Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-03-16
THE LADIES' CORNER.
Reserved for Matters Pertaining to
the 6entlsr Sex.
And 10 Which W1l be Found q Collection OF
Matters Grave and Gay for
Their Entertain
ment.
TIE MARRIAGE PRoBLEM.

A writer in London Society thus dis
courses: In France the parents make
the match. II not as ostensibly, yet no
les really is this often done in Eng
land. 1t is not the man but the main
tenance which Is uppermost in the par
entail thoughts. 1t Is painful to reflect,
while taking a survey of the matches Of
fifty years experience, how rarely We
ever could detect that the character Of
a man, otherwise eligible, influenced
the parental decision. For the most
part, all the evidence offered ola man
being a scamp or prOhigate is set aside
as envy, malice and all uncharitable-
ness, or else with the remark, "Well,
all young men are wild, but they grow
steady when they are married" We
once heard lady, in speaking of mat
rimonial event just coming of, say,
Capital match; first rate chance for
Ellen. Not at all the sort of man, we
all know, that she ever intended to
marry, but not one woman in twenty
does that" Certainly in this men have
All advantage, for they can choose; the
ladies must submit to be chosen, save
in the case of some remarkable belle
who has admirers at command. But
these advantages on the side Of the gen.
tleman are less than they seem. Thelr
choice is anything but free as far as rea-
son is concerned. They are the victims
of a natural illusion. They choose from
the charm and fancy Of the hour, or the
pride OF possessing some Lady Clara
We're de We're, or some simpering, dim.
pied doll, while all cOmpanionable quail.
tiles and that sunshine Of the heart
which relieves the darkest while 1t adds
warmth to the brightest days of this
checkered life are rarely even named
among men as the motive Of their
choice. Truly marriage is the door
that leads deluded mOrtals back to
EARTH" and, as with many petty bar
gain that has caught our fancy In ashop
window, great is the disenchsntment
when we nave brought it home.
The married ladies in the ballroom
are the pests 1.-THE poor mammas. They
have attained the objects of all the balls
and dancing, and yet they have not the
grace to feel for and give place to young
girls who sit in rows against the walls
Men prefer the married women, and
why? They can indulge in kind OF
conversation at which we should hope
that in spite of French novels the single
would turn away. IT is strange that the
husbands should endure to see their
wives whisked and whirled and drag
ged about, well-knowing that the SO.
called waltzing and galopadin9 always,
unless unusually well done, degenerates
into little better than unseemly romp-
ing; indeed, no one would believe its
innocence If seen, where we seriously
believe it would not be tolerated, in a
Piceadilly saloon. A fact: A dress
maker who had seen from an orchestra
the dancing now in fashion, when ask
ed by q lady next day how she had been
entertained, replied: ~ suppose 1t is
all right in high life, but in our line Of
life no young man would dare to take
such liberties with young women" No,
madame, your daughters prospects
never can lie the better for being OK
posed to such scenes as these, least OF
all in the now fashionable costume of
a skirt and pair of shoulder straps. 1t
is not the sensuous, hut the sentimental
that should prevail. The free-and-easy
dancer, not the graceful young lady of
proper dignity and self-respect, takes
the lead in the modern ballroom, and
foolish it is for the really modest and
reserved to compete in such sphere.
Granted, they may enjoy it, and you
may erjoy it, too. lfso, be happy in
your own way. Only for introducing"
your daughters and looking to the
main chance, We cannot recommend
such society.