3.  TEST OF VIRGINITY.—­The consummation of marriage with a virgin is not necessarily attended with a flow of blood, and the absence of this sign is not the slightest presumption against her former chastity.  The true test of virginity is modesty void of any disagreeable familiarity.  A sincere Christian faith is one of the best recommendations.

4.  LET EVERY MAN REMEMBER that the legal right of marriage does not carry with it the moral right to injure for life the loving companion he has chosen.  Ignorance may be the cause, but every man before he marries should know something of the physiology and the laws of health, and we here give some information which is of very great importance to every newly-married man.

5.  SENSUALITY.—­Lust crucifies love.  The young sensual husband is generally at fault.  Passion sways and the duty to bride and wife is not thought of, and so a modest young wife is often actually forced and assaulted by the unsympathetic haste of her husband.  An amorous man in that way soon destroys his own love, and thus is laid the foundation for many difficulties that soon develop trouble and disturb the happiness of both.

6.  ABUSE AFTER MARRIAGE.—­Usually marriage is consummated within a day or two after the ceremony, but this is gross injustice to the bride.  In most cases she is nervous, timid, and exhausted by the duties of preparation for the wedding, and in no way in a condition, either in body or mind, for the vital change which the married relation bring upon her.  Many a young husband often lays the foundation of many diseases of the womb and of the nervous system in gratifying his unchecked passions without a proper regard for his wife’s exhausted condition.

7.  THE FIRST CONJUGAL APPROACHES are usually painful to the new wife, and no enjoyment to her follows.  Great caution and kindness should be exercised.  A young couple rushing together in their animal passion soon produce a nervous and irritating condition which ere long brings apathy, indifference, if not dislike.  True love and a high regard for each other will temper passion into moderation.

8.  WERE THE ABOVE INJUNCTIONS HEEDED fully and literally it would be folly to say more, but this would be omitting all account of the bridegroom’s new position, the power of his passion, and the timidity of the fair creature who is wondering what fate has in store for her trembling modesty.  To be sure, there are some women who are possessed of more forward natures and stronger desires than others.  In such cases there may be less trouble.

9.  A COMMON ERROR.—­The young husband may have read in some treatise on physiology that the hymen in a virgin is the great obstacle to be overcome.  He is apt to conclude that this is all, that some force will be needed to break it down, and that therefore an amount of urgency even to the degree of inflicting considerable pain is justifiable.  This is usually wrong.  It rarely constitutes any obstruction and, even when its rupturing may be necessary, it alone seldom causes suffering.