Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-02-11
MATCH MAKING.
The Dangers of Bringing About Matri.
monial Alliances,

monial Alliances.
"Of all infections" said young pro-
fessional man who has just had ON ex-
perience, deliver me from the match
maker. I feel myself competent to
struggle with most Of the ills Of life;
I have built up good business In the
face of what seemed impossible obsta-
cles, and have maintained my standing
and position, mentally, morally, physic-
ally, socially and financially, and have
looked after members of my family who
we're unable to look after themselves.
And all of this undertaking hasn't been
half so trying and perplexing as the
efforts of my friends to find me wife,
md the irritation Incident to my refusal
to accept the young woman when she
was found and placed as a tempting
bait before my eyes. have quarreled
with some of my boon companions, had
uupleasantnesses with O number OF my
closest friends, and have INDUCED in in
felicities, domestic and otherwise, when
exasperated and hurried past further
endurance. I have gently indicated to
the members Of my family and others
that a little light mental gymnastics in
the way of minding their own business
would be of untold benefit to their In
tellects and blessing unspeakable TO
me. And then there have been sharp
words and tears and reproaches, and I
have been made to appear ungrateful
and unappreciative because 1 really
wouldn't see what was best for me!
AS if man who has reached the age OF
40 years and has taken care of himself
at least half of that time, isn't capable
of Judging even the least little bit OF
what is good for him. In the first
place, am not specially anxious to
marry, and, In the second, I want to
make my own selection, unhampered
and unbiased by the views of anybody
else. Haven't I got to live with her?
And isn't my interest in the matter al
together ahead Of that of anyone else?
It seems so to me, and yet people will
persist in forcing upon my attention
ladies' whom would, under no circum'
stances, think of for moment IN such
a relation.
''One of my best friends, q lady In
whose family have for years been al
most as much at home as in my own
dwelling, made up little party, few
months ago, for weeks trip through
the Adirondacks. When everything
was settled, indeed just as we were
about to start, I learned, for the first
time, that my special comrade was
Young woman to whom I had shown
some attention the season before, but
whose intimate acquaintance I had
dropped for reasons not at oil reflect
ing upon her, but simply because was
Just little weary of some OF her Pc
culiarlties, For moment l was In
clined to give up the outing, the more
so as my friend was fully aware OF my
feelings toward the young woman, but
did not in the least sympathize with
them. She liked her and determined to
throw US together and literally force q
proposal. Indeed, afterward learned
that she had said she would have US en-
gagged before we were back again.
'sWeu, the long and short Of it was we
were not only engaged, but such des-
perate efforts were made to put me In
o position where could not IN COM
mon reason refuse to propose to the
girl that 4 was thoroughly Disguised,
and haven't seen my friends since our
little Journey ended. And / care very
little il we never meet again. Match
makers have need Of the greatest skill
and adroitness in order to avoid bung-
ling. And such skill is possessed by
very few persons in this aeddlesome
world. 1t therefore behooves the aver
age Individual to be very wary OF trying
to force the inclihations OF those be-
tween whom they desire to establish
matrimonial alliances, Love Ia easily
led, but never driven, a fact that q great
many would-be match-makers never
sao,,, {o realize IN Y. Ledger,