The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-04-17
PoRTleREs AND POPPING.
C,rtained Doorways Obstacles in the
Way of Matrimony.

A few evenings ago | said to my
friend Dareal Joseph, why haven't
YOU married." The question seemed
abrupt. | admit, but the moment was
most propitious As we sat in the
contest corner of the club room testing
a new and recompensing brand of
cigars we talked while at random.
and finally we, too. drifted to the sub
iect Of marriage in Buffalo. We spoke of
the apparent reluctance of certain young
men to do anything but dawdle about
the objects of their alteration, and
when Joseph said, DO not blame
them, perhaps it is not their fault. " |
pat to him the startling question,
Joseph, why don't YOU marry?" JOS
cph took several long pulls at his cigar
before replying. but finally said, his
eyes fixed on the ascending smoke:
If YOU wish to know what has kept
me from matrimony | will tell you. 1t
is the portiere." | stared.
Joseph went on: In other words,
it is because parlors have no doors
because our modern houses are one
vast whispering gallery in which the
slightest sound is heard from one end
w stHoilti. IL 10 y tliS SIHNt HdNt
felt sure that | was absolutely alone
with the mirl-au environment neces-
sary for sentimental demonstrations
But to pariicularize. 1t is not long
since | became unusually interested in
Il young woman of my acquaintance.
Perhaps | was in love with her. If
not, | know that | might have become
SO. | paid her rather marked atten-
lion for nearly year, but in my num-
erous visits to her house there was
never an opportunity for anything but
the most formal conversation. Usually
her father sat in the library across the
hall in full hearing-!f not in full
yiew-of us. No chance to shut Il
door. At the parlor door-portieres;
at the library door-portieres; ut the
dining-room door - portiercs; and
never an opportunity for that sense of
private tctc-a-tete which gives Il man
inspiration for sent mental deeds.
Now it is my idea that the time
when mutual love is first acknowl-
edged should be a supreme moment in
life-one to be made the most OF. and
not to be thrown away by any such in-
scnsate proceedings as Il proposal by
letter, or even to be risked at unpropi-
.tious seasons, when interruption is prob
able or possible. Therefore, did not tell
my love with papa reading his paper
in the adjoining room, or with the SER
want fumbling at the sideboard in the
dining room, with only the thickness
of curtains between her and us. | did
not tell my love while all the doors
were wide open, and the sisters were
active in the upper halls, and | could
hear the brother in his room overhead
dressing 10 90 out. No, | waited for
some moment of assured privacy. 1t
never came"
There was long silence. 'Well?"
| said at last. That is all. Last sum-
mel The young woman in question
made a visit to a provincial town where
she could shut the parlor door. While
there she became engaged and was
married last autumn"
And that is courtship as she is con-
Quoted in Buffalo," | sighed. That is
the state of things in nine houses out
of ten where | pay social visits" said
Joseph Dareal. And as recalled the
homes of our wedable but unwedded
maids | concluded that Joseph was not
wrong. and that what is most needed
by our young men is not courage, but
''achance. BUHdiO Courier.