er patents. In Persia, the
wife's status depends upon her fruitfulness; if she be barren, she can
be put aside. In the same country they have also permanent marriages
and marriages for a certain period only--the latter never allowed to
exceed ninety years.

In fact, the marriage ceremonies differ in nearly all countries. To us
some may appear very absurd, and yet our customs may be just as
amazing to them. It matters but little how a conjugal union is
effected so long as sanctioned by law or custom and it obligates the
parties, by common opinion, to observe the duties pertaining to
married life.

THE BASIS OF A HAPPY MARRIAGE.

The state of conjugal union should be the happiest in the whole of the
existence of either man or woman, and is such in a congenial marriage.
Yet in the history of very many marriages contentment or happiness is
palpably absent and an almost insufferable misery is the heritage of
both parties. It is therefore important that previous to the marital
union the parties should take everything into consideration that
fore-shadows happiness after marriage, as well as everything
calculated to despoil conjugal felicity.

The first requisite of congenial marriage is love. Without being
cemented by this element the conjugal union is sure to be uncongenial.
It is the strongest bond, the firmest cord, uniting two hearts
inseparably together. Love for the opposite sex has always been a
controlling influence with mankind. It is the most elevating of all
the emotions and the purest and tenderest of all sentiments. It exerts
a wonderful power, and by its influence the grandest human actions
have been achieved. Of what infinite worth it is to either sex to be
compensated with a worthy and satisfying love, and how ennobling to
the impulses and actions it is to bestow the sentiment upon one worthy
to receive and willing to return.

LOVE IS THE MAINSPRING

that regulates the harmony of conjugal life, and without it there is a
void in the machinery, productive only of jars, convulsive movement,
and a grating and inharmonious action. The soul yearns for love and
to love, and unless the desire is compensated human life is a blank
and becomes a purposeless existence. Love ever stimulates the good and
suppresses the bad, if kept in a proper channel and guided by pure
affections.

Another requisite of a happy marriage is health. No person has a moral
right to engage