The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-04-15
MATURE BELLIES AND CALLOW
BEAUX.
gupid's Latest Freak, As 1t is Seen In
New York.
Especial Correspondence

E!upid's Latest Freak, As 1t Is Seen in
New York.
Especial Correspondence
New YORK, April Sit Is getting to be
the fashion for extremely young men to be-
come enamored of extremely mature women
This peculiar phase Of Cupid's work is not
confined to New York According to the
newspapers it is almost epidemic all over the
country, and Europe has furnished some
illustrious examples during the last few years.
Just the other day had letter from an old
friend, who told me of a widow Of 81, with
three grown sons, the eldest 20, who, as my
friend expressed it, had ''up and married
boy of 19,n to the great scandal of society in
general and the modification of her children
in particular.
In former times, before society was tanned
down to accepting the doings of people who
flew in its face, such a match would have
been considered nothing short of criminal.
The bride would have found herself cut by
her neighbors and prosecuted by the COM
bined Indignation of the town. The lot of
the bridegroom, too, outside of his home
would not have been happy one. But now,
although society still arches its back when
two persons marry without asking its per-
mission and getting its blessing, it lets them
off without any stale-egg experience because
it doesn't quite dare TO 60 that far; but,
though it accepts the situation, it makes some
WY faces over it.
The spectacle of rosy-cheeked boys hanging
around women verging ON SO is not at all I'M
common here can pick out seven or eight
cases in minute The youths are infatu-
ated and so are the mature beauties They
are stepped in sentimental folly, and pay no
attention to the half-concealed sneers Of
others whose cardiac experience has been
more after the regulation pattern.
Well, why shouldn't all this go on and no
remarks be mades Since the beginning old
men have made fools of themselves over very
Young women, and society saw but little in
it to condemn Why shouldn't the same toll
Grafton be extended to the interested parties
when that order is reversed and it is the
bride who is elderly and the bridegroom
Young? Whose business is it who marries
who, anyway!
In the cases | know the secret of the attrac-
ton on the youths part is that the mature wo-
men are always their superiors. Their minds
are attractive. Then, in kindly way, they
take an interest in the neglected youths, praise
what is good in them, set about cultivating
their minds, and stimulate their self-respect
All of which is very grateful to the recipient
who doubtless has never had any one take ar
interest in him in his life before. He begins
to turn his attention to learning something
Quits talking "horse" and "show," anC
studies Shakespeare, picks up bit o.
some other language and buys fresh dres
suit. His manners improve. He goe
out as escort with his elderly sweetheart
who, being superior, mixes with superior
people, and it's all new and beneficial ex
perience to him He soon begins to turn "
his nose at any talk about pretty girls,
makes remarks about "simpering dolls" ant
gives his chums to understand that woman
without brains is not to his taste. Whei
chaffed about his preference for women o
years he routs his antagonist completely, ant
allows nobody to sneer at his preference.
The experience reines him. He becomes
in every way more interesting and usefu
person. His character improves and hi
mind expands As for the mature woman
she is from fifteen to thirty-fve years oldel
than he, and it's a good thing she doesn't heal
the mean remarks that are made about he
interest in the young man-an interest which
vulgar minds misapprehend entirely.
! EBBoN OLIvFR