1.  THE TRUE FACTS.—­Notwithstanding some of the above quotations, to the contrary, trouble and disagreement between lovers embitters both love and life.  Contention is always dangerous, and will beget alienation if not final separation.

2.  CONFIRMED AFFECTIONS.—­Where affections are once thoroughly confirmed, each one should be very careful in taking offense, and avoid all disagreements as far as possible, but if disagreements continually develop with more or less friction and irritation, it is better for the crisis to come and a final separation take place.  For peace is better than disunited love.

3.  HATE-SPATS.—­Hate-spats, though experienced by most lovers, yet, few realize how fatal they are to subsequent affections.  Love-spats develop into hate-spats, and their effects upon the affections are blighting and should not under any circumstances be tolerated.  Either agree, or agree to disagree.  If there cannot be harmony before the ties of marriage are assumed, then there cannot be harmony after.  Married life will be continually marred by a series of “hate-spats” that sooner or later will destroy all happiness, unless the couple are reasonably well mated.

[Illustration:  HOME LOVING HEARTS ARE HAPPIEST.]

4.  MORE FATAL THE OFTENER THEY OCCUR.—­As O.S.  Fowler says:  “’The poison of asps is under their lips.’  The first spat is like a deep gash cut into a beautiful face, rendering it ghastly, and leaving a fearful scar, which neither time nor cosmetics can ever efface; including that pain so fatal to love, and blotting that sacred love-page with memory’s most hideous and imperishable visages.  Cannot many now unhappy remember them as the beginning of that alienation which embittered your subsequent affectional cup, spoiled your lives?  With what inherent repulsion do you look back upon them?  Their memory is horrid, and effect on love most destructive.”

5.  FATAL CONDITIONS.—­What are all lovers’ “spats” but disappointment in its very worst form?  They necessarily and always produce all its terrible consequences.  The finer feelings and sensibilities will soon become destroyed and nothing but hatred will remain.

6.  EXTREME SORROW.—­After a serious “spat” there generally follows a period of tender sorrow, and a feeling of humiliation and submission.  Mutual promises are consequently made that such a condition of things shall never happen again, etc.  But be sure and remember, that every subsequent difficulty will require stronger efforts to repair the breach.  Let it be understood that these compromises are dangerous, and every new difficulty increases their fatality.  Even the strongest will endure but few, nor survive many.

7.  DISTRUST AND WANT OF CONFIDENCE.—­Most difficulties arise from distrust or lack of confidence or common-sense.  When two lovers eye each other like two curs, each watching, lest the other should gain some new advantage, then this shows a lack of common-sense, and the young couple should get sensible or separate.