girl, who was also a beauty, a man weary of the world —found her out—and half ill love with hQr, half iu lovo with hor fortuno, married hor. She was possessed of a remarkable mind, and a lovely nature. Ho had tho tact and skill to bring out hor good points and make her show off to the host advantage. And sho, poor girl, starved for so many years, was intoxicated by this sweet sympathy and companionship and loved him as no woman is safe in loving any mere tnau.

Sho gave herself to hi in without resorve. His (TVst love crosses his path. All hi* former passion for her returns, and his wire, driven to madnoss, suffering such agony as no man over knows, ondured and waited. Sho could not beliovo him false to hor. Sho blamed tho girl, blamed herself. Everybody boforo her idol. But at last tho truth came home. IIo told her ho regrotted marrying hor, if It was not for hor ho would bo free to marry his first sweetheart. And sho let him see how much sho suffered, she took It all patiently, meekly, without a word of remonstranco or defiance.

Of course ho was her Inferior in morals, in integrity and honesty of purpose. He waa a man of bright capacity, reared without any habits of rectltudo, without any stability or fine sense of honor.

But if Sophy could only havo had a little beauty, oven a pretty waist and soft shining hair, or a sweet voice, or delicate hands—something which should appeal to thateouse of comeliness which Is so dominant in a man's nature when ho looks at a woman. Thoro are so few men who can appreciate a plain woman, Because she has not outward beauty they seoms to think sho has different feelings, different thoughts, different longings and ambitions from other people. A plain woman is made of flesh and blood, the samo as your pink and whito darling. A plain woman craves love and sympathy and companionship just as much as a Hebe or Juno of a girl. A girl with dark hair, dark complexion and pale eyes ought to have a dark nature too. But In her soul perhaps are all tho intense yearings, the passionate instinct for happiness that any woman could havo.

The most pitiful thing In the story is the revelation of David Scott's infirmity to his wife. No woman dares safely to marry her inferior. If there must be inferiority let be in the other side of the house. Not to be able to respect one's husband-jphat can be worse than that?

In thinking over this story I want to say a word to tbe girls who may chanee to read this column.

My dear, wait a long time before you marry anybody, and when ynu do marry be sure—O be sure there is such a bond of union between yon that It is stronger than death or life or any earthly thing.

Don't marry a man for bis handsome face, his floe manners, bis charming conversation or his money. All of tbe^o things Are good in their way if united to a good heart. Without It they are only fenares for the innocent and trusting.

If yon area girl of honest and noble nature you must nut—for tbe sake of yonr very soul—marry a man who has no character.

If you ares girl without a besrt, it does not much matter whom you marry. Yon know yoa are taking avow for life—yon are binding yonr soul down to years of companionship. You are ehooding heaven or hell for youmelf—do ie careful and th'nk long before you say yes t.» any one of your lover*• 1i tre would be no need to discuns the qa Ion of tbe sneceas or failure of msrn»^" if all girls were true and womanly rf- f. .kind of men. I-' *J*as^.9union of two hearts and live*, more beautiful than ear nfher narthtr *7 to for every man and every woman.

Marrisr* too Mrrfon* a thing t* tie l'ghtlf «iird into aud onoe entia no looking bock.