Don't Marry a Man to Reform Him.
By Beatrice Fairfax
HUNDREDS of women have married drunkards with the idea that they could help them reform. The plan does not succeed once in a hundred times. If a man has the moral strength to reform he can do it before marriage, instead of running the risk of dragging a woman down to want and misery. The man who says to a girl, "Marry me, and I am sure that with your help I can reform," is a coward. He has no right to shift the responsibility of his reformation to other shoulders. That is a burden and a fight that he must carry alone. Thru his own moral stamina and strength of will he must win the battle. When a girl finds that the man whom she has grown to love is addicted to drink, she can help him with love and sympathy, but she commits a grave error if she marries him unless his reformation is complete. She has no right to marry and bring children into the world handicapped by the curse of a drunken father. If the girl who contemplates marrying a man to reform him could look into some of the homes ruined by drink she would be entirely cured of her philanthropical tendencies. Where the head of the home is a drunkard there is squalor, want, misery. The wife and children are neglected and wretched. . . . A girl's influence over a man is great as long as she stands for all that is good and pure. . . . Don't be foolish and spoil your whole life thru a quixotic idea of saving a man. You owe a duty to yourself, and it would be most wrong to marry a drunkard. There are many sober, worthy young men among your acquaintances—bestow your affections on them. The man who has conquered temptation is safe, but not the one who has yet to conquer it.—Beatrice Fairfax.