The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-05
WHEN WOMEN PROPOSE.
Bright Women of Widely Different
Types Suggest Conditions.
From the Ne,o York World.


From the NeW York World.
Women must propose. At least, so says
Mr.. Labouchere Of the London Truth. He
assures struggling women that they will
never be Independent, never receive that
measure of respect toward which they as
pire, in short, never amount to much of
anything until they have wrested from the
tyrant man the privilege Of making pro-
posal of marriage.
Mr.. Labouchere's opinion deserves con-
siderable inAsmuch as he belongs to the
proposing branch of the human family, and
therefore knows the sentiments which at
tend the exercise Of that prerogative. Doubt
less he had a comprehensive experience
along the line of this privilege. Most men
have. II the sum total Of proposals could
by any means be compared with the sum
total OF marriages, IL would forever remove
from long suffering manhood and imputa~
ton OF idleuess.
This being the case, ie may be asserted
that while man is the proposing race,
woman is the rejecting one. OF course,
she occasionally accepts. but more than oc-
casionally che wishes she hadn't. Thus,
while Mr.. LaboIchere is in a measure quail
ified to judge OF the joys Of making pro-
posals, he views the subject from only one
point Of view, and women, who know
quite as much about it as men, have a right
to say whether this mark Of greatness (ac-
cordiDg to MIR. LAboucherel shall be thrust
upon them or not. The fact probably is
that these generous gentlemen have exer-
cised the right of proposal so diligently and
unsuccessfully that they pine for revenge.
They have been 80 often rejected them
selves that they would like to do little re-
fusing on their own account.
Marie Tempest is one of the few women
who have proposed. Miss Tempest has as
sumed masculine role several times, and
has offered her hand and heart to a number
of stage herOines. 10 the Fencing Master
she tells the man she loves that her heart Is
his and does so very prettily indeed.
How does it seem to proposep a repor-
ter asked her.
Every insipid, assure you'll" said Miss
Tempest scornfully.
But suppose you were proposing in real
life, and TO a man with whom you were des-
perately In love. How thenP"
81 wouldn't do it."
why notY'
ut isn't woman's place. If the time
ever comes that women propose, they will
have ceased TO be the gentler sex"
"But can you not imagine any oircum-
stances under which you would take the in-
itiativeG You have fame and fortune and
you 70 leave these. Wouldn't you kindly
help him outp
Possibly, il that ever occurred. Buty
will never find a man so bsshful as that
"Well, II the time should ever come when
it was your place to make the proposal of
marriage, would you trust any other
woman to do 1t for youl By proxy, you
knowg'
at would depend on the man. would
not trust any one else to propose for me-"
said Miss Tempest with a shrewd glance.
because the only man could love would
be perfect, and she might want him herself.
But do not believe in women proposing,
and don't think they will"
Lillian Russell was lying on Turkish
couch in her dressing room when the res
porter sat down by her and asked her what
she thought of women proposing marriage.
She opened her eyes very wide.
well, I'm not much Of an enthusiast on
the subject anyway" said Miss Russell
with a slow smile. '
"You have proposed on the stage, have
you notP
20, yesl But there is no feeling at all in
that. Ill tell you what think. I think
every woman ought to be educated to take
care Of herself. woman has no right to
ask man TO support her. or course, plenty
of them marry for support now, but at
least they wait till a man asks them TO let
him take care of them"
But If the woman were independent.
What then2n
"Well, then think woman might pro-
pose TO a man If she wanted TO- She could
nsk him to marry her simply because she
loved him. She would be quite independents
of money consideration If she could say: Il
can earn $40 or 500 week and eau take
care of myself"
Miss Russell Furthermore confessed that If
she loved a man and knew that he loved her
but lacked the courage TO tell her so, she
would not let concealment prey on her
damask cheek. She would frankly assure
him that his love was returned and would
ask him to name the happy day. She did
not seem to think it would be necessary,
however, to go to this extreme and would
much prefer to exercise the arts by which
any beautiful woman can gain a confession
from the man who loves her.
But" said She reporter at last, "lst US
suppose an unsupposable case. Let us say
that you love the man and he does not love
you. Would you then do as men do and
ask him to marry you aud let you win his
love afterwhrdF'
NO" said Miss Russell with a violent
shake Of her blonde head. This talk about
winning love after marriage is sll rubbish!n
Evidently, thought the reporter, one
must search elsewhere to discover a burn
ing Rcquiesoence 10 Mr.. Labouchere's propo-
sition. Perhaps these actresses don't aspire