The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-10-25
MARITAL CONSULTATION OFFICE.
Proposals brought about by matrimo.
NAL expert.


Up two flights of broad stairs, q stained
glass door opened into the ante-room of
the consultation Office. Through heavy
damask curtains glimpse was had of
two large, handsomely furnished apart.
ments. Wilton carpets covered the floor,
the walls were finished in Eastlske de-
signs and Queen Anne furniture lent to
the place more the air of modern draw
ing room than of business Office.
The visitors card was taken by q
coffee .colored man in dress suit, who
disappeared for a moment behind the
curtains, emerging again with the invita-
ton to walk in, coupled with the reas-
surfing assertion that the matrimonial ex
pert was willing to see her visitor.
A young lady. heavily yelled and
richly dressed, talked in low tones to her
mother on low divan just within the
curtained entrance. In the farther apart
ment al lady of perhaps twenty-five years
with an intelligent face surlnounted by
Lsngtry bangs and wearing close. fitting
black silk, rose in acknowledgment of
the request to see the match making ex-
pert. There was nothing of the CATCH
penny matrimonial bureau air about her
as the details of her profession, MS she
called it, were explained at length.
"You see," she began, with little
; laugh, II call myself matrimonial ex-
lpert, which is rather indefinite. ] should
more properly term myself an expert in
leading the symptoms of love. My bus.
lress is not so much one of bringing
kbout marriage, which is q secondary
consideration, as it is of deciding wheth-
9er lover means marriage or means only
to while away few idle hours in the
company of his inamorata. So this office
is in no sense q matrimonial bureau. 1t
is simply a consultation office"
''But is there any demand for such a
profession AS yours?"
Rather" was the laconic response.
'New York is full of young men fairly
we'll off, club men in good standing and
men of old families, who, however, never
mean to marry. These confirmed bach
elors pay court season after season to
the daughters of our richest and most
highly connected residents. They be.
come attached to girl, after fashion,
and by assidpo Gus attention and careful
fiattery drive other admirers from the
field or relegate them to subordinate pO-
sitions. With sublime impudence these
young fellows assume On air of protec-
ton, of ownership towards their lady
friends, which is Us deceptive to the sus-
ccptible misses as it is to other marriag-
able male acquaintance. BY these arts
we'll bred, well educated man easily
establishes for himself peculiar stand
ing in the eyes Of the young lady and
her family. His devotion is marked, his
attentions thoroughly respectful and
apparently serious, and he is believed to
be only waiting favorable opportunity
to ask the momentous question which is
to unite two hearts as one. But the
question is never asked.
"Week after week passes by. and
proposal is no nearer than at the begin
ming of their acquaintance. OF course"
with an indignant toss of the head, 'he is
fairly lavish in spending money upon
her. He acts as escort to concert, theatre
and opera; he drives out with her, and
is always ready to adjust her wraps ct
bail. But he never proposes. That is
what we object to, and because of that
this Office was established. It's object is
either to compel declaration or to leave
the field open to admirers who are seri.
ious in their intentions" and the pretty
expert raped determined tattoo with y
French heelod shoe upon the floor.
1t was gently insinusted that American
girls, and New York ladies in particular,
were abrndantly able to take care of
themselves in this respect and could very
soon tell whether an admirers attentions
would result in anything beyond soft
spoken words.
Nonsense, was the emphatic re-
sponse. "That is q piece of fiction in
vented by Henry James, Jr. American
girls are as susceptil 10 a. those OF any
other nationality, al d the absence of all
restraint makes them fall more easily
into the habit Of accepting An escort
without vulgar inquiry into his ultimate
intentions. With the natural delicacy
of q pure. minded mairlsn, the American
girl leaves that to time and circum-
stances, and the young man, knowing
this, takes advantage Of It,"
1.-THE majority Of victims are
''Debutantes, Of COURSE" she inter.
rupted with Disguised wave of the
hand. ut may sound amusing, but /
assure You that the majority of young
misses opportunities are utterly ruined
by these professional lovers, as I some
times call them. The young lady, with
her fresh complexion and girlish charms
you can readily see has better prospect
OF contracting suitable alliance during
her first season than at any other time.
Everything is in her favor"
"And you propose to remedy this de-
feet and to drive these young men into
natr;monv or from tha aOCiatv worldly"