[Illustration: A CHINESE BRIDE AND GROOM.]
1. Marry in your own position in life. If there is any difference in social
position, it is better that the husband should be the superior. A woman
does not like to look down upon her husband, and to be obliged to do so is
a poor guarantee for their happiness.
2. It is best to marry persons of your own faith and religious convictions,
unless one is willing to adopt those of the other. Difference of faith is
apt to divide families, and to produce great trouble in after life. A pious
woman should beware of marrying an irreligious man. {171}
3. Don't be afraid of marrying a poor man or woman. Good health, cheerful
disposition, stout hearts and industrious hands will bring happiness and
comfort.
4. Bright red hair should marry jet black, and jet black auburn or bright
red, etc. And the more red-faced and bearded or impulsive a man, the more
dark, calm, cool and quiet should his wife be; and vice versa. The florid
should not marry the florid, but those who are dark, in proportion as they
themselves are light.
5. Red-whiskered men should marry brunettes, but no blondes; the color of
the whiskers being more determinate of the temperament than that of the
hair.
6. The color of the eyes is still more important. Gray eyes must marry some
other color, almost any other except gray; and so of blue, dark, hazel,
etc.
7. Those very fleshy should not marry those equally so, but those too spare
and slim; and this is doubly true of females. A spare man is much better
adapted to a fleshy woman than a round-favored man. Two who are short,
thick-set and stocky, should not unite in marriage, but should choose those
differently constituted; but on no account one of their own make. And, in
general, those predisposed to corpulence are therefore less inclined to
marriage.
8. Those with little hair or beard should marry those whose hair is
naturally abundant; still those who once had plenty, but who have lost it,
may marry those who are either bald or have but little; for in this, as in
all other cases, all depends on what one is by nature, little on present
states.
9. Those whose motive-temperament decidedly predominates, who are bony,
only moderately fleshy, quite prominent-featured, Roman-nosed and muscular,
should not marry those similarly formed.
10. Small, nervous men must not marry little, nervous or sanguine women,
lest both they and their children have quite too much of the hot-headed and
impulsive, and die suddenly.
[Illustration: Light, Life, Health and Beauty.]
11. Two very beautiful persons rarely do or should marry; nor two extra
homely. The fact is a little singular that very handsome women, who of
course can have their pick, rarely marry good-looking men, but generally
give preference to those who are homely; because that {173} exquisiteness
in which beauty originates naturally blends with that power which
accompanies huge noses and disproportionate features.
12. Rapid movers, speakers, laughers, etc., should marry those who are calm
and deliberate, and impulsives those who are stoical; while those who are
medium may marry those who are either or neither, as they prefer.
13. Noses indicate characters by indicating the organisms and temperaments.
Accordingly, those noses especially marked either way should marry those
having opposite nasal characteristics. Roman noses are adapted to those
which turn up, and pug noses to those turning down; while straight noses
may marry either.
14. Men who love to command must be especially careful not to marry
imperious, women's-rights woman; while those who willingly "obey order;"
need just such. Some men require a wife who shall take their part; yet all
who do not need strong-willed women, should be careful how they marry them.
15. A sensible woman should not marry an obstinate but injudicious,
unintelligent man; because she cannot long endure to see and help him
blindly follow his poor, but spurn her good, plans.
16. The reserved or secretive should marry the frank. A cunning man cannot
endure the least artifice in a wife. Those who are non-committal must marry
those who are demonstrative; else, however much they may love, neither will
feel sure as to the other's affections, and each will distrust the other,
while their children will be deceitful.
17. A timid woman should never marry a hesitating man, lest, like
frightened children, each keep perpetually re-alarming the other by
imaginary fears.
18. An industrious, thrifty, hard-working man should marry a woman
tolerably saving and industrious. As the "almighty dollar" is now the great
motor-wheel of humanity, and that to which most husbands devote their
entire lives, to delve alone is uphill work.
[Illustration]
{174}
Marriage Securities.
[Illustration: WE MUST PART.]
1. SEEK EACH OTHER'S HAPPINESS.--A selfish marriage that seeks only its own
happiness defeats itself. Happiness is a fire that will not burn long on
one stick. {175}
2. DO NOT MARRY SUDDENLY.--It can always be done till it is done, if it is
a proper thing to do.
3. MARRY IN YOUR OWN GRADE IN SOCIETY.--It is painful to be always
apologizing for any one. It is more painful to be apologized for.
4. DO NOT MARRY DOWNWARD.--It is hard enough to advance in the quality of
life without being loaded with clay heavier than your own. It will be
sufficiently difficult to keep your children up to your best level without
having to correct a bias in their blood.
5. DO NOT SELL YOURSELF.--It matters not whether the price be money or
position.
6. DO NOT THROW YOURSELF AWAY.--You will not receive too much, even if you
are paid full price.
7. SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PARENTS.--Your parents are your best friends.
They will make more sacrifice for you than any other mortals. They are
elevated above selfishness concerning you. If they differ from you
concerning your choice, it is because they must.
8. DO NOT MARRY TO PLEASE ANY THIRD PARTY.--You must do the living and
enduring.