Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-15
is WOMAN TO WOO?
"A Frenchman Discusses the Question
What He Says of English Women.

Frenchman Discusses the Question
What He Says of English Women.
From the London of pendsnce
Bile.
The English are now discussing in profound
seriousness tho question, is woman to WOO?
Free translation: Should woman ask the
hand of man in marriage? To journal
conducted by women for women, and entitled
BoDHu., belongs the honor of having first
posed this unexpected question; and now the
press Of both sexes, as We must say henccforth.
is discussing the problem. There is only one
preoccupation. one subject of controversy-"Is
woman to woo?" To sum the matter up. the
fatality of the age has insisted upon placing
this question at the head of the order of the
day. Since the English women have become
journalists, travelling guides. doctors in letters
and sciences and claim the privilege of voting
and RIDING horses astride, single step remains
between them and the right OF initia-
tive In the matter of conjugal union.
The obligation to wait countless
years for a husband must necessarily appear to
them as one of those intOlerable conditions of
lnferlorlty which must be stricken from the
social code. Henceforth let men do the wait
ing. Such is the conclusion of the majority of
the ladies consulted by Woman and its coterl-
poraries. Only few Of the more modest are
protesting. They cannot consent to take the
d
played the part of besieged garrisons. Other
little queens by grace or by beauty ask them
selves what will become of their royalty if
from solicited idols they come down to the po-
sitlon of solicitors (solciteuses). shaking under
masculine noses the encensOir whose perfume
up to the present they brea;hed in dignity But
the majority, the great majority, are for the
lnterversion of the roles, for revolution. They
only await the signal to charge upon the bach
elors and they answer all objections with the
m ri hat Al
encouragement of the outstretched hand. and
that, notwithstanding all the prejudice and all
the routine OF centuries, the spectacle of the
virgin who dares where the man who dares not
Is delightful Recollect the discreet advances
OF the suave DeSdeWOad to that bear, Odtelio:
or read, rather the Able Constautin."
But does this entire movement only mean, as
an evil tongue has already suggested. that the
majority OF the collaboratresses and lady read
ers OF Woman are poor IN attractions and rich
III years-wretched old maids who have be-
come parched and yellow over their embroid-
cry during their long and better existence; I'M
fortunate, dlsdaIned ones, whom love has ig-
nored and who want love all the same even
II they have to take it by force? In other words,
we on the eve OF a revolution among the
forgotten and the impatient?
1t Is not necessary to enter into the infinitely
vast and charming discussion of the great sub
jet. There Is only room in this letter for the
statement of the plain fact that the English
W ItDcl against the tra-
ditional strategy of love and that they are re-
solved to take the lead In future, to do their
OWE choosing, to marry, instead of to be mar
ried. Therefore. let the young foreigners who
contemplate q visit to the British Isles take
warning now. Let their ears be ready for
burning and spontaneous declarations on the
part of the young English girls who may fix
upon them as the men OF their choice And
let them not be surprised if in some little
park or in the corner of a ball room they en-
counter scenes and oyerhear dialogues like the
following:
Angelina (taking the hand of her companion
and looking into his eyes)-'Arthur it is time
for my heart to speak. Arthur, will you be my
husband!'
Arthur (stammering and placing his hand
upon his heartJ-"Oh, Miss, for goodness
sake"
Angelina-"You blush, dear Arthur. Your
eyes modestly cast down tell me of your con-
fusion. How handsome you look in that way,
Arthur in that silence of embarrassment with
humid eyelashes and your heart beating like a
BIRDS under your snOw-white shirt But.
Arthur, do speak one word. one only do not
mean 10 brighten you, dear, terrified fellow;
don't ask you to pronounce my sentence of
death or OF life mediately. But, dearest
Arthur, give me one ray of hope"
Arthur (trembling)-''Well. yes, l will see
about 1t. but am overcome. Please bring me
back to my mamma"
Angelina-''Hcayens,h he has faintedi Helm,
A glass OF water! Arthur como to- dearestI
Here is yo1r mamma! How touching he is in
a faIntI'