Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-04-25
FALLING IN LOVE.
A Happy Domestic Life, The WORLDS
Best GIFT.
what Sort of q Chap Wears Bachelors
buttons.


The line of demarcation between ELI
gibles" and detrimental" is not so
sharply drawn in America as in England,
for the very good reason that the "detri-
mental" of this year is quite likely to be
come the eligible" of the next. In Eng.
land younger son who has no fortune
of his own, and who has manifested no
remarkable genius in any direction. is
considered decidedly detrimental"
lie is an alarming neighbor. at whose
approach all wise mammas gather in
their pretty daughters rs hen gathers
her chickens under her wings, unless in.
deed he be the younger son OF noble
house. In that case his good blood and
good breeding have decided market
value in certain directions. and the father
of many q pretty girl will be glad to pay
for them n large par. Of the fortune he
himself has made in hard work
In America what Is more in demand IS
capacity. Most American fathers value
the evident capacity TO succeed in bust
ness and to make fortune, quite as high
ly rs they do an inherited competence,
and the young man who has shown that
he can get on and who has already made
himself value, Is not regarded as
! detrimental" In the eastern states. at
least, where, in Massachusetts, alone,
there are thirty thousand more women
than men. the position of prosperous
and unmarried young man is pleasant
one. He is rs welcome everywhere ms
flowers are in January.
He is joy forever. whether he Is a
thing Of beauty or not. and il he Is hand
some and distinguished looking his life
is surrounded by pleasant things, and
he is AS much sought and courted rs any
pretty girl Of them all. He is in request
for parties. he must lead the German.
and beauty wears for him her brightest
smiles and her pre!tiest gowns.
This is his danger. The hooking bird.
who sings every other birds song 20
well. has no song OF its own; and the
fine young man who suns himself in SO
many smiles now and then forgets to
choose. and finds himself before he
knows il getting TO be an old beau. with
the habit of society upon him and habit
of home uniformed. The handsome and
prosperous young man in society IS per-
haps the happiest of human creatures.
He is better of than his pretty sister, be-
cause he has the privilege OF choice. and
like the prince in the fairy story can say.
Come thou along with me" 10 whom
ever he will. But believe that for the
Young man of society to become an old
beau is just AS sud thing rs for the
prettiest rosebud 10 feel that she Is over
blown.
The perception Of his lcssening social
value is longer in coming to him, no
doubt; but he sees it at last in the mat
tentive glance that roves beyond him
when he comes nigh the beauty OF the
season; in the occasional omission OF his
name from party of young people;
even i'm the greater freedom with which
girls are coniided 10 his care as II he
were no longer dangerous. Then Is Ills
soul filed with bitterness. and he begins
TO say to himself that the seasons have
grown cold, and his heart is lonely.
Perhaps Ire honestly tries 10 iall IN
love. and finds il impossible; and that
is far more pathetic thing than even to
love in vain. To have fitted so long
from flower TO flower, that rose and lily
and pink have each an equal charm and
not one can hold his fancy more than
another, that is a sad fate for bee who
should long ago have begun to store up
honey for his life's winter.
The old beau looks about him and sees
his contemporaries buying houses and
leading their children by the hand. and
he SCOTS little perhaps and tries to
think that he is glad not thus to be bored
and burdened. But his laughter is hol.
low, and when he goes home at night
and sits before his lonesome fire he sees
in the freight glow this long-lost Span
ish castle. OF which he threw AWAY the
KEY in his youth, and fancies what might
Rave been if youth had but known.
us there any moral 10 that" asks the
sauciest young voice over my shoulder,
and am awake again. for too had be-
gun to dream.
Yes. my infant, moral there is.
Roses belong to June, and you cannot
Gather them under the skies OF Novem-
! Der.
Since believe happy domestic life
n be the worlds best gilt. | do not be-
lieye that the old beau can have the best
If life. unless By some rare chance he
find the four .leaved clover Of luck and
love growing out of season and gather it.
Rut If he is contented TO wear his
bachelors button frankly and easily,
and to take the goods the gods still pro-
vide him. he may yet be a very agree
able member Of society. The man who
at fifty believes himself to be twenty
five is as inconsrous and uncomfortable
a spectacle as the woman who at forty
appears to have forgotten that she is
more than eighteen; but there is nothing
undignified in the position OF the spinster
who has frankly accepted heI single life,
or of the bachelor who takes his middle
aged pleasures cheerfully, and no longer
aspires to lead the German or to break
hearts. / have no such example in my