Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-04-08
task when allowed TO don smoking jacket
and slippers
"a oRRAT ESSENTIAL"

and slippers
GA eRRAT ESSENTIAL"
Steadiness OF purpose. definite object
IN life and the diligent pursuit Of il, are
essential to success in any age or place.
Our girl cannot be too warily observant
of her lovers habits OF keeping engage
ments and fulfilling obligations. In
stead OF tempting him for her dear sake
10 neglect OF business claims, as is the
manner Of some foolish virgins, she
should applaud his strict attention
TO these. although it may occasionally
interfere with her pleasures. When he
gives as a reason for not escorting her TO
matinee or reception that he "cannct
get away from the office" or for leaving
her earlier than usual in the evening that
he has a hard days work on the morrow
and must DO in trim TO do it justice, he
should be honored not censured. Few
more pregnant lines were ever penned
than those in which the lover declares,
81 could not love thee, dcar, so well
Loved not honor more!"
In her lovers stern fidelity TO the right,
in his heroic submission to the restric-
tions Of duty, in what she so far forgets
herself now and then as to term petu-
lantly "his obstinate devotion to that
detestable business" our girl has guar
antee OF his fealty to her in the days and
the years to come.
THE UNROMANTIC SIDE OF CoURTsHIP.
This is the unromantic side of court
ship but in country where there is no
lato oil
properly directed. is a prime factor in
the sum Of welded happiness. Wise
common sense enjoins the necessity of
care in this respect, and no woman need
incur the suspicion OF mercenary motives
in making sure that the man she thinks
of marrying is likely to support her de-
Gently. Rose leaves and ambrosia COM
mand high prices in our degenerate
DAYS, however cheap they may
have been in the times OF Sire
phon and Chloe, and the flowing
muslins of Amarylis must be exchanged
for tailor-lnade cloth gowns and furs
when the blizzard is abroad in the land.
1t costs money to exist, and If the hus-
band be Incompetent to earn 1t, beggary
or slavish drudgery closes up the brides
vista OF life. Poverty thus entailed is
of the sort that, setting its hoof upon
the cottage threshold, scares love from
his perch in the window. Welded bliss
is not a comestible, nor the rapture of
reciprocal devotion substantial aliment
for the human body, as at present con-
stituted.
COMMUNITY OF TASTES.
To compatibility of temper we might
add sympathy OF taste, community of
interests. similar bias of intellect. and
spiritual desires, were it not that Like
likes unlike might be accepted AS the
rule of matrimonial selection were We to
Judge by what We see every day. Love
wanders and rests wbithersoever it list
eth, and at some miracles of congruous
lncongruity, referable to no laws known
to parents and friends, we may well
stand amazed and dumb.
With the traditions Of generations OF
wiseacres at her back, and the accumu-
lated treasures OF moralizing we'll
wishers at her command-our girl must
in this most solemn issue of her mortal
career, make or mar for herself. Upon
her pretty, palpitating palm lies the
nilletseed OF possibility that may hold
Prince Ahmed and his stately pavilion,
or may, when opened, choke her with
bitter dust. MARION HARLAND.