THE PROBLEM OF THE HOME m 



was intemperate ; my father died intemperate ; I 

 have a brother who is a drunkard ; the love of 

 Hquor is in the blood, and I will never be a party to 

 perpetuating this terrible tendency." Not all who 

 have intemperate relations are shut up, morally, 

 to this Spartan choice ; but she, in her circum- 

 stances, did exactly right, and this world would 

 be far happier if women and men in general did 

 but share her noble spirit. 



From the propositions already laid down it 

 follows also, and quite as certainly, that careful 

 attention should be given to the probabilities of 

 continued mutual congeniality of the two persons 

 involved. The son of a dear friend of mine is 

 far more likely to be permanently congenial to 

 my daughter, than the son of one who is distaste- 

 ful to me. There is a grave risk that the latter 

 will in time affect her with a sense of personal 

 antagonism. These seem trivial things, almost 

 beneath attention ; but the Romeos and Juliets 

 have existence chiefly in plays and novels, while 

 the Montagues and Capulets are perpetuating 

 strife in every community. Parents are under 

 obligations, far too frequently neglected, to seek 

 as companions for their children those whom they 

 have reason to believe will be companionable and 

 attractive throughout life. With the greatest care 



