, 1874-02-22
POPPING THE QUESTION.
Why the Privilege L. Considered
Mans Prerogatiye.
Fl. Ecsults Of The one-Si3sd System
Fan Proposes, but Eom2n
EisRoseS*
An Argument for Equality.

An Argument for Equality.
The MYTHICAL first man and first woman were
,nared the usual preliminarins OF matr7mony.
Tbsre Was reither the difficulty Of making
rise choice nor the pain Of = refusal for Mr.
adam: and Mrs. Adam that VAS to be did not sit
nansive in Paradise, awaiting the "pop" with
treuulous anxiety, nor was she compelled to lay
herself out on elaborate leaf-drapery to catch
husp.nd. So, in the beginning OF things, it
,eem.. the marriage-contract was more fair
md eaual adjustment than the
oNEsDED SYSTEM
.;ors adopted. Ono WOMAN, At least, had the
,dds On her side in this world; but, as eoon as
.rar tbere was even Hobson's choice for the
an. Of Adau, We find tho Lenhs left out IN the
rx,d: and, to this day, many as beautiful and
..d-eyed women have hidden lifelong heart
hunger beneath an indifferent or cynical e1-
te,ior. and knelt humbly before some shrine
which held the image of one who passed them
ronoticed by, and whom they knew Was their
roul's mate. but dared make no gign. In their
nnrity and noble intent they yelled themselves;
xhi]e other women ''set their caps" and caught
tho noble soul, who proved thereby wedlock
mare and women sirens, and borp his fate ~
u,anfuliv rs circumstances would allow.
The paramount reason why nan arrogatea to
himself the p1erogative OF Is popping the ques-
ton" ia
WHOLLY THE PEcuE1ARY ONE,
Ne arc told that etiquette requires that
the u,oney-9usation should DO quietly kept
in the background, notwithstanding it is con-
tinuAlly in the foreground Of the mutual
thought. The right Of man to ''pop the ques-
ton /" falls to him by reason Of the
pecuniary responsibility to which ho SUBJ
iects h1mself by taking to h;mseH vito.
L woman may lawfully use all her arts
and wiles, and employ all her coluettish
power, to bring about the "popping;" but she
may never "pop" herself. This pecuniary rca-
son is thus set down by people III general as de-
Gliding the privilege, and forever hushing the
agitation Of any questionable suggestions upon
the Justice Of the matter. But, in these latter
cays when marriage is becoming N intricate
maze made up Of e1perierces, and unmade by
incompatibilit1es, it is the fashion of fen ICON
ocl.sts to poke their noses into this, as well as
other social mazos, or messes, we might more
properly cay, and smell out whxt ia the cause OF
the corruption that rises foul to heaveh, and
ask, "What is going to be done about it,"
The inequality OF the sexee is stamped AZ en-
phatcally in regard to 'spopping the question
Is in casting the vote; and the mouey-reason
xhich ia urged for this one-sidedness is the very
subject which
F1nBT NEEDS THE ATTENTION
Of the strong minded noses. Women universally
are beggars, although they may never beg the
hand OF an admired gentleman. So long is they
continue to be begsa-s, they must accept the
hand of the first man, or the richest man, who
never needs to beg anything saVe far band.
When women become eelf-supportng and lude-
pendent, and are free to refuse, If not to choose,
there will be less business for diyo1ce-manufac-
ture1a There is no alternative for these
.Tomen-beggars but marriage, and III surplus
energy is devoted 1eligiouely to securing huH-
band, by fair means OF foul. Into the nles the
first msn that is drawn is seized upon there is
danger il standing upon an. ground OF partcu-
larity. Be he q roue OF religionist matters but
little; be he rich
MATTERS EvE1YTH1TG.
Tho rich man has about IS nnsafe prospect
in this world as in kingdom-come. He can
hardly enter Heaven With money-bags; he can
hardly escape matrimony with them. Rich men,
however. are thus speedily disposed Of They are
the f1bt game bagged- Then come the rising
Young men; and mammas exert extraordinary
thew are soon done for. They have been ''pop~
ped" in spite Of their Il popping" pre1oeative.
Now, this is all very we'll for the weaker half
Of humanity 80 far The odds would rather np-
pear to be in their favor They get husbands,
nd maybe get the ones they desire; but this is
by no means certain. At all events, the social
jingle generally grows out Of this sort OF mar
nages. T.ctitionary hackers do not. however,
turronnd the majority OF women. Proportion |
ate effort is made individually according to the |
potency Of the spoppee; but there are many
women Who cannot consent to IS set their caps"
and Who u bide wee " in modest hope.
BUT ALTOGETHER VAN |
thAt merit will VIII against mAneuver1ng, and |
rs lrrI Io1$~s
80 long as it cannot 60 a-seeklng him. Rarely. |
once or twice in generation maybe, woman !
has the money power, md, ike Brownings
"Geneyiere," woos, and wlns, and a, the man
the loves and prefers above all others. But the
teggsrly lot dare not do go untoward thing. |
What matters broken heart Or 60, provided con-
7entiona1 etiquette is preserved immaculate7
Men reason, women feel. is the assertion We
bear continually made; aud the truth OF this as
eertion is urged against womans ability to
decide in matters that pertain to her welfare. As
Love has not yet been reduced to sclence /
{se confidently expect that the time is coming |
When it will be, ho"eyer); rs it Is m emotional
qushty altogether,-why should not the feeling |
hare the prodominance over tho reasoning in
this 'sztter of mArriage7 If woman is intuitlve,
shy should she not be
ALLOWED TO ACT UPON ISTUIT1oN7
ehe often secs in men qualities peculiarly At
tsctiye to her. She feels that these qualities
Ire the vary ones that would insure her Enppi-
women are the last ones in the world to over
step conventional custom. They may not care
for lrs: Grundy, but they do care for the
nan Of their choice. and know men well enough
to be assured tina: even the wise, good men they
recognize as mates would eco1n them did they
dare declare such recognition. The best Of men
nold highly the privilege OF popping the ques-
SON." and the womanly woman withdra~s into
ee' shell Of reserve prescribed by custom,
nashes feeling, accepts the hand Of the man
sao prefers her, aud gives him her hand, and
shls shls her heart ensbrines q blissful dream she
ua not care make realization.
Thacryof
MARRIED, NOT MATED,
=. nnglng today through the length and breadth
" " <he land. What if women should Set about
ttaooeing their mates, and SEQ il things would
q N. tetter2 When domestic difficulties
=. ne breFed. who generally receives the blame?
~ ~ Joo, Woman, to whom tie preacher and
as teacher appeals to translate janglng into
tb.e!ody. You must be more a:nab1e; you must
~ mora this, that, and the other, to make home
33sea7en. The din OF these appeals nearly
A7tea her to distraction. She e1clnims, Here ls