The colored patriot., 1882-05-04

osophers, who know nothing of the
tender passion. except as they have
studied it in books, have been at loss
to account for this fact. The front gate
is an exposed situation. 1t is visible to
all who pass along the street, and is in
most cases commanded BY front win
dows from which the father may at any
time make observations. Why lovers
should prefer the broad publicity of a
gate in such a situation to the safe
retirement of seat under the shrub
berry is something that science cannot
find out. Nevertheless, this very nub-
licity has its advantages in the eyes of
the young people. An Interview at the
front gate has the air of an accidental
meeting. The young man happens to be
passing and the young woman happens
at the same moment TO be swinging on
the gate. Thus the pair may meet
and interchange vows and portable
property without exciting remarks on
the part of casual observers. Then there
is on the part of the young woman the
opportunity of being seen in conversa-
tion with desirable young man, a
sight which she knows must fill the
bosoms of other girls with envy and
rage. The quiet seat under the shrub
berry is all very well, but it is not
always easy toexplain the situation to
an intruding maiden aunt, and its very
privacy prevents the other girls from
being tormented with jealousy.
Probably the rhythmic motion of the
swinging gate has an attraction for a
Young girl at the period when she finds
her life suddenly translated into poetry.
AS she waits for her lover she swings
dreamily to and fro, keeping time to
the measure of that last delicious poem
of Tennyson that she read last night
and thought must have been written
expressly in order TO describe Charles
Henrys passion for her. When he
comes she ceases to swing, and they
both lean on the gate, which becomes
a barrier strong enough TO keep them
from indiscreet demonstrations of
affection, and yet not high or broad
enough to be real separation between
them. What do philosophers know of
these things that they should attempt
to discuss 1.-The Front Gate in its
Relation to the SexesP"
That the front gate is defective
piece of mechanism is known to thou
sands of young people. If ahot tenn
pered and aggressive father suddenly
approaches from the side where the
young man is improving his time, there
is little chance of avoiding a painful
scene. Mr. Tennyson, i'll his little frag-
ment, entitled "fhe Gate" has pic
tured this danger with wonderful WV
idness and pathos:
The lovers lean across the gate
And go not yet she maketh moan.
The herce Tar-bounclng father comes
She swingeth on the gate alone"
A still more serious defect in the
modern gate is the fact that it is built
without reference to the height of any
particular young person. The average
gate is perfectly suited tc the height of
the average young man and young wo-
man, for when she stands on the lower
bar her head is brought to the same
level as his head, and conversation can
thus be carried on without inconveni-
ence. When, however, very tall
young man has to lean over a gate he
must of necessity assume a position
that is both ungraceful and uncomfort-
able, and the case of tall young wo-
man is even worse. Again, if both
happen to be persons of very short
stature the gate becomes an actual and
formidable barrier between them.
They can only clasp hands through the
bars or pickets of the gate. and few
readers of the Western journals can
forget the fate of the small young man
who had thrust both hands through a
gate, and being temporarily unable TO
/ withdraw them was in that situation a
helpless prey to large and infuriated
! father.
+ A beneticent scientific journal has in
/ its last issue an account of a newly
/ invented gate, which will supply a great
public want, since it is just the sort OF
/ improvement upon the present style OF
gate which has been so long needed.
The upper bars of this gate can be low
cred by merely touching lever. thus
reducing the height of the gate to such
ar extent that it can be used by lovers
of not more than three feet high. The
I gate is constructed TO swing both ways,
and it can be opened or shut with a
very slight exertion of strength and in
less than one second. The great utility
of this latter feature is visible at a
glance. Let us suppose a small lover,
who has properly reduced the height
of the gate. is occupied in the usual way
when he perceives n father approach
ing him with frOwn on his face and
new boots ready for action. Instantly
the small young man opens the gate,
rushes inside the front yard, closes the
gate again. locks it with spring, and
hoists the upper bars 10 their normal
position in precisely three seconds by
the watch. The father. unable TO jump
over the high gate, and unable to open
it without key. is forced TO permit the
young man 10 escape through the back
yard. and the young girl TO retire "a
her room and have q headache. How
many terrible scenes of blood aud man.
gled garments would have been avoid
ed had this benehcent variety OF Fats
been in general Use during the .ast tel
years. The inventor Is = 2oble ma1
and Young people yet unborn will han