The age-herald., 1898-08-07

know if as a rule, they are happily mar ried.
 While no such harsh measures prevail in this country, there is no doubt that the finger of scorn is all too frequently point ed at the old bachelor. There is really an unjust discrimination between him and the old maid. The latter, a rule, seems to have her place in the world which she fills we'll with suitability and energy. She Is "auntie' to innumerable small children, and she goes about among relatives and friends doing good. Of course it is admit ted with smile that she is an old maid, but depreciatingiy and with great show of delicacy and consideration for her feel ings and with an alleviating remark some thing like this pear Miss Matda-5 od know her lover was killed in the War-or, Miss Matilda used to be a great beauty and belle, you know" or, Isn't 1t strange dear Miss Matilda never maIredY Sae has had so many splendid opportunities But no such balm this is offered the old bachelor. Sometimes even his appear ance is greeted with 70, mercy! thers comes old Brown Isn't he the biggest crank you ever saw?
 For some reason when man does not marry by the time his interested relatives and friends think he should, it is taken for granted that it is because he is too selfish. Frequently quite the contrary is the case. There is many a man who has hesitateo to ask a woman to share poverty with nim and while he hesitated some other man quite as poor has stepped in and carried off the prize. Such hesitation may snow lack of enterprise, but is not the sort of thing to hold up against man. Then some men are unfortunate and cannot marry the woman they love, so do not i-arry at all Such cases, 1t must De ad-
 
 ascribe a romantic faithfulness to an I.rly love to the Miss Matildas, why not to the bachelors as well. Is 1t not possible that they, too, have an image enshrined so close ly in their withered old hearts that not even time dislodge it?
 Sometimes they have approached their lady loves with too great timidity when the courage and impetuosity of Davy Crock- ett or Lochinvar might easily have won the day. An amusing story is told Of Bis marck's wooing. He met his future wife at the wedding of a friend and fell at once desperately in love with her. Without vast Ing any time he wrote to the young wo- mans parents asking her hand in marriage. They were simple people living very quiet lives and shook their heads dubiously over this astonishing attack from the lively Bis marck As frequently happens, he was not the style of man to whom they had thought to marry their daughter. However, Frau lein von Puttkammer, the young woman Tn the case, intimated that she did not look upon the young man with disfavor, so her father wrote inviting him to come to see them Every one did their very best to give the visitor a suitable reception, the old folk putting on an air of great solemnity while the Fraulein stood with eyes modestly bent upon the ground. To the consterna- ton of every one, immediately upon allght- ing. Bismarck threw his arms around hls sweetheart's neck and embraced her viz orousy before any one had chance 10 tell him that it was not at all the proper or correct thing to do. The result, however was their immediate betrothal. In the light of his subsequent greatness we can LOOK with an eye of indulgence upon Prince Bis marck's extraordinary performance. But while certain amount of enthusiasm IS all very well, the princes course Is hardly to bo commended to the young men of the present day.
 We should be kind to the old bachelors. They have a hard time. Of course, they grow cranky 1insn as ,,a .,''to ~, | 9f,i.uG AVFno would not, with Ho@1 en.nK about live for or love but ohesS- self? Of course, they get little "set" in their ways and little intolerant of the opinions of other people which differ from