THE NATURAL MARRIAGE
Cell seeks affinity with cell.—Reedy.
HEN young people meet on a natural basis our present civilization insists that it must necessarily be followed by a permanent, life-long friendship or disgrace.
The cosmic urge causes a meeting which, if followed by an enforced close relationship, usually has incompatability as a sequence.
Nature has one thing forever in mind. Civilization has not counted on this.
A youth and a maiden meet when passion is strong, the will undisciplined and judgment undeveloped. Convention says there is but one thing to do when young people are thus strongly attracted to each other, and that is to get the sanction of society (church and state) and make arrangements for a permanent intimacy.
The youth expects the perpetual beauty, smile and charm of the ballroom, reception or parlor. The maiden expects protestation of love, and her ideals and promises fulfilled.
Each has firmly fixed in the mind an idea of something that has none or little of the real in it—an idea that is impossible. Yet in it there are hope and fond desire somewhere hinted.