The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-15
FOR FEMININE READERS
WHY MEN HESITATE TO OFFER
THEMSELVES IN MARRIAGE.
To Live or Not to Live VIII Be Dis
cussed by Next Federation Meet
fng-When Are We Happiest.

very clever man once said, 1--WE meet
many attractive women in society whom
we would fear TO make our wives" and
clever man has unconsciousy supplied
reason for this fearfulness on the part
of masculine society. by the assertion that,
women. like expresses, condemn to i'm
prisonment and hard labor nine-tenths of
mankind" says Catharine Ehrhart, in Bal
timore American.
If the author of the first remark had
elaborated on his text, and said that these
attractive women were clever witty and
often beautiful, he would have been as
sorting more than truth, and he also
would have been accenting the need OF
reason why the society man is afraid to
make the society woman his wife.
The average young man is not opposed
to matrimony. Indeed. he is quite hearty
with his congratulations when any of his
friends happen to take the important step
and that friend is quite likely to be re-
ferred to as a lucky chap" Yet there is
a lack of that quality which is said to be
the sincerest INSTRUMENTATION. He,
doubtless, has the same chances as the
lucky chap" yet there is an absolute abb
sence of any inclination to take advantage
of them. The truth is, he is afraid of be-
coming a part of the great army of man
kind which cruel woman condemns to hard
labor. And sad to say, he has grounds for
his fear. for the modern society girl is in.
deed a fearful thing when viewed as a
possession and a personal and financial
responsibility. 1t is quite possible that
she does not know how formidable she
really is, for if she realized that this for
midableness was endangering her matri-
mOnial chanceS-WlthOut any unkind in
situations regarding my lady's ambitions
IL Is just possible that she would endeavor
10 remedy the evil.
In the first place her demands are so
many and so expensive that it takes at
least small millionaire to cater 10 them,
and the young man of to-day, with few
exceptions, is not a millionaire, though he
may be one in course of time.
But before he reaches that pleasant state
there are little economies 10 be Observed
must be done to keep the expenses down,
and he thinks that the fair society girl,
reared in a home where the fortune has
been accumulated, accustomed to having
every desire and whim satisfied, is scarcely
a fit mate for the man the lower rounds
of the financial ladder.
And, after all, her expensive tastes are
merely tastes, mere fads and affections
which she seems to think necessary to
cover her true ideas and sterling worth.
or course, there may be a number of luxu-
my lady'S happiness, but ii is also true
that the majority of her Alterations which
make her appear like an expensive piece
of bric-a-brac fit only for the halls of the
very rich, are not of very great worth to
her in the game of life. For the average
American society woman, Notwithstanding
all her vanltieS, generally has good sense,
and brave heart is often hidden by the
fads and affections which she assumes in
the absence of more serious interests.
But the average man lacks intuition and
does not know this so while he acknowl-
edges the fair one is a good friend and
cOngenial companion, he is pre-eminentiy
conscious of her many eXtravagances, and
this consciousness prevents him from TAX
ing the step which he is sure will make
him a financial drudge
There is an old adage which says, when
want comes i'm at the door, love flies out
| OF the window. This saying, though 1t is
rather cynical may have some truth in it,
but il is also true that Cupid is very chary
about finding a home where fashion and
extravaganza have their names on the
doorplate. So the society man admires the
society woman and finds her congenial
companion, but. when the question of
matrimony is preached he thinks it is far
greater pleasure TO see some other man
lead the fair goddess, arrayed in costly
silks laces and precious stones, to the altar
than to perform that task himself. Per-
haps in his heart he would like to do so,
butts rather expensive.