Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-02-28
HINTS FOR EMERGENCIES.
With Apologies to the Society fol
First Aid to THE Injured.

One of the d~iSagreeable necessities
which c%onfronts every woman at least
once in her lifetime lis that of hearing
am eX-adorer confide his burning affec-
tion for some other mn All girls
should be taught by wise mothers how
to act i'm such an emergency, and no
debutante should be permitted to en-
ter society until she has practiced the
proper way of receiving such news.
The eX+adorer is always awkward at
such a time. He is remembering with
embarrassing distinctness the time
when he told his present confidante
that the tides would cease to obey
the moons control before he would
cease to find in her the guiding infiu-
ence of his life. This makes him en-
barTassed, and his embarrassment
leads her to the false conclusion that
he is about to propose for the fourth
time.
81 have something to tell YOU" he
says.
"Yes?" says she indifferently.
eyes. Something you will be glad to
hear" he goes ON, and the young wo-
man takes a sudden interest in the con
versatiOn.
"What is it?" she asks gently and
very pathetically. She expects him
to reply that, his love for her having
proved i'm vain, he is going to leave the
city and 60 to Arizona, where, per-
chance, he may learn to forget. Con-
sequently she is totally ~unprepared fer
his next remark, which lis:
Congratulate me. 1 am engaged to
Lizette jennings"
This is the point where the young
womanis wits are likely to forsaEe
her. She feels the muscles of her face
growing set, ais though a plaster cast
were hardening. She wonders where
her voice lis. She doesn't find it for
a perceptible space of time, and when
she does it comes from a remote dis
lance.
81 do indeed congratulate you," she
says, and the man is Convinced by
her leaden manner and look that she
has long loved him and only just
learned it. What she should do is this.
First, whenever a man says he has
something" to tell a woman, let her
instantly prepare herself to receive the
news of his engagement. Let her pro-
coed to look interested at one and let
her say in a voice full of encourage
ment, "Tell me all about it," When
he stumbles and halts, as he will un-
der these conditions, let her say in a
voice which is both friendly and quiz
zical that she thinks she guesses what
he has to say, but that she won't spoil
his story by anticipating it. Then,
when he finally gets to the point OF
his remarks, her facial muscles and
her voice will be under control and she
can tell him Immediately, with almos;
enthusiastic frienIliness, how glad she
is and how she has always thought
Lizette the dearest of girls. After thai
the conversation will flow easily and
naturally. 1t will concern itself main.
1y with Lizette's perfections.
After it is yer the young man car
60 upstairs and let her muscles relax
as they will and her eyes assume
whatever expression they choose while
she sits and reflects upon the f~eetins
character of all things earthly, par
ticularly of mans affection. Her re
Elections will end in a thrill of graft
ficatiOn that she did not betray an!
emotion.
These rules should be practiced abou
once a month for a year before {
, young woman enters society.