Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-14
HE NEVER PROPOSES.
TYPE OF THE MAN WHO BRINGS
EMBARRASSMENT TO WOMEN.
DRAWS The MAID FROM Her RESERVE
Proceeds at Once to Gain Her Anec-
ton, Though Never for Moment
Intending to Resign His bachelor
ship-The Methods He Employs.
Baltimore American)

VI all the OlSdETttdhle men lildL pIoNt
the earth the one who contributes most
eagerly to the discomfort Of any girl with
a proper amount OF pride Is probably he
who courts and courts. and never pro-
poses When first introduced he Is just
like his fellows, only, perhaps, trliie
more attentive, and the coy maiden j.
drawn out of her shy reserve, and mace
TO assume n frankness OF bon camarade-
RE with him she has, perhaps. never
even evinced toward the luclSess indlvid-
ual who "cut off his own head by bring
ing about the initial meeting. He-this
monster in human guise. whom the
world terms a confirmed bacheor'-is.
apparently, charmed with the sweet girls
graces, and proceeds al once to gain her
affection by all manners Of confections,
such as would appeal to even woman
Of adamant will, followed by flowers Of
the most costly and fragrant varieties
the newest books. and every other appro-
pirate trhe he can conceive. until my
lady simply doesn't know where she us
at" and being daZzled by the amount 81
what she deems alteration, concludes tine
man. is simply gone" and sits back
with a self-satisfed sigh 10 await the pro-
posal But strangely enough. 1t iails
to GOMEZ Her cavalier escorts her 10
dances and marks his name over the
programme with an extravaganza that
leaves only a slight margin for other sig
natures. and is the quintessence OF
watchfulness when there is "A chance t.
get possible ices, or punch. He calls fire.
Guently: indeed. with such never-iall-
ing regularity that even the watchdog
learns his self-confdent tread, and dis
cusses every known subject from ante
deluvian bits Of gossip down 20 the latest
news Of the day, but always managing 10
avoid any direct sentiment, although
casting amorous glances, which cause
the girl TO feel that he loves her. al
though she has no corroboration of the
fact.
UNJUST TO THE GIRL.
Months pass. and he is just the same
outwardly devoted person as Of yOre. bur
the object Of his attentions has suffered
Dv this selhshness, for other men, VINO
formerly surrounded her with the circle
|. Of masculine homage at all functions
have gradually Withdrawn, under the i'm
preston that she is engaged 10 this cred-
ture. who. when he is taxed with it, only
laughs. and SAYS he will never marry.
Yet. he is fond of the girl, and would be
kcenly wounded if she grew desperate at
this Gallying. and married some one else.
Her society is especially pleasant TO him,
but he will not ask her 10 be his wife,
simply because ne is too utterly selfish
ever 10 sacrifice his much-bcoved bache-
lorship for what he believes u manly 10
call a mere sentiment. He is not really,
honestly. i'm love with the maiden
though. for he never realizes what morti
hcation and pain it will be to her when
the day of parting comes. tie wants
merely. TO go on with this friendship ale
WAYS. and at some future date this bum
die OF self-absorption will have TO be-
/ take himself of. and leave behind an old
maid with autumn tnts i'm the face where
/ the flowers Of spring once blOOmed; or
! else he solves the problem of at once
| possessing her love. and yet retaining
his freedom by "A conditional proposal,
/ which comforts my lady.
This does not include, Of course, the
brilliant men Of genius. who, being err
ratio prefer living alone 10 affecting any
/ woman with their yagaries-nOt knowing
! il is for these very eccentricities the wO-
man loves them-but the class Of "mcdl-
/ ocrites" who. whether rich, well-to-do,
| or poor. refrain from marriage, not be-
| cause they feel unworthy Of such n sol
! emn undertaking, but because they 40
/ not care To take the attendant trouble.
| Some of them. il IS true feel themselves
/ that Il seems absurd TO suppose girl
would be willing to assume the YOKE
] with one Of them, and, not wishing 10 be
! rejected remain silent. while the loved
crieves out her life at not being allowed
/ the opportunity of telling how sweet each
! characteristic trait would be TO her, for
/ only the specimen of femininty who is
/ herself commonplace and small-mindei
/ admires a man whose prototype con-
/ fronts her at each street corner, the girl
! of intellect and worthy the cOmradeship
/ of a noble man bestowing her affection
/ on one who is 'Out OF the ordinary
SHOULD BE LET ALONE.
| The man under discussion is not ne
who does not propose because he cannot
/ afford il. nor he who. meaning nothing
more than 4 platonic friendship, makes
a companion Of a girl, and yet voices no
word of love. for such an affection is al
ways a pleasure To both, but the one who
/ monopollzes all the best years Of a girls
| life by seemingly ardent attentions, ana
vet never asks her 10 become more imam
| his nancee. sun, there Is lurking
chance that the girl is, I'm measure, 10
blame. since. after period OF Twelve
months Of constant cOurtship, she should
terminate the acquaintance. II she mo
roughly believes she IS not TO become
Mrs What-ever-his-name- OF
course IL would be utterly absurd for
any girl To- fix a definite limit within
which n man wLo is in love with her
should propose. but reason has "a not-to-
/ be-soueIched way Of stealing In 10 the
/ mosr romantic thoughts. and she can
generally decide whether he really means
/ husincss. or is only da.lying. She should
intimate TO him i'm a delicate manner that
She does not approve Of long engage
I ments.
And even If he decides on the two
evils and prefers her to his bachelor
shin She had best consider long and ear
nestly before consentinS 10 snare MS
troubles. for a man who had proved uh-
Trustworthy would prove "a VERY on
comfortable person 10 live with
\ girl who really loved would consider
novertv but an incentive 10 marriage
since she could help him save, and be so
economical: and the man who fingers out
! side the gate of lovers lane because ne
4 is moor makes the error of his life, ana
il also. unjust TO the adorable creature
| who longs 10 be to him a veritable help
| meet.
The confirmed bachelor however Is de-
serving Of no such joys. and, IN answer to
The Output question, How should WO-
man act when he either will not or Is
| afraid TO propose? ii Is we'll TO advise
| thar ne be let alone; for no womanly wO-
nan would ever stoop TO bring about an
! engagement, and no true man ever fear
ed no acknowledge to his divinity that she
| WAS such.