On two slips of paper he wrote down brief thoughts for and against marriage. He divided the sheets into two columns, one titled "to marry" and the other " not to marry."
Among the points in favor were:
- "children",
- "constant companion, (& friend in old age) who will feel interested in one,— object to be beloved & played with.— —better than a dog anyhow",
- "Home, & someone to take care of house".
List of cons included, for example:
- "not forced to visit relatives",
- "not forced to bend in every trifle",
- "less money for books",
- "a waste of time".
In the end, the profit and loss calculus pushed him toward marriage.
