Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-07-11
POPPING" WAS DIFFICULT.


The New Woman Found the Question
Harder to Approach Than she
Thought.
She had a veneer of newness but is
essentially oldfashioned.
The trouble with that kind OF girl is
that charmed with the veneer, she mis-
takes il for solid stuff, so that when cir
cumstances reveal its superficial charac-
ter no one is more surprised than her
| self
She is addicted to English magazines
and has lately been reading a series of
articles on the "Wooing OF Woman
and a symposium on the question:
Should Man Necessarily Usurp the
! Privilege Of Proposng?' Many Of the
arguments used in favor of more indie
pendence for women is the matter of
love-making appealed to her, she ina
gined very strongly.
Why" she inquired quoting the argu-
fiers, lin the name Of all that is simple,
sincere and natural is it a fault or a
shame for a woman to love unsought?
Is love such a thing in a woman that 10
is a shame TO wake to 1t unless a man
ask for it? Why is an attachment OF
heart more to be shame laden or held
unwomanly than an attachment OF
mind? In other words, no more shame
ought to be felt in loving a person I'M
asked than in thinking OF a subject or
using ones reason in any way I'M
invited AS for taking the initiative in
love making and immemorial vesting Of
the right in men, the physically stronger
and more aggressive, is no proof what
ever of the wisdom of such an allot-
ment, or necessarily means anything
more than that men seized 1t when
savage conditions gave muscle the
greater value than gentle intelligence,
and that its continuance now is but a
survival of q barbaric usurpation"
In the light OF such dicta she consid-
cred her sentiments for Tom and made
up her mind to propose to him, in
simple, womanly way" This is tho
story as given in the Chicago News, Of
how she didn't DO it,
In the first place she invited Tom TO
call on a certain evening and spent the
intervening time studying the conduct
of the young woman in the magazine ar
ticle
The magazine young woman spoke as
follows to a young man who court
eously accompanied her home one even
ing: My friend, wish to say some
thing to you very simply and truthfully
and ask you not TO think i'll OF me or be
turned against me for it, 1t is this: |
like you very, very much and | honor
yOu | wish you would come and see
fc ny Vb q hpr
YOU NAV not like me. | know have few
attractions on slight acquaintance or In
frequent meetings. But | have a good,
true heart, mind not unstored by much
good reading and such virtues OF charac-
ter as have been able TO gain my daily
sincere effort. These are the best at
fractions, If only there can be acquain-
lance. If you will come TO see me stead
ily enough 10 know me you shall not be
hound in the least II you do not in
cline TO me there will be no blame no
harm"
(The magazine young man being
high minded" was touched and deeply
moved.O
We'll. of course all that is a tri1e too
English-at once too priggish and too
humble, But with notifications and
improvements, She had her little
speech all ready. Il began: Tom, |
don't know whether you have noticed
Tom came. It may have been that he
gave no evidence of a high minded
mood. but the difficulty Of bringing In
that little speech was really astonishing.
Twice she attempted it. and twice failed.
How curious and anOying that her heart
would beat in that ridiculous way! And
Tom persisted in talking about the
"Mikado" reviva, and the Masonic Tenn
pie roof garden AT last she suggested a
stroll up the drive.
There was q three-quarters moon
flooding the lake with silvery light in
the most approved fashion. She nerved
herself:
Tom, p
One moment" broke in Tom, do you
mind if l smoker"
He lighted a cigarette. They talked
about the weather.
Tom, don't know whether you have
noticed"
Your new cycling get-up."
yes"
"Of course l have. Passed you in the
park yesterday. It's first rate. Did you
see that girl in the bloomers?'
They discussed wheels then golf balls,
afterward summer plays and Ada Re-
han. Presently Tom said he was aw-
fully sorry, but he had an appointment
with fellow on some political commit
tee business, and they walked home
rather quickly.
It was odd that it should be so difficult
wasn't it?