The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-25

"Thls year." says the Sun. "will be
made memorable by the occurrence OF
the twenty-eighth election of the presi-
dent Of the United States. 1t has opened
also with threats and dangers OF war in
both the New and the Old World; but
It has q further and q sentimental dis
tinction which in these days more es-
pecially gives to 1t special interest. The
year 1896 is leap year. when, according
to tradition, II Is permissible for women
to make proposals of marriage to men.
instead Of waiting, as in ordinary years.
for the men to PROFOUND to them the
momentous question. How far women
actually take advantage of this oppor-
tunity afforded by leap year is not dis
coverable from statistics, nor can 1t
be found out in any other way open to
the philosopher. Matters of that sort
are of a delicacy which prevents all
self-respecting men and women from
relating publicly the details OF their oc-
currence. We read in novels and see
upon the stage specimens and methods
Of love.making and marriage propos-
ais. but they are imaginary and ficti-
tious The particulars OF the betrothal
Of men and women in actual life are
not disclosed for the satisfaction OF vul-
gar curiosity. Hence. whether the pro-
posal Is ever made formally by the wo-
man rather than the man, and, If the
inversion of the usual method OF pro-
cedure occurs, how often 1t takes place.
cannot be known. A man who receives
such flattering demonstration of femi-
nine preference and boasts of 1t, or 9TH
erwise violates the sacred confidence
in which such confession was made,
IL a wholly contemplate fellow, whose
word no one would take.
"a letter from young woman of
Poughkeepsie, published in the Sun the
other day. suggests. however that the
traditional privilege enjoyed by women
in leap year Is seriously regarded by
some. II not many, of them, for the
writer must be- taken as representative
OF feminine feeling to greater or less
extent. Four years ago she looked on
leap year with amusement only, she
says. 1t never occurred to her to i'm
prove It's peculiar privilege; but now
~ the graver age Of twenty-elgh she
acknowledges, 1t no longer seems fun
ny to her. She Is disposed to take
advantage of the liberty of proposing
marriage which 1t allows her. She Is
willing herself to PROFOUND the mo-
mentous question, but she asks US for
counsel as to the proper. advisable, and
most probably successful method of do
ing It. She wants to know whether she
should beat around the bush or put the
question directly and plumply. and If
there Is not danger that In case the man
Nn{n n1 1a,. La nj
rage her feelings and betray sacred
confidence by telling Of her revela-
tion. .
I'VE are obliged to confess that there
IL that danger, SO far as concerns many
men. The novelty of the proceeding
might induce them to describe 1t. The
probability also Is that for the same
reason she would be more nkely to suf-
fer the modification of a rejection than
to enjoy the satisfaction of an accept
ance. Long custom and the very ma
ture of man induce In him preference
for taking the lead on such an occasion.
according to his own fallacious concep-
ton. He desires to appear to himself
as the active love maker. He wants to
feel that he has conquered the heart Of
the girl In an engagement In which he
was the aggressor. Practically he de-
ceives himself. Instead Of winning a
heart he loses heart. The final pro-
posal does not come from the woman,
but the affection which provoked 1t
was cultivated and stimulated by her.
Love first warmed her heart, and, with
feminine art inherited from Eve herself
and brought to the highest. finest, and
NOSE delicate perfection during the
many thousands Of years Of it's cultiva-
tion by women, she kindles q responsive
emotion in his breast. Thus 1t may be-
said that both in leap year and in all
years women virtually make the pro-
posal. They lead up It. They incite
It, They arrange the circumstances ia
vorable for 1t. They smooth the way
to it. They suggest 1t to the man, un-
less he be conceited fellow so far
confident Of his supposed destinations
that he invites his deserved rejection
by thrusting his unwelcome advances
on the woman. The mother of a girl
will often assist her in this warfare on
a masculine heart, employing in her be-
half the most consummate strategy.
-
women. 1t casts upon them no injur-
ious reflection. 1t is rather a glorious
tribute to them. They are the source
and fountain of the tenderest and most
ennobling sentiment which controls
mankind. They give to existence a po-
etical color. Nor do we mean to imply
that consciously and deliberately they
set out to provoke a proposal. They
only follow instinct and obey the law
Of their being without studied consid-
Grafton of the methods they pursue,
unless they be veterans at the business
in whom artlflce has come to dominate
nature. They cannot help it. They
are made SO. In the field of love they
are the real conquerors Men may de-
lude themselves with the notion they
they are the winners, but really they
are the vanquished. Instead of pur-
suing they are the led. Instead of be-
ing primary they are only secondary
In that gentle quest and encounter
Women have the mastery there and not
men. The captives are men and not
women. The victory is the womans
and not the mans. After his subju-
CATION the man has the privilege of
pleading for mercy, and, thank God!
he gets 1t from feminine grace, little as
he NAV be deserving of II He can o,,lt,