The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1879-02-25
Should Women Propose,

A few weeks ago, Young Country
doctor gave us his love history In Il
letter which We Were unable 80 treat
with much respect. In fact, i, showed
him tn be a rather concerted and
self conscious fellow. who WIS
anxious IL let the world know what -
prize be would be. To- some woman as
a husband. His letter called on; y
reply from a sentimental maiden, VII"
substantially offered herself To him a Il
wife. saving that she also had failed
to meet with any one on whom she
could set her affections. She VA.
severe in her structures On the younc
men OF the present day. perhaps he
cause ot their neglect Of her charms.
but evidently wished the !S"a To as-is;
her in getting a husband, a busines,
We refused To undertake. Miilens
who feel the need Of advertising for
husbands are not apt to Ice among the
best specimens of their sex. We
therefore replied TO her letter by
saying that the young men Of the day.
are As good rs the Young men of any
past day, bat unless they are very
foolish they do not take for wives
young women who offer themselves to
them.
This remark has stirred up several
correspondents to write To Us affirming
a womans right TO make q man Il
proposal Of marriage. Ii Is interesting
to observe, however, that all these
letters come from men, that no
women step forward to claim the
privilege of Offering herself. though
that many women do exercise that
privilege, if not by speaking out
directly, at least BY giving strong
hints to their matrimonial desires,
there is plenty OF proof. \ maiden
may not be so likely rs widow tn
give a hesitating man assistance In
reaching the point of making Il
proposal, but probably few girls are
altogether surprised VIXEN the mo-
mentous question is asked them. and
some of them who turn ont 10 be
most exemplary wives take much
pains to pave the way TO it. Even il
their own modesiy and covnes>
prevent their making the overtures,
their mothers may be less shy abou,
the matter. and see To- i, that the
young men are given opportunities Ia
,announce their intentions and en-
Outraged or cajoled in doing il. We
all have read or heard Of ambitious
mamas who made love To eligible
bachelors on behalf Of their daugh
tiers. using the cleverest strategy to
catch them, and sometimes resnriipg
to devices which were really reprehen
sible To accomplish their purpose but
it is rare thing for a maiden her>ell
to squareiy court a man and directly
offer herself To him. The woman. as
the philosophers say. may be the first
to- fall i'm love, but she will only let the
secret of her affection be exiorted
from her when the man acknowledges
that his own heart is captive. and
asks her to confess the love she has
cherished. Lut perhaps has sought
assiduously to hide from him. Gocd
girls are very chary about making the
first advances in any such way as Ia
let men know what they are about,
and their instinct directs them rightly
in so doing. They wish to be wOoed
and won, and refuse to surrender at
the first summons.
Therefore il is that So many lovers
who write to US are in torturing doubt
As to whether they have gained the
affections they would so greatly prize.
They can only get relief by asking the
great question, though all the time
their sweethearts may be anxious ia
give the affirmative answer. This Is
the way with women, and hence we
warned and again warn young men,
as a rule. against women who offer
themselves to them. They lack
feminine delicacy. and do violence Il
their natures by making such a
proposal; and in SAYING this we feel
sure very few women readers Of the
Sun will disagree with Us. A woman
has an undonbted right to offer her
self to q man; but the sex claims the
privilege of being courted. Of granting
! its affections instead Of pro6erine
them, and We allow the claim. as men