The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-06-09
Many Fine Women Would Not Remain Un-
married II Custom Were Changed.
YOUNG WOMEN MUCH TOO DIFFIOENr.
Mrs. Lille 0svGsux eIaks Believes That Fair
womsn OF Wealth Should Take Tho Initiative
Sometimes Mrs. Sianions Views.

New York, June 9.--Dr. Hartland Law
OF San Francisco, Who has been lee
turing at the Berkeley Lyceum for tn,
last two days on Higher Physical Con
ditions," believes that women should
propose as well as men.
He thinks that men have had 10,
much of a monopoly, and that il Is
| about time TO enter upon a new de.
| parture.
Dr. Laws views have created "a stir
In feminine circles, for he declared in
his lecture that so many fine women
would not be unmarried IL the custom
of the men popping the question
were not so strong.
Now this conventional method, -
! sald DR.. Law to "A correspondent "of
men proposing Is all right up to "A GER
tain point. but the women are not get
ting fair show. Every young woman
VINO believes that a man would make
a good husband. and that he would be
fine father should have the right TO
propose to him. OF course. some girls
90. but there are many whose shyness
prevents them from taking the step
Members OF the gentler sex should
cast aside conventionalties many times.
l believe that II IL were understood that
women should proposals well as men,
there would be fifty per cent more
marriages. Also, ] believe that the
marriages would be happier. II the wo-
men proposed rather than the men IN
many instances, for woman's instinct
is great factor. Men may make mis-
takes. but women do so rarely.
My wife occasionally says To me:
Don't YOU have anything TO do with
that man. / may have associated con-
siderably with him. but / soon discover
that my wife is right"
Mrs. Lille Devereux Blake is in
clined To believe that DR.. Laws posi-
tion on the subject OF popping the ques-
tion is a good one i'm certain cases.
The trouble with some OF our finest
young women" said she TO me- 'is
that they are 50 afraid OF being misun-
derstood that they do not give suffi-
cient encouragement to young men
Naturally IL would be very distressing
To girl To have a young man feel that
she wants him To marry her when he
may not be I'm love with her. But there
are many cases where the girl is So
difiident that she will not give sufficient
announcement To young man.
Take the case of a wealthy young
woman who Is admired by poor young
man. He is worthy man. but his
pride prevents him from asking for the
hand of the wealthy girl. Why should
not the young woman propose
Many of the sweetest and loVeliest
young women are too shy. Their diff
dence is mistaken by young men for
coldness. These young ladies should
overcome their undue shyness and give
NOR encouragement TO the men,"
Mrs. Elizabeth Cady stanton also be-
lieves that women should have the con-
right To propose as well as
men. She thinks that generally speak
ing. members OF the fair sex can and
do pop the question with their eyes,
and in many other coy ways, without
the formality OF words.
Women. who before" said she.
should be independent and not de- |
pendent. We should stand equal with |
the men i'm everything. If woman |
should have house and bank ac- |
count then she would have n perfect |
right To propose. | believe that all wo- |
men should try To be sef-supporting.
II there should be more independence !
IF spirit women would not occupy the |
Inferior position that they do. But for /
4 woman without Independent means \
20 propose is simply a case of a person |
asking another TO clothe. feed and I
house her