124. Family duties.—This is the natural history of the family. It was probably in a similar manner, with many vicissitudes, that it gradually formed and then became transformed. Let us now see how out of this association, founded by instincts, interests, and circumstances, the principle of duty makes a sacred and indissoluble institution.
There can be distinguished in the family four kinds of relations, whence spring four classes of duties:
1. The relations between the husband and wife.
2. The relations of parents to children.
3. The relations of children to parents.
4. The relations of children to each other.
Whence conjugal duty, paternal or maternal duty, filial duty, and fraternal duty.
To these four relations, there may be added a fifth: that of the head of a family to his servants.
125. Duties of marriage.—The duties of marriage begin before marriage: they begin with the mutual choice of the man and the woman. For the woman, it usually happens, at least in our society [in France], that the choice is determined by the parents. The responsibility, then, falls upon them. Now, this choice should not be made lightly and foolishly. It should be determined by a serious and noble conception of the duties and end of marriage.
“Marriage,” our Code admirably says, “is an association between man and woman, to share the pleasures and bear in common the trials of life.”[68]