The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-06-13
MAIDS, WIVES, AND WIDOWS.
Are Women Who Have Been Married
More Attractive than Young Girls.

| .'Can you tell me why widow is so
much more attractive TO the average
man of middle age than girls who are
| no older than the widow?" asked a
| maiden who is well up in the twenties.
| ''At first thought | cannot" replied
| the bachelor friend whom she ad-
| dressed
! He was uncertain as to what she
| was driving at, because he is paying
| attentions to a widow who would have
| been an old maid if she hadn't mar
ried.
/ Il thought you could tell me, be-
cause you are always SO ready to give
| reason for everything" she said
There must be a reason for it," he
replied, land | will give the matter
my attention"
ITO my mind widow is more gid
| dy. more given to flirting, and more
foolish than young girl" said the
lady. "Were | to be fresh, and act as
indiscreet as some widows whom |
know you would hardly speak to me-"
If that is true am at a loss to un-
derstand how it has escaped my at
tention. There are several widows
on my list of lady acquaintances, and
| am quite certain they have always
behaved PROPERLY
Maybe they are afraid to show their
hands when you are around" observed
the lady.
'Possibly they are, but l have never
noticed any disposition to be on their
good behavior when in my company"
"Well, you know this, that widows
as a rule are bolder, more forward and
more demonstrative than maidens,n
exclaimed the young lady apparently
determined to bring the argument to
a conclusion.
Il have heard so, but cannot say
that | know it to be true. 1t is a fact,
however, that widows are quite dif-
ferent from girls. They have passed
through phases of life to which girls
are strangers. They have been wives,
and probably mothers, and have moved
on these planes until they have lost
many of the feelings and qualities that
characterize the maiden. They are
more independent because they know
the ground they are treading, having
been over it; and it is possible that
they al. less dffident because their
maidenly training has been forgot
ten
Then why can't forget this train
ing and act boldly and independent
Typ"
Because you are not a widow.
However, L think you are mistaken
when you say that gentlemen will toll
crate more boldness to widows than
to maidens. For my own part l can
not tolerate it as much, because they
ought to know better. A Young,
thoughtless, innocent girl will be for
given when widow would be held to
strict account
Indeed, | know some who are n,neh
sought after whose manners are Just
abominable," observed the young lady
tartly.
They may be sought after by men
who merely want to be entertained,
but not by those who are in search of
wives"
Yes, but l know gentlemen who
have become fascinated by widows
when there were young ladies about
more refined, better looking, and
wealthier."
The philosophy of it is just this:
A woman who is fascinating enough
to catch a husband in her youth is
more likely to able to catch another at
the mature age of so than the maiden
who has gone the same distance
in life without being able to catch
one.n
Then you would prefer widow of
80 summers to a maiden of as many
winterS"
Il didn't say so; but l will say that
| think the average widow of 80, who
wants to marry, stands a far better
chance than the average maiden of the
same age.
How does that bit of philosophy
strike you?
A woman cannot become widow
unless she is attractive enough to get
"A husband; and it stands to reason
that if she could get one she can get
another.
1t is great mistake to suppose that
men marry women merely for their
good looks or for their accomplish
ments. These play part, but it is
the heart or the spirit that wins. The
average man is inclined to yield to the
powers of fascination and that subtle
power lies neither in beauty nor man
ners.
The practical wife-hunter looks to
these, just as he looks for the fine
points in 4 horse or at the drawing
and finish in a picture.
The man who marries a face, tig-
ure, or a fortune is a fool, especially
if it is happiness he is after.
Likewise the woman who marries
man because he dresses well, is fine
looking, or we'll hammered. These are
desirable, but they constitute small
part of the real man. 1t is just here
that the giddy girl gets her foot into
it. She mistakes the clothes for the
man. and society smile and manners
as the index to disposition.
She should remember that smiles
are as often the index of perfect set
of teeth as of a sunny, cheerful heart;
and that good clothes are as apt to in
djcate unpaid tailor bills and squan-
dered fortunes as good taste and plenty