omestic Bliss

aron Von Lodge was the head of a small country known as Lilliland near Switzerland. The time was the early 1900s.

The Baron liked to have dinnertime discussions of some importance with his fiancée, Lady Angela of Alpine Castle, and Professor Hamblin, his chief advisor for Lilliland.

The discussions were sometimes very philosophical. At one dinner they were discussing why, in Lilliland, the domestic relations court was very busy. Each year there seemed to be more and more family feuding that ended up in the court.

The Baron felt that the decision some young people made regarding the selection of a lifelong spouse was not based on wise and mature judgment.

The Professor felt that some young people chose spouses for the wrong reasons. For example, some falsely believed that opposites attract. This was as bad a mistake as one could make, he suggested.

The more things a couple had in common, the better chance they had for marital happiness. Professor Hamblin said that all couples should have at least twelve things in common, such as: how money is spent, housing, the desire to have children, clothing, socialization among friends, and education.

The remaining six were religion, family-in-law relations, hobbies, travel, politics, and pets. Plus, there were many other less important areas that the couple should have in common.

The young man, at age 21, may have different thoughts about a mate than he had at age 18. Young women must have some element of maturity and common sense before engaging in any romantic activities.

Both Lady Angela and the Baron listened very closely while the Professor concluded with the note that the more interests and activities two people have in common, the better the chances were for domestic bliss.