, 1874-02-21
Topping THE QUESTION.
Why the Privilege Is Considered
Mans Prerogative.
fbt Results Of The 0ne-Sided SYSTEM:
= Nan Proposes, but Woman
Disposcs.


An Argument for Equality.
nne MYTHICAL first man and first WOMAN were
.n.nca the usual preliuinarios Of ulatrinony.
rhere was neither the difficulty OF making q
.isa choice nor the pain Of refusal for alr.
Ad.m; and Mrs. Adam thst vas to be did not Sit
nansiye in Paradise, nwalting the "pop" with
tremulous anxiety, nor WAS sue compelled to lay
ha,se1f out on elaborate leaf-drapery to catch .
huspand. So, in the beginning Of things, it
seems, the marriage contract was more fair
md equal adjustment than the
osE-smED SYSTEM.
into'adopted. Ono woman, at least, had tho
,dds on her side in this world; but. as soon as
.rsr there Was even d Hobson's choice for the
IN. of Adam, We find the Loals left out in the
rid: and, to this day, many as beautiful aud
,,d-e,el women have hidden E lifelong heart
hnnqe, beneath an Indifferent or cynical e1-
,srior. md knelt humbly before some shrine
xhich held the image OF one who passed them
rnnoticed by, and whom they knew was their
s,n1's mate. but dared make no sign. In their
orritv and noble intent they yelled themselves;
rhle other women ''set their caps" and caught
tha noble SOUL who proved thereby wedlock
snare and women sirens, and bore hts fate as
rsnfully as circumstances would allow
Tho paramount reason why man arrogates to
,;,self the prerogatiye OF popping the ques-
don," ia
WHOLLY THE PECUE1ART ONE.
Ee are told that etiquette requires that
tba mouey-auestion should be quietly kept
m the background. notwithstanding it is con-
inuallF II the foreground OF the mutual
thought. Tho right OF man to "pop the ques-
.;on i" falls to him by reason Of the
necunisry responsibility to which he SUBJ
iects h.mself by taking to himself wife
/ woman may lawfully use all her arts
md viles, aud employ all her coquettish
noxer. to bring about tho s'popping;" but she
msy nerer '.pop'' herself. This peeuniary rea-
ton is thus set down by people in general as de-
ciding the privilege, and forever hushing the
.sitation Of any questionable suggestions upon
The Justice OF the matter. Lut, in thcye latter
o.ys, when marriage is becoming an Intricate
maze, made up Of experiences and unmade BY
ipcompatbilt1es, it is the fashion OF fe" icon
oclasts to poke their noses into thie, as veil as
other social mazcs, or messes, We might more
properly say. and smell out what IL tho cause OF
tbe corruption TINT rises foul to heaven. and
1.k .What is going to be done about it,"
The inequality of the sexes is stamped az EN-
ph2ticalIy IN regard to popping the question y
Is in casting the vote; and the nloney-reason
which is urged for this one-sldeduess Is the very
subject which
FIRST NEEDS THE ATTENTION
st the strong minded noses. Women universally
lie beegars, although they may never beg the
hand Of 40 admired gentleman 30 long as they
continue to be beggars, they must accept the
hand Of the first man, or the richest man, who
never needs to beg anything Eave fair hand.
When women become self-supporting and inde-
peudeut and are free to refuse, II not 10 choose,
there will be less buslnoss for diyorce-manufac-
turers There is no alternative for these
vomen-beggars but marriage, and all surplus
energy is devoted religiously to securing hus-
band. by fair means or foul. Into the wiles the
first man that is drawn is seized upon: there IS
danger in standing upon any ground Of partlcu-
larity. Be he roue or religion1ss matters but
little; be he rich
The rich man has about Is unsafe prospect
in this world as IN klngdom-come. ae can
hkrdly enter Heaven with mopey-bags; he can
hardly escape natrimony With them. hlch metl,
hoveycr, aro thus speedily disposed OF. They are
the first game bagged. Then come the rising
young men; and mammas exert extraordinary
tnaneuvering tactics to decoy this class, and
thew are soon done for. They have been pop
ri Nov. tbs is oil very well for the weaker half
Of humanity 80 fur. The odds would rather ap-
pear to be in their favor. Ihsy get husphnas @ 9s
by no means certain. At all events the social
isnrle generally growB out Of this sort OF naE-
1iaEes: Tactitionary hackers do not. however,
surround the majority Of women. Proportlon-
stc effort is made individually aecota'ng 70 tne
potency OF the "poppee;" but there are many
women rho cannot consent to s set their caps, y
Ind who "bido wee in modest hope
But ALTOGETHER VAIN
TINT merit will WIN against maueuyering, and
their souls mate go a-seek1ng It's klndred spir1t
r1f on
once or twice in generation maybe, woman
Lss The mopev-poWer, and, like Browning 3
sGeceyiere," Woos, and wins, and q, the man
the loves md prefers above all others But the
bepcarly lot dare not do SO untoward thing
That matters broken heart or so, provided con-
rentional etiquette is preserved immaculate3
Men reason women feel. is the assertion we
be4r continually made; aud the truth OF this as-
se-tion is urged against womans ability 70
decide in matters that pertain to her welfare. AZ
Lave has not vet been reduced to science
{ss confidently expect that the time is coming
Taeu it will be, however,; Us it iB an emotional
guilty altogether,-why should not the feeling
t.re the predomiu.nce over the reasoning IN
tbs matter of marriage! II woman ID lntuislSs,
! NY should she not be
ALLOWED TO ACT UPoT INTUITION.
She often sees in men qualities peculiarly st.
tractise to her. She feels that these qualities
lie the very ones that would insure her happi-
/, ass. She studies character closely: 6uch
women are the last ones in the world to over
ttep conventional custom. They may not care
te1 Mrs. Grundy, but they do care for the
man Of their choice and know men well enough
10 be assured that even the wise, good men they
! recognize as mates would scorn them did they
dAre declare such recognition. The best Of men
hod highly the privilege OF popping the qucs-
tna;" and the womanly woman withdraws into
her she'll Of reserve prescribed, By. custom,
enshes feeling, accepts the hand Of tue man a
Who prefers her, aud gives him her hand, and
<hile her heart enshrines blissful dream ehe
I'D not dare make a-reallzatlon.
Thu CRY IT
MARRIED, NOT MATED,
hnnging to-day through tho length and breadth
q the land What If women should set about
shroaing their mates, aud zee II things would
b any hetter7 Wien domestic difficulties
t'e breHed. who generally receives tho blame /
Ais Jon, Q Woman, to whom the presc;her On ana
ns teacher appeals to translate ]anGnng g,at an19
Melody You must be moro aniab bic; you must
te moro this. that. and the other, to mako home