Natchitoches spectator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1867-18??, 1868-03-04
Reform In CoSrtship.

WOuUcES VIII never CeGSe. LII IUlS
progressive age and this rapid land it is
never safe to imagine we are at the end
of our rope, and that no more new ideas
are going to be presented. After all the
afiuence of strange notions, intellectual,
religious, political. and social, that have
marked these last twenty five years, we
to-day ask attention to one not less
strange, not less revolutionary, not less
opposed to all our time-honored preju-
dIces and usageS than any of its prede-
cesSors We refer to o movement lately
set on foot for the purpose of introdu.
cling new system for preparing for mar
riage, OF, i'll other words, q new system
OF counting. To this interesting subject
we this morning devote considerable
portion of our columns, as our readers
may convince themselves by turning to
another page, where they will find the
argument for this rather unexpected re-
form presented with eloquence and eff
feet by one of the most distinguished
and admired of our female authors.
AS we understand the proposition, it is
that in the future, in all those tender
little acts of admiration and devotion
which make up so large part of that
most delicious stage of human expert
ennce which begins with falling in love.
and ends-if events proceed favorably
with a proposal of marriage, the ini-
tiatiye shall be taken by the lady. 1t
shall be her part to make the first trem-
bling, fearful, anxious advances. She
shall send the bouquets and sing the
serenades. She, finally, taking advan-
tage of some lull in the Intoxicating
whirl of the dance, or of some kindly
shade in the afternoon stroll, or of any
of those thousand protecting accidents
that are ever wont to befriend true To-
vers, shall whisper the momentous ques,
tion, and, we presume, offer the first
thrilling kiss when the hOped-fo for affirm
ative response has been sighed forth in
bushes.
We declare that we are as yet unable
to form decided Judgment upon this
important project. Our prejudices-
and we confess it with terror, lest the
fair advocate of this interesting reform
should class us among those ''imbeciles
of both sexes" against whom she launch
es her saTcasms in ADVANTAGEOUS pfeju-
dices are decidedly in favor of the old
method. 1t is convenient; it is also
pleasant; and its results have so far been
pretty satisfactory. 1t is true, however,
that experience may prove to be in favor
of the new plan, end the fervor with
which Mrs. Cakes Smith advocates it
makes us feel that there is probably
something in the whole subject that
transcends our knowledge. According
ly, we will take the course which pru-
dence indicates; and for the present, Mt
least, will decline to be counted either
among the friends or the antagonists of
the proposed reform. We hope, never
theless, that tile movement will not be
allowed to languish; measures should at
once be taken for thorough agitation
of the country. in it's behalf. Conven-
tions should be held, societies formed,
and every other means of public discus
sion resOrted to. In this way, whatever
truth there may be in the idea will soon
be established like great rock that can
never be overturned.-[N eto York San.