The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1881-06-21
WOMEN.
i.lArgonant.a.

I
is very fcnl efwomen whom he is
unwilling to marry. The Saying is
partially true, though no truer than
its converse-that many a nan Is
willing to marry a wonian of whom
he is not very fond, or, indeed, not
fond at all. The idea indicsted is,
that man may enjoy the society of a
woman, and love to Amt with her, and
yet be afraid from prudential mo-
tivcs to make her his wife. THIS fire.
quently happens, but far less fire.
queatly than might be thought; and
when it happens. the man is cautious
and inclined to reflect on the subject
Of his affections and aflinities. But
marriage generally has little to do
with reason-probably because 1t
ought to have so much to do with it
being determined, for the mos; part
by instinct, impulse, passion. AS a
rule, doubtless, man will marry any
woman with whom he is habitually
thrown in contact, when there is no
great disparity of years or circum-
stances between them, and when she
knows how to humor his egotism.
The old fashioned notion that men
look with totally different eye on a
woman when they want a wife from
that with which they look on women
generally can not be sustained. Albeit
there are men ever in ques. Of a con-
nubial partner, the mass Of them get
such partner without searching for
her. They are very apt to be sur
prised into matrimony, or, at least in
to matrimonial intents-provided, Of
course, that the matter be not taken
out Of their hands by the woman her
self. No man is SO likely to become
engaged as he who is persuaded that
he will never be. he is so prepared on
one side for circumstances Of certain
kind, that he'is wholly ungnarded on
the other side for circumstances Of an
opposite kind. At the very moment
that he is rejoicing over his freedom, a
sudden shift in sentimental environ
ment. a word, a blush, a tear, caress,
decides his doom.
/, What kind of a woman is man
most likely to marry? A general an
swer might be any kind OF q woman,
the kind being largely determined by
contigulty and opportunity. a tpop-
ular notion is that she who is prudent,
conventional, domestic, has the best
prospects; while she who IL indiscrcet,
obedient to impulse. fond of pleasure,
has the worst prospects. Ancient
spinsters, noted for primness, and
matrons Of the solemn order, incline
to tell ht-heared, rolllcking girls
that they are throwing away good
chances; that marrying men are de-
terrred BY their glddiness from serions
consideration OF the main subject.
These are drawn, it is asserted, to in
dustrious, demnre. unworldly maidens,
who show at glance that they are
matrimonially foreordained. AS a
theory, this may be specious, but facts
do not bear it out-the contrary,
rather. Men prone to cooperative
housekeeping approve of the indus
.rious, demure, unworldly creatures;
they think they wonld make excel
lent wives, and wonder why some
other man does not marry them. But
they seldom marry such women them
selves.
Why don't they? They could not
tell il they should try. They know,
however, that they don't, and they
don't want to. There seem to be two
sorts of girls-those that ought, be-
cause specially fit, to be married, and
never are married, and those that
never should and never will be, and
yet invariably get married. The
former are usually the demurc, indus
trious, unworllly, domestic; the lat
ter are the easy, careless, merry, i'm
prudent, frolicsome, saucy girls, Of
whom men become epamored for no
reason at all, and in spite of them
selves. When man falls in love
and can't climb out readily, he avails
himself of marriage, and Is often ex-
tricated thereby without intending it.
He is no more logical in matrimony
than celibacy; the same thing that
makes him a lover turns him into a
husband, and he is thrice blessed il
he does not discover sharp and sud-
den difference between the two. 1t is
passion, not reason, and is called t. e
divine passion because it is SO
thoroughly human.
Men generally like one kind of wo-
men and love another kind. The one
kind they are commonly recommend
ed to wed, and don't; the other kind
they are advised to wed. and do.
Which is the better to take wife
because you like her, or to take a
wife because you love her? Hymen
alone knows, and he won't tell. II
you do either or neither, you may re-
pent. There is no absolute safety in
n ~