Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-11-20
Some Observations.

"Oh for a man!-any kind of 6
mani" is not the heart cry of al
young women. There are some of the
sex who, much as they desire to "set
tie down in life," have too much good
sense to jump at the first man who Of
fers himself in marriage, irrespective
of his moral character or financial
standing. Among these are consd-
Nerable number of the leading society
girls of Plymouth, Mass, who have or
ganized themselves into society for
mutual protection against worthless
members of the opposite sex.
The organization was prompted by
an incident that occurred last summer.
| A young man summering at Plymouth
became engaged to one of the pretty
little Puritans there, and their mar
riage was thought to be one of the
futures surest promises. But to the
utter amazement and great shock of
the good townspeople dark beauty
turned up one day, claimed the pros
pective bridegroom as her husband
ard took him away with her.
The shocked young woman who had
thought herself soon to be married
collapsed at the revelation and was
very i'll for long time. She had
friends in town and about the country
side, and some of them, remembering
for their part the evanescent character
of the wooing of summer men, quietly
banded together for mutual protection.
No member will tell who another
member is; no one will hardly admit
that she is a member, but still the So
ciety does exist and no one can say
how many have been the unhappy
marriages which it has prevented.
To be member of the society one
must be between II and 80 years Of
age 1t is during this period of life,
say the young ladies, that one Is most
apt to be sought by swains, sincere
and otherwise, and so needs protection.
Meetings are held at stated intervals,
or a member can call special meet
ing if she wishes that the others may
consider some special case.
The method of looking into the char
acter of a young man is simple, The
society holds one of its stated meet
ing and each young woman who has
swain of whom she is at all doubtful
gives his name and as many particu-
lars as she deems desirable to the
club. All is held in strict secrecy. A
committee is appointed from among
those present, and then commences an
investigation. Woe to the man who
has been engaged an broken it off
without good cause, to him who runs
off to Boston-to "ths city," as they
call it-and puts poison into his mouth
to steal away his brains, or to him
who is mixed up in any matrimonial
Quietly inquiries are made, and
when by half a dozen curious young
women there are not many stones left
one may be sure. Then at
the next meeting the young women
come together with their judgments
formed. That no one may know just
who does the blackballing, should any
be necessary, ballots are dropped into
a hat, as at any club, and then read
by the president. While the commit
tee works together as a whole, still in
dividual members may find something
alone, and it is on the result of these
findings that the young mans chances
rest.
Drinks and swears," "Was engaged
to two girls at once" Has been di-
Has no money" and "a sa-
loon loafer" are some of the workings
Of the little cards which are tossed in
to the box.