Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1902-01-16

/ wherefore, lDueeu, mas the woman
between 80 and 40 come to dominate
the stage, the authors brain and steal
the hearts of menY In great measure,
and naturally because the modern man
prefers AS a wife the woman who knows
her world.
Fifty years ago, and back OF that,
when the man married young, he took
a wife who was his junior. She kept
house and looked after the babies, and
he was her providence, her guide and
her defender. Distinctly he married a
help-mate, who was the pioneer and
she walked in his footsteps. Today
men do not want TO marry working
partners, but companions. The aver
age man waits until he has made his
money, has had his fight with the
world alone, aud, having lived as an
independent bachelor, has a dominant
yearning for comfort says the Pitts
burg Leader.
The modern man is both lazy and
selfish when il comes 10 wedding. He
desires the joys and shirks the re-
sponsibilities OF matrimony, and this
Is where he turns TO the middle-aged
woman. She has lived long enough in
the world to know its requirements and
to learn its philosophy. She is not easily
jealous, is not whimsical, and is never
exacting. She has found out great
deal about men, and knows what rend-
ers mem happy. She does not talk to
servents, run up bills, quarrel with her
husbands mother nor insist upon ce-
ing considered and entertained every
moment. She keeps house like a vet
eran, she believes that little absences
make the heart grow fonder, and does
not therefore. forbi her husbands an
nual shooting or fishing trip with his
masculine friends.
With the man OF to-day these are
the true matrimonial delights, and his
heart is laid at the feet OF he woman
who, by instinct he feels will give him
just that sweet sympathy and true
friendship that leaves him, after ALL as
free as during his bachelor days, yet
with the ties, affections and dignties
Of the married state.
These reasons, however, cogent as
they undoubtedly are, do not fnlly ex-
plain why the middle.aged woman has
taken the young girls place at the al
tar and freside. The underlying cause
can be found in the young women
themselves. Their education, their |
ambitions and their opportunities
bring4orth at the marriagable ages Of
Is and 20, hysterical, self-centered,
cold and imperious young goddesses.
The schools and colleges teach them
Greek and the higher mathematics,
but they don't turn out the materials
from which sweethearts and wives are
made. The romance, the subtle charm |
Of womanliness, the gift Of sweet sym
patty, all have been successfully elm
mated In order to make way for high |
or mental cultivation The modern |
young woman is hard, ignorant OF do
nestle economy and above all OF mas
culine nature. In self-defense the |
man has turned to her matured sister
OF 30 or Whereabouts. To men there is
neither poetry, elusiveness nor mys-
terry about the young girl of his time.
She is amusing like a clever, conceted
pretty boy and as much fun; but she is
"A crude nand in the house, anu all her
culture and golf have not taught her
an exquisite understanding of the mas
culine nature and its needs. that the
sentimental heroines of the old ro-
ma cys knew, and the tactful trained
woman OF 80 now realizes and practices