Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-11-13

without reserve: the mother-in-law Is
too prominent a parsonage in French
households for my taste. All l want
men to see is that having fallen in love
with a woman isn't a good reason for
marrying her-quite the contrary. 1t is
obvious that the very worst judge of a
woman is a nan who is in love with her.
Perhaps you'll admit that much, Thor
old?"
The eyes of his two fellow guests were
turned expectantly and with some COW
ert amusement upon the young politi-
clan. whose engagement to a very well
known lady had recently been broken
off. and who vas supposed to be not a
little sore about the affair. He shrugged
his shoulders and replied:
"Oh. certainly: I'll admit that much.
But after all, the question is only one of
degree; what do we know of women
even when we are not in love with them?
The best plan is to give them a wide
berth"
"Only that's impossible" observed
Lord Guise. "Shall we go upstairs and
smoke now"
1HC SuDJtIG was uOppCu " LIZ III
ment, but was resumed later on in the
smoking room by Eustace Moreton, who
professed sentiments Of the most atrocious
cynicis1n with regard to the opposite
sex. His career, though brief, had been
eventful in al amatory sense, and in the
matter of constancy he had not appeared
to shine conspicuously, but he now as.
sured his hearers that in ne single in
stance had he been the first to cool off.
MY belief" said he solemnly, lis
that women never care for a fellow for
his own sake. Their one object is to en-
tice him into marrying them, and the
moment they find out that he isn't quite
prepared to go such frightful lengths
they chuck him aside like an old glove"
This opinion of the utter
ableness of women received confirmation
from Mr.. Schneider, who nodded his
head, and remarked sententiously, I'm
quite with you there. Moreton." Mr.
Schneider was one of those charming
but too rare people who lev contra
dict.
Let US endeavor to be just even to
women, who are SO seldom just to us"
said Lord Guise. ut is only just to
them to say that in some respects they
are not half such fools as we are, and it
would be unjust to blame them, situated
as they are, for wanting to get married.
Of course they want to get married,
and of course they do their best to hook
US. But why are we always in such a
hurry to swallow the hookp That's what
/ want to know"
Some of US DON'T" observed Thorold.
Him! Some of us have the good luck
to be thrown back into the water be-
cause we were too easily caught"
Thorold opened his lips to reply, but,
thinking better of it, twirled his mus
tache and held his peace.
"What we require" Lord Guise went
on, sis a Bachelors Mutual Aid and
Protection society. As I said before it's
absurd to blame the women, who only
follow their natural predatory instincts.
The best Of them do it, but goodness
knows there are plenty of bad ones
about; and how is a poor innocent male
creature to cope with them? Given a
certain amount of good looks, they must
DC IltAhlSS IliCCu IL tIlCy oil u hldh0 uS
lose our h~eads-after which we are done
for. Not a season passes without my
hearing of half a dozen captures which
are simply heartrending."
-"You yourself have escaped so far,
however" remarked Thorold.
"Only because l I'M blessed with an
exceptionally phlegmatic temperament.
If I had yielded to first impulses 1 should
have been a miserable slave at this hour.
You're a rich man; so you ought to know
something of the temptations which we
have to contend against"
Without being a rich man." chimed
in Moreton, II may say that 1 know
something of them. Nobody is more de-
voted to women than I amor more
convinced that they are one and all
humbugs."
Mr.. Schneider gave it to be understood
that his experience had led him to a
similar melancholy conclusion.
But how" asked Thorold, "do you
propose to remedy this distressing state
of thingsg"
GAS I tell you," answered Lord Guise;
'by the establishment of a mutual pro-
lection society. A man from the mo-
ment that he falls in love becomes non
compos mentis. His friends ought to
take charge of him for his own good;
but of course they can't do that unless
he has given them the necessary author
ity while still in possession of his senses.
One has often heard of unfortunate fell
lows with a constitutional disposition
for drink, who, when they felt the fit
coming on, have gone of their own free
will and had themselves shut up in in
situations where liquor couldn't be OBJ
tanned.
We'll, 1 should suggest the applica-
ton of that principle to matrimony.
When a man finds that he is upon the
brink of making a fool Of himself let
him go to his friends and say: Look
here, if you fellows don't hold me back
I shall propose in a day or two to Miss
A or I.xdy B. In my opinion she is an
angel; but l am aware that in my pres
ent condition my opinion isn't worth a
straw. Now you must do the best you
can for me- I'm quite Serious" added
Lord Guise, observing a broad smile
upon the faces of his audience.
"And what would you do with the
poor lover when he threw himself upon
your protection in hat pathetic way?"
asked Thorold. would you lock him
up?"
"Well no, he could hardly expect me
to take all that trouble. Besides, I am
not sure that it would be legal. My idea
would be that each member Of the So
ciety should bind himself to be guided
by the instructions of his friends for a
certain length of time-say six months.
Of course. they might sanction his mar
rage at once; but if they saw that he
was about to commit moral suicide they
would tell him that he mustn't see or
speak to the lady for another half year.
When that time was up he would be free
to dash his head against a brick wall if
he chose, but the chances are t',at the
interval afforded him for eoAa. reelection
would be sufficient. Whv shouldn't we
four make a start here and now? We
seem to be pretty well agreed, and we're
none of us in love at present, are weT'
Not more than usual" answered
Moreton, speaking for himself.
Not the least bit in the world" an
swered Mr.. Schneider complacently.
Thorold. after a brief pause. said: II
believe l may swell the chorus. EVERY