Courtship and Marriage, and the Gentle Art of Home-Making

t grit is in them for the plain prose of daily life; not that we admit or hint for a moment that

of the times, we may feel very certain that marriage has caused no diminution of interest in those looking

saying that the first year of married life is a crucial test of a woman's disposition and character. It brings out her individuality in bold relief, shows her at her worst and best. She has to give herself so entirely and unreservedly, and in many cases to merge her indi

es the new wife can take with her is unselfishness.

her individuality, to become merely an echo of her husband, to render herself insipid. It is a fine distinction, perhaps, but necessary to observe, be

keep herself in the background if by so doing he can show to more advantage. Even if nature has endowed her with gifts

ce of the duties required of a reasonable being; and I would therefore insist that the woman of large brain power, provided she has well-balanced judgment, and a heart as expansive as her brai

of the world is likely to bring a more wide and loving sympathy to bear upon the concerns of

ing is deemed of consequence except what affects self and those circled by selfish interest, life becomes a poor thing, and human nature a stunted and miserable quality. I have known,

ert of life for her mate is not absolutely denied; but in the main she is judged to have fallen short-in a word, she is not ideal. Of course such discussion and such verdict is but the froth on a passing wave; still, it serves to illustrate my contention that there is no subject on earth of more surpassing interest to men and women than this very theme we are considering. The men who have written on the subject lay great stress on a loving disposition and an amiable temper, which are indeed two mo

s a great deal of truth in the remark. We want women to be delivered from this sickly thrall of sentimentality-which word I us

order to make her interesting; and nobody now has much sympathy with Thackeray's favourite Amelia, and

ouis Stevenson, in ignoring woman so much in his works, had passed by the most picturesque part of human life. The contention was perfectly unimpeachable from the artistic point of view; but we aim, I trust, at being something more than picturesque. While not disdaining the high privilege of giving the

fts and graces, so powerful in their influence, th

our strength, and that the end of our being is

has not as yet made such headway in life as was expected of him. And his Nemesis sits at home, querulous and fretful because her establishment is more modest than her ambition, her possessions than her pretensions. Life is embittered to him; hope has died: if love follow it sadly t

ak from personal experience, and I could tell you a story of a young pair who began life in very humble circumstances, in the face of much opposition, and who, by dint of honest, faithful, united endeavours, overcame obstacles over which Experience shook her head and called

ry always a bright spirit in a frail body; but we have our compensations, which are many. They will at once occur to every sympathetic and discerning heart, but a

possessions are greater than her needs, and in her loving service, for her own first, and afterwards for all whom her blessed