Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-11-30
DON'T TAKE HER ARM.
The Man Who Does SO Deserves to Be
Called Gent"

OF taking 4 Woman'S arm. SAYS the
New York Press, and he is the police
MIN who arrests her fol shoplifting OF
tries to save her from cable or trol-
ley car or some other form of sudden
death. Any other man guilty of such
massacre Of good taste and good
manners deServeS-not to be shot. but
TO be designated II gent
Common sense and custom have eS-
tabliShed the rule that after dark Il
gentleman shall give his arm to the
lady he is with. This not Only Signi-
Ties To the pubic that he is acting as
an escort, and saves her from its COM
nlents and joStIing, but enables the TWO
to keep easily in step. There are also
occasions during the day when a rude
crowd, rough walking, standing in the
cars, or lack of strength makes man
ly arm doubly welcome TO Il delicate
woman. In short, the courtesy is
beautiful in its significance of the at
titude Of man and woman.
1t must be admitted, however, that
many men are SO ignorant or SO care,
less in their manner of extending this
courtesy that sensitive woman would
rather walk with both hands in her
muff or her pockets if she dared than
avail herself of it. Walking behind
Il couple arm-inLarm, one can generally
guess at the mans breeding and his
relat to the woman. The anxious
lover is rs easily detected as the in
! different husband. The former holds
! his arm ut an angle acute with hope
and tenderness and admirably adapted
! to the height of the angel who trips
! beside hmm. When she puts her little
! hand under his coat sleeve his heart
! goes out with a thump to meet it, and
it is with an ill-conceaIed effort that
! he refrains if he does refrain, from
pressing it paSSionately to his side as
! he blesses himself that the cruel world
does not sanction this own sweet I'M
spoken mode of communication. AS
even the nobleSt, strongest tree inclineS
| toward the sparkling and murmuring
stream, his Whole being leans toward
the tender creature at his side, and,
with Il courage that is delicious to con-
template, he protects her in her limo
|
! shadow Of a mouse on the sidewalk.
Then watch the married man, not
the ideal married man, but the aver
age husband of the average wife. He
stalks alongAaS nearly like the red In
dian with his SquaW in his tracks as
civilization permits. His strong arm,
crooked at the feebleSt angle, hangs
Imply down, furnishing Il sort of
sliding scale for the slender hand that
! in vain seeks for a resting place.
| Sometimes, in crossing a walk or
mounting 4 step, the slender hand
slips away altogether, and then, in ac-
cordance with his degree of natural
brutality, Indifference OF i'll breeding,
he asks why the something she can't
hold on, or what the thing -a-bob she's
trying to do now. She signs and says
nothing.
Better it is to see a couple just in
the prime Of life and who have climb
ed the heights together SO well and
so faithfully that they walk with one
gait, just as they fee, With one accord
he with shoulder well squared to the
world and a strong arm that holds with
tender firmness the hand that came
to him with the trueSt heart in all the
! world.
Best of all see the venerable couple,
whose bent figures and snowy locks are
! beautified by the love of a lifetime,
as arm in arm they descend the hill
of life into the shadows of the peaceful
valley.
To return, however, to the purely
practical aspect of arm giving, it is
we'll to add that in certain parts of the
country It has a peculiar significance.
For instance we are told that in Wis
consin for a young lady to accept of a
gentleman's arm in the daylight is al
most equivalent to the sending out of
wedding cards, and we know this to
be so in east Tennessee. Right up in
the Great Smoky mountains, which
Miss Murfree so lovingly depicts, the
stalwart mOuntaineer, whose six feet
of Drawn and muscle becomes as so
much pulp. will approach his divinity
at a camp meeting or picnic with the
agitating query, ''Have a wing?" This
is the crucial test. If from the depths
of a fascinating sun bonnet issues the
cruel words, Il wouldn't give shucks
for chicken" then the ountaineer
knows his doom. If, however. through
those Bingham frills is breathed the
tender words, Il don't care if [ do
then bring forth the magnolia bios
SONS and ring the bells