The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-03-12

modern institution of courtship.. As long as men
won their brides by brute force. by carrying them
off in from the arms of their friends and rel
atives, or by bartering for them many cows or
horses. or trinkets. the ancient idea prevailed.
But as men conceived the ehiyalric idea of letting
and began to win their brides by Establishments
and honied words. and exercising all the arts of
lover mans dominion was at an end and woman
rose to the crest of the wave and has ever since
serenely foated there The history of the first
courtship. that of Adam and Eve. is involved in
great obscurity. The advocates of the old idea
insist that there was no courtship. that Adam
acquired the wife the Lord sent him. without any
man, did not have to spend cent for valentines
and matinee tickets, and confectionery and Ice
cream. A certain poet has expressed his opinion
to the contrary, as follows:
" He's fool who would marry an angel of light
Till he'd courted that angel at least for might
Though the record declares Adam took for his
bride,
Blushing Eve as she leaped from rib in his side
But the facts being known, it in truth will be
That he courted her first when the Lord wasn't
round"
But however it may have been in the days of
the Grand old gardener and his wife, certain
it is that now the right of woman is firmly estab-
shed. 1T not by law, at least by prescription, and
her to give it uP2 Are not your dearest recollec
tions my friends. of the raptures of that blssful
period which has been so aptly described by the
poet have just quoted. as follows:
when for the first time in your life,
You dream ofthose strange words, wife.
And from your mothers home you go.
And the first time in earnest throw,
In kind of bashful leisure haste
| Your green arm round green girls waist,
And she In her new and girlish bliss.
| w ill trust your first raw country kiss,
| Then look as hnppy's if she knew,
| She'd got hard weeks washing through:
| And if it gives your nerves twist.
| ana SENDS prickllng through your wrist.
| Brings from your stomach long drawn sighs,
And pumps up water to the eyes,
| Ihen know that you are both in love.
| And that the match was made above"
But all jesting aside. the period of courtship
both on, their good behavior. The gentleman
| seeks to Impress on the lady that he is in truth
good deal better than he knows himselft to be the
lady seeks to make the gentleman believe that
she has soul away above the little frivolities Of
ordinary feminine life. Having fooled each other
to the top of their bent. they get married. and
then it will not do to let this little deception drop
but if the parties to this pious fraud are true mer
and true women. they will endeavor to live up tc
that little ideal they have created in the mind o
the other and if this is done the result is better
man, a better woman and happy home,
And now my friends. let me bring my remarks
to a close by saying few words about the ladies
in the relation they bear to the Royal Arcanum
Ladies are apt to look secret societies will
suspicion. to regard them a convenient excuse
for late hours r. and absence h from home in the eve
former and conducted solely for your benefit. L
is the love of home. of wife and family tina
prompts men to enter our circles We offer t.
terles none of the allurements of pomp and cir
cumstance and display, no political. material. o
! social advantage, 1t is an order conducted no
for the benefit of its members. but for the benefi
of those dear to and dependent upon them. Ii
SO out of every 100 of cur benefit certificates
lady is named as the beneficiary. Think of thi
) if you will. the Royal Arcanum. an Order CON
posed exclusively of men. has in the course of it
brief and glorious existence. paid nearly Sl4 0UO
00O into the pockets of the ladies, We ask there
l fore, that you give US your appreciation and sup
port, for now. no less than in the chivalric day
of old it is the smiles of the ladies that incte
to the accomplishment of good. And if the tim
/, should come to you that will come to some whe
you will miss from your side he who has been th
head of your household, your staff and supper
when cold hands no longer return your clasI
and glazed eyes no longer meet yours in the ol(
familiar way when he who was dearest to 70
has received his final heritage Of six feet of cart
yon will learn that the strong hand OF the RoyI
Arcanum is around those who were dear to i
brother. and like tower that stands four squal
to all the winds that blow. is forever betwee
you and penury and want.
FL At the close of these exercises the gueets r.
tired to the reception room, where a pleasal
f social hour was passed. during which time Il
banqnet hall was cleared and prepared for IL
last pleasant feature of this most enjoyable occ
sion. the dance. which was continued until ne
three o'clock.