Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-22
A Woman who Says All Can Marry

remain In DeUrOlC.
A Woman Who Says All Can Marry.
From the Dea0er Tri6uae-R Republican.
"Why have you never married?" he
said abrupt y, slipping into low seat by
her side and gazing at her much as a
man looks at beautiful statue or paint
ing.
"You are rude" she said, s'unpardon-
ably SO. No woman in her senses will
ever answer question like that"
"Why nOt"
because the real answer lies too near
the heart, and because no woman cares
to utter absolute falsehoods to one who
she knows is her friend. That there is
always reason you may rest assured. |
do not believe there is woman in eX-
lstence who would not have married il
something had not occurred to disillusion-
iZe her or to stand between her and the
man whom she had singled out above all
others to be her lord. Marriage being so
eminentyl natural, | cannot well see how
things could be otherwise. ] will wager
all my diamonds that the man or woman
does not exist who has not considered the
advantages of marriage, and who mas not
seen In the course of his or her expert
enca the mate whom they would have
chosen If fate had not interposed. | ad-
nit that you find a great many people
who declalm loudly against marriage In
general, and sentimental marriages in
particular, but all that constitutes but
the thinnest veneer of cyniclsm,
''The bltterest philosopher who ever de-
claimed against marriage knew that he
lied, aud TOOK a tlendish delight in bring
ing all his weapons OF wit and sarcasm to
enlarge the lie for the gulllbility of fools.
There are doubtless instances where the
fact OF man or woman's remaining sin
gle becomes noble sacrifice for the sake
of somebody else's welfare, but have no
patience with the cratic mortal who re-
mains single simply because he il too
selfish to take upon himself the RESPONSE
bilities of marriage.
"Gou have, nodoubt, observed that you
never hear such bitter ratings from the
lips OF men and women who are broadly
cultured. 1t is a narrow fool at best who
devotes his time 10 the purpose OF attack
ing the tOllIest, of mankind, for just as
surely as greatness is simplicity, 50 is it
gentle and kindly, and the more faith
does it have in its fellowmen. Ii is fash
ionahle to SCOT, but 1t is not good taste"
''Do you think the ola saying is true,
that any and every woman could marry
she wouldr
Il do, indeed. And that every man could
do SO goes without saying. 1t is not
every man who can marry the woman he
loves, but venture the assertion that Will
he need not go three blocks away TO find
some beautiful girl who would be very
glad to marry MIN and who would make
him happy all his days. Matrimonialiy
speaking, man, of course, has the wOr d
before him. He can go where he likes.
And there are maidens, and maidens to
be had for the asking. AS regards
women in this connection the world is
not theirs. They live in a prescribed
sphere, and must choose therefrom =,
among the set OF men who admire them
most.
And yet have never known a single
instance where an ordinarily cookbook
ing, intelligent girl might not have mar
ri If she would have done SO, and mar
ried well, as the world goes. | 90 not
think the woman exists who has not been
asked the simple, Straightforward ques-
ton: viii you be my wife?
''It Is a question, the peculiar accentua-
ton of which is not unknown to 17-year-
old misses, and TO their elders even better
| do not think that any woman, in any
walk OF life. lives single from 16 10 you
might almost say 40. without hav-
ing had at least dozen op-
pOrtunitles for marriage, and this
| repeat is not in the least singular
when one reflects that 1t is the most nat
ural phase in life. Maidens in the lower
classes have the most numerous chances
to marry, of course, because there is less
foresight and caution among that class of
people. They do not reason so much.
They are willing to marry and take the
consequences, and in nine cases out OF ten
think tUey are right.ln the middle classes
those opportunities diminish percepti-
bly,, and in the upper classes. or the So
called society sets, they are rarer than
any where else, because an upper-grade
society man reflects long time before be
binds himself for life TO O woman, and
society women are often ant to proceed on
the same plan. You see natural impulses
are quite 10 apt too be educated out of us
entirely nowadays. We think we are able
to dispense with that Jruer essence OF
living, which the man who serves us is
altogether wise enough To know life is not
worth living without, and so we go on
leading our foolish, solitary, empty lives.
While we are living few friends smile
upon US; when we are dead we shall be
utterly forgotten.
'You want to know something about
the forms men use in making PROPOSE
tions for marriagey Why, my dear fell
low, don't you know the language OF love
Is as varied as the colOrs in field OF
grassy You might as well try to count
the sands OF the sea as to endeavor to re.
call such forms OF expression. | think
that the ridiculous practice of dropping
on the knees 10 long since relegated 10 the
John Chivaree' type OF young man. 1
think the touch of hand, or the earnest
glance OF an eye, has more 10 do with love
making than all tile known languages.
Tacit understandings are the rules now
a-days, and suddenly there is wedding
and then
Really, 1t is very late" she continued,
neryously, rising and holding out her
6FpE9
Go home to your wife and babies, John,
well content that there are those who are
anxiously awaiting your coming at
hOmeO