822 General Notes. [August, 
such well-constituted persons may entertain such a view, is the 
failure of the individual to realize his or her ideal in this direc- 
tion. 
One principal cause of failure to realize the ideal conjugal state, 
is constitutional weakness of the sentiment. This may be mental 
alone, or it may be physical. If the “ grand passion” is to exist, 
its physical basis must not be destroyed. When the affection is 
properly developed, it leads to a subordination of many things 
which would conflict with it. Truth and honor become the basis 
of permanent confidence between the contracting parties, and 
everything that is disagreeable to the object of affection will be 
abandoned, so far as consistent with the necessities of existence, 
and of honorable conduct to others: When the sex sentiment is 
not well developed, these ameliorations will not take place. One 
or both persons will have ground of complaint, and if in the bal- 
ance of motives either finds it more pleasant to him or herself to 
be disagreeable to their matrimonial partner than to be agreeable, 
the term of such persons’ association is likely to come to a speedy 
end. In the case of personal bearing the male sex is often the 
sinner, since the more sensitive nature of the woman requires 
more consideration than the more indifferent constitution of the 
man. In the matter of rationality of conduct and opinions, the 
female more frequently errs. 
One of the causes which tend to weaken the sex sentiment, is 
want of intellectual sympathy. This is at present a more or less 
necessary evil, but the development of the intellect is progressing, 
and will bear rich fruit in the field of the affections. Perhaps the 
