HAPPY EVER AFTER

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 103, 25 January 1933, Page 4

HAPPY EVER AFTER

Began Without a Pound MARRIED FOR 75 YEARS If anyone is qualified to speak with authority on marriage, that person is Mr. XX’illiam M’alker. Of M’ainfleet, Lincolnshire. He aud his wife held that country’s long-distance matrimony record. They have just celebrated the seven-tv-fifth anniversary of their wedding, says Kitty Mcßride in the “Daily Express.” Mr. XValker told the writer what he thinks about marriage. “AVhen a man marries, be should look for . the same qualities that h<s would seek in a business partner —reliability, even temper, trustworthy, loyalty. But does he do it? Not he. He marries for the reason I married —liecaused the girl is pretty and he loves her. Actually, the first essential to any happy marriage is to have too little time to exaggerate trifles. ‘AVhcri we were married we had-no money, and the struggle for existence took all our attention. We had no time to brood on each other's shortcomings. If we were annoyed we said so and why:—and. we had it out. The result was’a happy marriage. “We have two children, an ideal number. An only child is more anxiety to bring up than half a dozen, and a large family is a terrible expense and anxiety.’ Marriage is not it lottery. It is what yon make it—or, rattier, what the woman makes it. Mostly.it depends on her. I trusted my wife with my money, which is more than most men dare do. “I have no patience with these voting people who are rhe soul of discretion and wait till they can afford to marry. XX'e had not a pound between us. But we married because we wanted to marry, aud defied, fate. That is the way to live. There is too much ‘safety first’ nowadays.” Mrs. XValker, who is nearly 95. looks much younger, but not quite as hearty, as her husband. -I know what is wrong with marriage nowadays.” she said, her bright blue eyes vivid with indignation. “TOo many bank holidays—no. I will not explain why. You think it out for yourself.” And that was her last word on the subject.