The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1885-09-26
UHY THEY DON MARRY.

UHY THEY DON'T MARRY.
Reasons Why Lady Clerks in the Depart
ments Remain IN Single BIessedness
Opinions Gathered by - Star Reporter.
From the Washington Star.l
''She Is a nice looking girl, a verv
nice looking girl" " and the speaker
threw his head on one side and as
sumed the gravely reflective air OF a
cOnnolsseur. The person thus crit
cised tripped along through the eorri-
dor OF one Of the department build
ings, apparently not only Indifferent
to any possible criticism, but unCon-
scious that she was being looked at
She wore a dainty summer dress, and
looked aS feminine and sweet as q
young, happy girl can look, and con-
seQuently the Star man could not for
bear remarking TO the waJChman, as
he loitered near the door for a mo-
ment, that she was a pretty girl. This
official glanced at the fair vision, at
first in a perfunctory sort OF a way
and then, as the influence OF this femi-
nine beauty penetrated his soul, he re-
laxed from his official Indifference and
uttered the above aS his solemn II not
enthusiastic conviction. The young
lady, however, was not aware that
she had been officially stamped, as it
were, as far as the influence and au-
thOrity OF the watch force went, but
continued on her way TO the desk
where thegovernment claimed her serv-
ices.
There are a good many pretty
girls employed in this department" ,"
observed the Star man as the watch
mans eye returned from following the
retreating form, and his counte-
nance resumed the gravity OF official
position.
"Yes, there are, was the rather
brief answer, as If the matter was
hardly worthy OF further considera-
ton.
Il suppose that they all marry and
leave YOU ?" said the Star man, in a
matter OF course tone OF voice.
Indeed they don't" replied the
watchman with returning animation.
1t is very seldom any OF them get
married"
"Why, how Is that?" asked the
Star man, with great interest.
Il don't know that | can explain
1t" was the response, ''bUt at any
rate that Is the fact, as lar as my OBJ
servation goes. l have been in the
government employ for thirteen
or fourteen years, and l don't
recolIect in all that time OF
more than four or five of the
ladies employed in this department
getting married. You evidently think
that because that young lady Is pret-
tv that she Will be married, but in
government departments the fair and
plain seem to have about the same
fate"
"Why aren't they married ?" persist
ed the listener, as he thought ofthe alb
surdity OF such fair flowers being al
lowed to waste their fragrance in soil
tude They have opportunities.
They are thrown continually In con-
tact with men, and you know that de
partment clerks get married, and they
seldom marry rich wives"
"As l told you" answered the
watchman. with irritation at the
attempt to draw him into an argu-
ment, Il don't know the reason why,
but ! know the fact, because it is the
result OF my own personal Observa-
ton. When the clerks marry they
choose a wife outside OF the depart
ment, and they may not be rich, or
half a. pretty and smart, as the ladies
he meets in the department, but new
ertheless that Is what the department
clerk does, and has always done, since
| have been here
As he concluded with the above, the
WatChman took up newspaper, and
it was evident that the discussion was
at an end as far as he was concerned.
The Star man, however, was not
satisfied with this conclusion, and the
more he thought about it the more ne
was convinced that the watchman was
wrong. The matter began to grow in
interest, and the Star man, as he met
with people who would be likely to
throw light on the subject, consulted
them.
One OF these persons said, - think
that il Is true but few ladies IN the de
partment marry, and the reason fOrit
N my opinion, Is that they have ac-
quired an independence, and they don't
care about relinQuishingit OF course,
if an opportunity should be presented
OF making a brilliant marriage and aC-
quiring social position and wealth, |
think that in a majority OF cases the
ladies would accept it. But when a
woman Is earning her own living and
has an income which she can use as she
pleases an average marriage does not
present the inducements that 1t does
to a woman that IS differently stu
ated. Besides, such a wOman's ideas
are more practical and her appreCia-
tiOn of the size OF a dollar IN every
day life does not need the experience
Of marriage on a small income"
Another person, IN discussing the
same matter said: Il think that while
a great many ladies In the depart
ments do not desire to marry unless
they can better their condition, still
It may be laid down as a general prIn-
Ciple that they are apt to lose thelJ
attractiVeneSs in the eyes OF men.
Their constant association with men
every day, their occupation, which Is
not, strictly speaking, feminine, causes
them TO lose that feminine grace and
charm which Is so intangible that 1t Is
felt rather than expressed. Men are
attracted to women because they are
so different. It Is what We mean when
we speak OF a wOmanly woman, ana
it is those qualities Of mind and heart
that find their best development in
the domesticity OF q happy home.
Women are apt to lose the delicaCy
and charm of their natures when
thrown in daily contact with men,
and they are apt TO become mascu-
line. l don't think that men are at
tracted by wishy-washy women and
pretty doll faces, and that in order TO
be womanly it Is necessary to be I'M
practical and silly. But still, mag
Inc that most men, and the best men,
lie feminine wnnAn. and while If ].