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M. Balzac, whose satirical Meditations embrace a deal of sound philosophy, says of the young wife (and which expresses our opinion of the average case):
"Her imagination persuades her to expect pleasure or happiness from a next day which will never arrive."
"She will be silent no longer when she perceives the uselessness of her sacrifices."
If you will but remember, that the fond caresses which, before marriage, won her love and affection, will arouse a world of love and passion after marriage, if you will but try it, you will be rewarded and gratified by a response of love and affection, such as only can come from a happy wife and loving mother who has realized in marriage that happiness, that right which is by nature due her.
We are now led to anticipate the question, "How frequently does health or prudence permit the repetition of the marital act?" No positive rule can be stated on this subject, dependent, as it is, on so great a variety of conditions, as individual temperaments, state of health at the moment, etc., but general principles can be clearly stated, from which may be readily deduced rules for particular instances. Regard must always be had to instructions already stated : namely, that nothing should induce a man to gratify his own desires at the expense of his wife's comfort or inclination; that the lawful pleasures of wedlock should never be permitted to degenerate into mere animal lust; that the rule should be, in all cases, to keep within but never to exceed the limits of fond desire. Franklin's rule for eating, always to rise from the table with an appetite for more, can wisely be applied to the conjugal act—never to repeat it so frequently but that the ability on both sides exists for further indulgence.
Perhaps most men learn this lesson soon enough for
