THE PROBLEM OF THE HOME 



105 



There was only a mere formal union existing 

 between that man and that woman. In process 

 of time Mrs. Lewes became insane ; but still, 

 by human law, her husband was prevented from 

 making a home for himself, although by an act 

 of her own his wife had violated the law, both 

 human and divine. At last she became incu- 

 rably insane. Then Mr. Lewes and Miss Evans 

 determined to defy custom and public opinion, 

 and be man and wife. They were strong enough 

 to face the opposition. What they did openly, 

 thousands do quietly by a change of residence, or 

 by living the double life which is easily possible 

 in the cities. The family as an institution rests 

 on marriage ; and real marriage — that which is 

 something more than a contrivance for the per- 

 petuation of the race — depends on the union of 

 two souls. That union of souls is as essential to 

 marriage as a physical union is the fact that is 

 too often overlooked. In order that this essential 

 union may be truly consummated, there must be 

 between a man and a woman something which 

 baffles analysis, a kind of mutual attraction which 

 calls for companionship and makes association a 

 delight. This something can be defined nega- 

 tively better than positively. All of us know per- 

 sons whose characters are beyond criticism, who 



