Of course this was the worst case scenario, and fortunately they offered advice on avoiding such desperate situations.
2. UNAVOIDABLE EVILS - There are plenty of unavoidable evils in this world, and it is mournful to think of the multitudes who are preparing themselves for needless disappointment, and who yet have no fear, and are unwilling to be instructed, cautioned or warned. To them the experience of mature life is of little account compared with the wisdom of ardent and enthusiastic youth.
3. MATRIMONIAL INFIDELITY - One great cause of matrimonial infelicity is the hasty marriages of persons who have no adequate knowledge of each other's characters. Two strangers become acquainted, and are attracted to each other; and without taking half the trouble to investigate or inquire, that a prudent man would take before buying a saddle horse, they are married. In a few weeks or months it is perhaps found that one of the parties was married already, or possibly that the man is drunken or vicous, or the woman anything but what she should be. Then begins the bitter part of the experience, shame, disgrace, scandal, separation, sin and divorce; all the natural result of a rash and foolish marriage
4. THE CLIMAX - It has been said that a man is never utterly ruined until he has married a bad woman. So the climax of a woman's misery and sorrows may be said to come only when she is bound with that bond which should be her chiefest blessing and her highest joy, but which may prove her deepest sorrow and her bitterest curse.
5. THE FOLLIES OF FOLLIES - There are some lessons which people are very slow to learn, and yet which are based upon the simple principles of common sense. A young lady casts her eyes upon a young man. She plies her arts, engages his affections, marries him and secures for herself a life of sorrow and disappointment, ending perhaps in a broken home or early grave.
6. HAP-HAZARD - Many marriages are undoubtedly arranged by what may be termed the accident of locality. Persons live near each other, become acquainted, and engage themselves to those whom they never would have selected to be their companions in life if they had wider opportunities of acquaintance. The results are sometimes happy but often unhappy in the extreme.
7. WE ALL CHANGE - When two persons of opposite sex are often thrown together, they are very naturally attracted to each other, and are liable to imbibe the opinion that they are better fitted for life-long companionship than any other two persons in the world. This may be the case or it may not be. But even if at the present moment these two persons were fitted to be together, no one can tell whether the situation will be the same five or ten years hence. Men change; women change; they are not the same as they were ten years ago, they are not the same as they will be ten years hence.
8. THE SAFE RULE - Do not be in a hurry; take your time and consider well before you allow your devotions to rule you. When people marry they unite their destinies for better or worse. Marriage is a contract for life and will never bear a hasty conclusion.
