The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1890-09-04
= >.PoRT!ERES AND POPPING.
Cuftoansd Door-Ways as Obstacles In the
! .... ... Way OF Matrimony.

~~SssA1~~ 0oor-Ways AZ Obstacles In the
i -..' Way Of Matrimony.
A few evenings ago, observes Buf-
1slo Courier writer, said to my friend
Dareal: Joseph, why haven't you mar
rled?" The question seemed abrupt,
admit, but the moment was most pro-
plt1ous. AS we sat in the coziest corner
OF the club room testing new and
recompenslng brand of cigars we talked
awhile at random, and finally we, too,
drlfted to the subject of marriage in
buffalo. We spoke of the apparent re-
1uctance Of certain young men to do any
thing but dawdle about the objects of
their alteration, and when Joseph said:
do not blame them, perhaps it is not
their fault" put to him the startling
Question: "Joseph, why don't you
1narry?" Joseph took several long pulls
1t his cigar before replying, but finally
said, his eyes fixed on the ascending
smoke: III you wish to know what has
kept me from matrimony4 will toll you.
1t is the portiere." stared.
Joseph went on: SIN other words, it is
because parlors have no doors-because
Our modern houses are one vast whis-
perlng gallery in which the slightest
sound is heard from one end to another.
1t is years since have felt sure that I
was absolutely alone with a gir!-an en-
v1ronment necessary for sentimental
demonstrations. But to particularize.
1t is not long since became unusually
Interested in young woman Of my &C
quaintance. Perhaps was in love with
her. 1t not, know that might have
become so. I paid her rather marked
attention for nearly year, but in my
numerous visits to her house there was
never an opportunity for any thing but
the most formal conversation. Usually
her father sat in the library across the
hall in full hearing-if not in view-of
us. No chance to shut door. At tho
parlor door-portieres; at tho library
door-portieres; at tho dining-room
door-portieres; and never an op-
portunity for that sense Of private tetc-
a-tete which gives a man inspiration for
sentimental deeds.
''Now it is my idea that the. time
when mutual love is first acknowledged
should be supreme moment in life
one to be made the most Of, and not to
be thrown away by any such insensate
proceeding as a proposal by letter, or
even to be risked at unpropitious sea-
sons, when interruption is probable or
possible. Therefore, did not tell my
love with papa reading his paper in the
adjoining room, or with the servant
fumbling in tho sideboard in the dining
room, with only thickness of curtain
between her and US. did not tell my
love while all the doors wero wide open
and the sisters werc active in the upper
halls, and l could hear the brother in
his room overhead dressing to so out.
No, waited for some moment of assured
privacy. Itnever came.''
There was a long silence. "Well?" I
said, at last. "That is all. Last sum-
mer tho young woman in question made
visit to provincial town where shc
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, 1 sighed. ':That is
tho state of things in nine houses out of
ten where pay social visits, said Joseph
Dareal. And as recalled the homes of
our wcdable but unwedded maids l con-
cludcd that Joseph was not wrong, and
what is most needed by our young men
Is not courage but "a chance"