"A man unattached
and without wife," says Bruyere, "if he have any genius at all, may
raise himself above his original position, may mingle with the world of
fashion, and hold himself on a level with the highest; this is less
easy for him who is engaged; it seems as if marriage put the whole world
in their proper rank." "I have" says Burton, the melancholy, "no wife or
children, good or bad, to provide for, and am a mere spectator of other
men's fortunes and adventures."
THE ONE GRAND RESULT OF SINGLE LIFE,
so far as is generally noticeable, is selfishness. The chief lesson of
marriage is self-denial. Which is the more pleasing of the two traits?
When the bachelor views life, he sees nothing good in it, for it all
looks selfish. Being so deeply jaundiced, the eye tints everything with
yellow. At forty he is heartily sick of it all. Why? Because he has
learned that he has squeezed the orange dry. The faculties which God
gave him to be pleased with when a recipient have been worked to death.
HE HAS BEEN A RECIPIENT WITHOUT CEASE.
He has chewed on one side of his mouth all his life.
Pages:
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253