The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-16
THE AWFUL PORTIERE.
A Household Hanging That Keeps
Men from Proposing.
from the Buffalo Courier

A'VH' Sftc DNUAtO SONf tCfs
A few evenings ago 1 said to my friend
Dareal: Joseph, why haven't you marriedP'
The question seemed abrubt, l admit, but
the moment was most propitious. As we
sat in the contest corner of the club room test
ing new and recompensing brand of cigars
we talked awhile at random, and finally We
too, drirted to the subject of marriage in
Buffalo. We spoke of the apparent reluc-
tance Of certain young men TO do anything
but dawdle about the objec S of their adora-
ton, and when Joseph said, "Do not blame
them; perhaps it is not their fault" put to
him the startling question, Joseph, why
doh't you marryH Joseph took several long
pulls at his cigar before replying, but finally
said, his eyes fixed on the ascending smoke:
''If you visa to know what has kept me
from matrimony, will tell you. 1t is the
portiere. "a5I stared.
joseph went on: 'In other words, it is
because parlors have no doors-because our
modern houses are one vast whispering gal
lery in which the slightest sound is heard
from one I'd to another. 1t is years since
| have felt sure that was absolu ely alone
with glrl-an environment necessary for
sentimental demonstrations. But to par
tlcularliZe 1t is not long since / became
unusually interested in young woman of
my acquaintance. Perhaps | was in love
with her. If not, know that might have
become so. l paid her rather marked at
tention for nearly year. but in my numer-
Gus visits to herghouse there was never an
opportunity for anything but tue most for
mai conversation. Usually her father sat
in the library across the hall in full hearing
if not in view-of us. No chance to shut
a door. At the parlor door-porteres; at the
library door-portieres; at the dining room
door-portieres, and never an opportunity
for that sense of private tete-a-tete which
gives man inspiration for sentimental
deeds.
"Now it is my idea that the time when
mutual love is first acknowledged should be
a supre ne moment IN life-one to be made
the most Of, and not to be thrown away by
any such insensate proceeding as a pro-
posal by letter, or even to be rislxed at I'M
propitious seasons whom interruption is
probable or possible. Therefore l did not
tell my love with papa reading his paper In
the adjoining room, or with the servant
fumbllng az the sideboard in the dining
room, with only a thickness Of curtain be-
tween her and us. | did not tell nv 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 over
head dressing to go out No, waited for
some moment of assured privacy. 1t never
came.n
There was long silence --,"Wellg | said
at last. That is all. Last summer the
young woman in question made a visit to q
provincial town where she could shut the
parlor door. While there she became en-
gagged and was married last autumn.n
'And that is courtship as she is conducted
in Buffalo," L sighed. THAT is the state of
things in nine houses out of ten where |
pay social visits" said Joseph Dareal And
as 1 recalled the homes of our wedabIe but
unwedded maids. concluded that Joseph
was not wrong, and that wat is most
neeied by our young men is no. courage,
but "a chance"