Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-11-30
SHOULD WOMEN PROPOSE1 2
BELyA LOCKWOOD GIVES A VERY
DECIDED OPINION ON THE
SUBJECT.

started in the New YORK WOftd as
to the proprlety of women "pop'
ping" the question. many persons
of public fame of both sexes were
invited TO contribute their opinions,
and among the many replies came
the following from Mrs. Belva
Lockwood:
Why not? In the ages past men
have married their preference;
women, their opportunities, The
mau may choose, the woman refuse
but she refuses at her peril, as her
decision may condemn her to a life
of cellbacy, especially in our 'hick'
" populated New England or MD
die states, where the women out
number tue men. The man she
accepts may be in no wise the man
of her choice, but it may be a mar
rage of cOmplalsance, OF conYeh'
ience or of necessity under our
present system, while this woman
LOOKS calmly on to see another NIL
the place that she has coveted,
without any intimation in the male
breast of her desire, when a little
more frankneSs on the part OF the
woman might have added to the
happiness Of both. a WON a n
would be slow TO make application
for divorce IRON the man who hau
married her on her own calm dell0'
Grafton and request. Why should
the woman have more diftidence IN
selecting the man who is TO wed
her than in tho selection OF the
house she ia to live III and its III
tricate furnishings when the former
has infinitely so much more to do
with her happiness and prosperity
To propose has always been con
sidered the prerogative of queens,
but in this respect every American
woman should consider herself a
queen. 1t was not until Queen
Victoria had slgniiied to Prince
Albert that proposal from him
would be favOrably received that
he yentured to make advances to
that honored lady. Queen Eliza
beth, years before, had claimed the
right of proposal as England's SOW
ereign Queen. The incident re
cited in Scripture between Rntf
and BOaz, after the day OF cleaning
in The field, was virtually a propo
sal by Ruth.
After the formulating of the
Gregorian Calender in 1852, giving
to every fourth year 3G6 days, il
was accounted proper for womer
to propose every fourth or leaI
year, but so much facetiousnes'
and ridicule has attached to it, thai
the custom has been more hOnOreC
in the breach than in the Observ
ance. At this time, when we con
cede to woman equal educationa
facilities have arrived at a proxi
mate equality IN property rlghls
have given to her to a limited ex
tent the ballot and the privilege oil
holding office; when the trades
and the professions are so ia
thrown open to her that she may
compete with man IN money making
and money.getting, see no good
reason why she may not under
suitable circumstances pr oppose
but the proposal on her part would
always carry with it the tacit agree
ment to perform her part in the do
mestic economy OF the household
The right of proposal vonchsafed
TO woman would undoubtedly have
a moral tendency.-bELVA LOCK
WOOD.
Colonel Bill Nye was brief but
conclusive, and managed to bring
in his friend Mr.. James Whltcomt
Riley. He wrote:
do not see why woman should
not propose if she so elect, and
then suffer the bitter, bitter con
sequences. Many men who now
live on unlOyed and in IA haud.tO
mouth manner, might be, oh. 50
happy . il the onus of popping did
not weigh them down like three
cOrnered incubus.
am acquainted with several hus
bands who have been thus acquired
and | am happy to say they are
turning out well. Several Of then
who were not self-supporting tC
start with, married well, having
been wOoed and won by girls o.
means. Yours truly.-BHL NYE.
p. ST. am provided for myself
p. S. Again.-Mr. James Whit
comb Riley, who, as | write, is
brushing his hair with a dummy
brush which | carry with me, says
he trusts that the day will speedily
come when woman will propose
and he hopes he will be away III
towards the general.delivery WIN
dow when the Office opens. Some
good woman could make Mr.. Riley
very, very happy. Any letter sent
to him in my care will be cheerfnllI
read and forwarded to hlm.-B. n
Mrs. Jennie June CrOly wrote in
a decidedly serious strain on the
I subject. She said:
| certainly do not think 1t neces
sary for women to do any propo
sing. | think they are altogether
-. ..o.d,, 90 occant nronOgals made