National Republican., 1873-11-19
ws, Mon Mus, a. IN, .popp,ns. !,

Let us consider brieny the reason why men
AXE the Initiative. True, II has been one OF our
unwvatten social laws that women may propose
n leap year, that Is, in every fourth year. But
we have entirely failed to establish case In
point, or TO name woman who has ayailed her
self OF such prerogative. True also, we hear Of
oertain women who "set their caps to certain
gentlemen. A woman may lawfully aud sexually
use all her arts and wiles, and she may employ
all the coquetry that Ia In her to bring about the
''poppingn but she may not ''pop" herself. Now,
whatever may be said TO the contrary, marriage
seS Il 4 positive n and the main main OBJECT
and the money question involved with 1t, would
Ss MeS 4
none the less lost sight Of. Etiquette requires II
should not be openly put forward, aud woman
rather 70 30 sought after, by reason. OF the vast
expense she brings upon the man Tor her sup
port. Therefore, ~ the man pops the question,
The right TO do 90 falls to him by reason o. the
pecaniary responsibility to which he subjects
hlmself BY taking unto himself wife. Royalty
stands on O different footing; queen may pro-
Ii will also have been observed that, In the case
Of the Princess Louise, that illustrious young
lady was made by royal etiquette TO take up
qu,te different position than that assumed by
ladies without the pale OF royal hood In these
cases the balance OF material benefit is on the
side Of the woman, and the invitation to the
rogative. A lover suing for her nanh would In
eyltably subject himself to suspicious OF mer-
cenary motives.
Again, the woman Is not supposed to b, the
nrst IN fall In love. Practice, we know, would
upset this theory. 1t Is as much human nature
for woman 10 fall In love with man as Il Is
for man to fall In love with woman. but
there is Just this dinerence-ihat the woman
may not declare her passion, and therefore II is
unb0rn--is not called Into lfe-and by ilction
does not exist until the man has first proposed
aud called her love into life, Into responsive
Men, moreover, in such matters, like to take
the Initiative. Women must therefore wait un-
III they are asked, and II they do love must con-
ceal II until they In roturn are loved. Some
times, indeed, we do see women ovcrstepplng
the bonds OF delicacy, aud so thrustlng their
passion before man as virtually u amount to a
declaration OF their preference. such overturn-
ing Of an established rule Il, however, franght
with danger To the practicer. When about
graspng the prize, she will most likely see II
elude her too eager clutch. Men will too often
give up the game entirely when they nnd them
selves turned from the pursuer TO the pursued.
On paper II is dlf1lcult to draw a line where tdc
allurcment and the coquetry end and tho decided
advance OF woman to the unconcealcd attack bb-
gins. such line, however, does exist, aud the
well-reguated instinct OF the sex points TO Just
so far as may he gone with proprlety AMI mod
esty, and no farther. woman must Just leave
that suspicion OF uncertainty In the mind OF the
swain a. TO the nnal result which will induce
him TO continue the pursuit and land him IN q
inai popping Of the question. Words are not
spoken, but the mystical influence that surrounds
two lovers interprets what the outside world
cannot fathom. The eyes play wonderful part.
the lips. In fact, we might set IL down as an
axiom that no man should pop the question with
his mouth I'LL the eyes OF the woman have given
him virtual commission 70 do so. II this were
more studied, and mon did not take such OH
couragement from their own wishes, there would
bc far less chance Of refusal,