LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAf. 191 



who is addicted to the use of liquor, or who spends his money in specu- 

 lation or in fast living. Shun such as you would an idiot or a fool. 

 They will invariably prove worthless husbands, and to think that you 

 can reform them is so much like playing with fire that we must quote 

 old man Weller's advice to his son: 



' ' Samivel don't. " 



As it is to-day, in five homes out of six, domestic infelicity exists 

 merely because before marriage these fundamental points or elements 

 necessary to continued affection and happiness were disregarded. 



LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP INTO THE SEA OF ITI ATROIOXY . 



To select the characteristics that cause future trouble, while courting 

 one need only watch with some care how his intended treats her family 

 and friends. If she is cross to the dog, and the cat is afraid of her, 

 have a care ; some day you may find yourself leading a dog's life. 

 Observe her conduct when she does not know you are observing her, 

 and judge her by the characteristics you thus discover. 



To live as happily and continue as affectionate after marriage as 

 before is worth a little sacrifice, and it requires but very little sacrifice 

 if you go about it the right way. First, of course, you must continue 

 true to one another, but the secret will generally be found in one of two 

 things. The most important of these is the keeping alive and at its 

 best the sexual desires. This is the highest part of your nature and 

 should be held sacred. Constant or uninterrupted indulgence is sure to 

 destroy its enjoyment and destroy happiness for both. 



The animals enforce periods of abstinence by instinct. Man has 

 sense instead of instinct, and if he fails to use his intelligence he suf- 

 fers. It is absolutely necessary, if you retain affection, to separate indul- 

 gence with long periods of abstinence. It is on this rock that more 

 domestic happiness is ruined than on any other. And while it may 

 seem at first to be a sacrifice you will soon learn that it is instead a 

 means of addiugr exquisite pleasure to both your lives that; you were 

 formerly stranarr to. 



LITTLE AC'IT* THAT WAKEN THE SMOULDERING FLAMES OF 



LOVE. 



Another important secret is in retaining all along the trifling acts of 

 tenderness. oung man, squeeze your wife's hand now and then after 

 marriage just as you did while courting, and look your wife in the eye 

 as you did then. And wife, pet your husband now and then ; think to 

 do it. These may be trifles which many married folks will pooh-pooh 

 as beneath their dignity, but we have always found that such people 

 missed domestic happiness while the others retained it Put away that 

 selfish unhappiness and begin to attend to these little acts of affection, 

 and if you continue it honestly for a little while you will bo wonderfully 

 surprised at the prompt response. It will repay a thousand fold for 

 the effort. 



