Success in Matrimony.

Otago Witness, Issue 2849, 21 October 1908, Page 74

Success in Matrimony.

(By Mrs John A. Logan.) Too many mothers fail to realise that their responsibility in rearing their daughters is far greater than that of their sons because of the fact that girls are, or should be, constantly with their mothers and are, therefore, influenced altogether by them. It is a very sad thought that too many mothers have imbibed mercenary ideas — thinking that daughters must marry for wealth instead of affection. The mother who influences her daughter into thinking that money is more to be desired in a husband than high character, intel. lectual ability, energy, honesty and ambition makes a very serious mistake. One cannot actually condemn daughters who would disagree with parents who have such motives in their plans for securing for them husbands, and if they act from pure motives of affection and wilfully dteobey thfir parents, they should not be too severely critised. The obligation all persons must assume who take each other " for better i'or woise" and who are to live together " til! death do them part." certainly should enfitle them to make the selection that pi onuses to make them happiest. 3 f mothers would impress upon their soils and daughters the gravity in selecta companion for life, and teach them from their youth that there were many things that were of greater importance and more to be desired than gold, they would act far more wisely. The possession of money alone does not bring happiness. On the contrary, it sometimes brings great sorrow to many persons who make desperate efforts to obtain it. If unions are based upon no higher motive than the attaining of riches, little can be expected for the future happiness of the parties to such a union, as adversity is almost sure to come at some time in the lives of most people, and when fortune has taken wings, if they have nothing to fall back upon but disappointment and discontent they are to be pitied. Ties should be based upon something more than fleeting fortune.