Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-06-22
|REPLYTO PERSONALS
SOME INTERESTING EXPERIENCES IN
THIS LINE.
Sometimes Happy Marriages and Valuable
Friendships Are the Outgrowth Of News
paper Notioes-What Student In So
] GEOLOGY Says About It.

Friendships Are the OutgrOWtn VI Nowu-
paper Notices-what . Student In So
GEOLOGY Says About It.
Even the most intelligent and conserva-
tive of us occasionally glance over per
sonals" with q certain curious interest.
Many Of them so obviously bear the
stamp of naivete and genuineness that
they set us to wondering what there can
be abnormal in the temperament or envi-
ronment of individuals to make them re-
sort to this peculiar method Of extending
the range of their acquaintance.
The motives for answering these per-
sonals are various. Oftener than not IL
Is merely curiosity, with perhaps o coy
and sequestered hope that one may posi-
bly, thus chance upon the souls affinity.
And then there are always romantic and
hysterioal young women who dote upon
anything that savors Of mystery, while
newspaper reporters and students Of hu-
man nature have resorted to this method
of COLLECTING material" from time inn
memorial.
Several unique and interesting results
of these peculiar advertisements have &C.
cidentally come within the range of my
own personal knowledge.
In one Of the suburban towns of Boston
three young schoolgirls, their hair still in
braids down their backs, met one evening
at one of their homes to study their lessons
for the following day. AS they were drawn
up around the dining room table chance
newspaper caught their attention and
seemed to interest them more than their
Latin grammars. Glanoing down the col
umns, they came upon one Of these weird
personals, and, prompted by spirit of
mischief, they decided to answer 1t. AS
result Of their correspondence they made
an appointment to meet the unknown in
dividual under a certain tree at O'Clock
the following Saturday afternoon.
Considerably before the hour appointed
these three giggling girls were safely in
stalled at their point of vantage and near
ly screamed with laughter when they saw
approaching somewhat pedagogical look
ing man with book under his arm, the
sign agreed upon. They watched him
pace impatiently up and down for the
space Of half an hour or more and then go
away quite detected. So a little note OF
explanation ,.s to the cause OF detention
and a renewed appointment gave them
repetition of their amusement. They con-
tinSed their correspondence until they be-
came a little anxious as to how they were
going to Withdraw from it, and still more
anxious as to what might happen to them
in case they were detected. So, partly to
relieve themselves from further response
bility and partly for the huge joke of the
thing, they gave their correspondent the
name and address Of typical, prim New
England old maid, q member of the church
which they attended, as the person to
whom he had been writing.
The beautiful denouement of the whole
adventure was that the object of their
base deceit went, saw and conquered.
And ON the day that the ancient spinster
fiuttered up the church aisle in the white
muslin and blue ribbons to the tune of
the wedding march the three gay young
girls sat together on back seat and Sc
cretly gloated over the hilarious result of
their audacious prank.
1 once knew an unusually bright and
clever young woman who while In col
lege, answered an attractively worded per
sonal, signed by mans name, and desir-
ing only an entertaining lady correspond
emit" Letters passed back and forth with
ever increasing frequency and interest.
Leading events of the day, recent develop
ments in science, art and literature We're
ly free and easy manner possible only to
the untrammeled scope of the impersonal
personal letter. The intercourse finally be-
came sufficiently intimate for the per
sopal' to confess that it was a woman;
that she, being an invalid and temporarily
ostracized from all but dull people, and
desiring soma fresh, young, intelligent in
terest in her life had taken this means Of
securing It, The experience led to sim
oere and lasting friendship, and the older
woman, being wealthy, was pleased to ex-
tend many kind and graceful attentions
to her young friend.
DR.. Arthur Macdonald Of Washington,
who has made special studies in sociology,
abnormal types, etc., has published book
upon "Some Women Who Answer Per
sonals." In this work DR.. Macdonald
publishes letters from about 100 different
women who have answered personals
which he has had inserted in the principal
papers Of large cities for the sake Of pur-
suing an empirical Investigation Of what
he considers abnormal women.
His first advertisement read as follows:
gentleman Of high social and university
position desires correspondence-acqu
ance not necessary-with young, educated
woman of high social and financial posi-
tion. No agents; no triaers; must give
detailed account Of life. References re-
CURED"
This letter, unsensational as 1t Is In
character, brought shoals Of answers.
There were some letters from intellec-
tual, college bred women who were evil
IDENTIFY studying along the same lines as
DR.. Macdonald and wanted to add to
their collection of mental curiOs,