The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-02

declare that the society reports a. the
sumptuous homes and brilliant entertain
ments Of the very rich, who form . colony
In our large cities, discouraged them from
attempting to establish . home.
Men care far more for public opinion, far
more about making fine show in the
world than women do, when We come to
analyze them carefully. Yet they do not
analyze themselves. Many q man will tell
you he cannot afford to keep mp home as
the young ladies of today desire to live.
while the fact is dozen young ladies of
his acquaintance would be perfectly con-
tented to live quietly and unostenta-
stand in the way. 1t seems to be the i'm
preston of young men in large towns that
all women are mercenary. and that all
girls are consumed with an intense desire
to shine as social leaders.
They know what this means in the way
of expense, and they dare not think of
marriage without large fortune in the
background.
This is unfair to scores of nice girls, who,
all unobserved by these cynical young
men, are waiting, not for 3 fortune, but an
honest heart worthy of their love to be
offered them.
The false estimate of our sex explains to
and the financial independence Of women
renders them less eager to undeceiye their
detractors and prove themselves worthy
and desirable helpmeets for these cynical
men than they might otherwise be. But
to assert that women live past their youth
and into old age single from choice is posi-
lively absurd, and the reasons which Mrs.
Wells has given for this choice" as she
believes it, render it still more absurd.
do not believe the single woman of 80
lives who could not be persuaded to
change her lot if the right man urged per-
sistently enough.
ssThe right man" does not always ap-
pear, however, and other men plead in
vain. Yet, no matter how valiantly she
may assert that she is contented With her
single lot. she is not. If she is, there is
something wrong about the construction
of her heart.
The woman heart that does not cry for
its true mate. no matter what other joys
and ambitions it has in life, by the time it
is 80, is not natural heart.
The woman who finds herself satisfied
with single life because she has "a paying
profession" or because she has read 'sTol-
stoi and lola" and medical works, or be-
cause cher mother passed some lonely
moments" must be curious being.
Lungs must supply the place of heart in
her breast, tepid water the place of blood
in her veins.
But assert that she does not exist Let
the persistent lover, who is even half way
her ideal, prove to her that he is in dead
earnest, and as honest as earnest, and pro-
fession, Zoia, .'peripatetic works" and
maternal warnings will vanish like the
nightmare Of dreamer's brain. and she
viii prove to him that her content was
only superficial and welcome his coming
as the earth welcomes the sunrise.
But every Year the American woman is
becoming more exacting in her demands
of what a husband should be.
A mere husband is not enough; she does
not accept the first offer, ..for fear she will
not have another" as 1 once heard an old
lady say she did-she waits to find the n.aa
with the husband. As woman reaches
higher standards herself, her ideals are
higher.
Just now we have more fine women than
fine men in large cities.
But the men viii be forced into elevating
themselves after generation or two. They
will be slammed into it or else a complete
revolution of our social system will take
place, and men will become the housekeep-
ers and cradle-rockers, and the women the
tinanciers. Should the latter contingency
result, and women be vested with all Of
mans present power and privilege, she
will certainly prove to the world that she
does not prefer single life, and no one will
question: ''Why do not girls marry?"