THE TRUTH ABOUT MARRIAGE
dreams going to bed at night, just as we see people in moving pictures getting ready for bed, if she were to see him collapsed in heavy slumber, if she could hear him snoring—and even heroes snore—if she could see him getting up in the morning his face heavy with sleep and watch him coming to life again, if she could witness his manners as he dressed, if she could see him putting on his company manners, he might not be attractive.
Indeed, he might reveal traits that would be to her positively offensive. He might show himself to be the grouch he is, the brute of which he is capable of becoming when unobserved by his public; she might never know just what he is without such an intimate knowledge.
And yet it would seem fair to judge people when fully awake and dressed to meet the world. I think one can judge even then as to their actual character by little things that are said and done, possibly better than by seeing them in neglige attire, and better than by the big things done to impress the public.
Let us get down to a practical answer to our question. I think we can know people as to their real character without seeing them in the intimacy of marriage, if we know how to judge people.
And I believe one of the subjects to be taught young people is ability to read character. I do not
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