The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-09-20
A Curious Social Difficulty

SUPPOSE said the bachelor.
tits all right to abuse men for
remaining single Till they ara
bald headed and not marrying and hav-
ms happy home and keeping soxae
! sweet woman from dying a lonely old
maid But there is something TO be
said on both sides OF that question 10
you think l remained "a bachelor be-
cause ! preferred my own selfish ease
| and freedom 10 the love OF a wife and n
companionship that would give me in
spiration and happiness? Not at all
Listen. No man likes ladies' society
better than l do. II had my way I
confess / would have been married long
ago-that is. if l could have found the
only woman. But among all the thou
sands OF nice girls in this great city I
have never found her
II will tell you why. came here af-
teen years ago a youth Of twenty Nv
mother and two sisters were intsllec-
| tual. cultivated women. One sister. IN
deed. was brilliant Morally they were
OF a high type and sweet tempered and
gentle in their ways They were and
are my ideal OF womanhood Partfcu-
larry ! have always worshiped women
| of brains because ] am fond OF iitera-
! ture and of intellectual culture. I had
| my dreams in those days Of the only
woman. First, she should be an intel
lectual. highly cultivated girl because
/ craved intellectual sympathy as well
as good comradeship which should last
/ learned these ideas from my mother.
thought other women were like her.
thought other girls were like my sis
tiers.
Il had my own way TO make without
the slightest help from outside infiu-
ence. but I knew ] was capable, and Z
was determined The first year I gave
so much time 10 mastering my work
that was too tired at night 10 20 any
where. 1 worked holidays. on Sundays
took walks alone or attended vespers
in the churches. always alone. Yes.
did long for ladies' society. bright, ner.
~ girls who knew something as we'll
love music. l was fond OF dancing. 1
am fond Of all the social outdoor ath-
letic games 10 this day: but. again.
was alone. There was the Y. NJ e. A
an admirable organization. but the ac-
Guaintance OF girls was not 10 be bad
through II. All the girls ! met were
those who hirt and make acquaintanees
on the streets.
After two years Some gentlemen
who had come 10 know me introduced
me In their clubs and stood sponsor for
me. They were kind and also intro
duced me 20 their wives and sisters
But it's curious. do you know The Ia
dies OF cluhmen's families belong al
most invariably 10 the set that cares for
dress and fashion more than for any
thing else. They are gay. bright and
pretty and exquisiteiy gowned. bu; in
teIIectusI with thought for the deeper.
higher side OF nfe-no. Disappointed
again
AT last found where the ladies'
keep themselves who TO my mind rep
recent the best class OF women. those
whom / really desired 20 know. They
are the ones who DO things-profsa-
sional women and thoe. Of the musical.
literary and artistic class. Ane they
we're almost without exception working
for their living All day and staying
home evenings 20 rest for next day or
else because they. llke me on my
side had no agreeable acquaintance
OF the opposite sex These arc the wo-
men Of brains. the college graduates,
the writer's the thinker. the sinKsra.
the students 81 hfe. Buf how 90 meet
them The fashionable ladies' did not
interest me. a1d not interest fh=rn.
They drlffed or 10 their 0un KIND
We all have our oEn. bat ws cannot
always End f.
Il don't think 7 should BE- affogs; ksg
dlzsgreeAbie 70 lssies.~ sail the bacns-
lor. STRENGTHENING himself ard his neck
tie. but the ladies =hon I aish -
meet are about as FAR away frorn ms
a. heaven. They are not TIE Kind Sho
20 into societv fugch they are too
busy with mere Important z7affsrs.
Neither are they the kind 20 seek rnera
pick uus q r1sa aoq1airfances they
know their oen worth zoo esI Tss-
sides. 70 would take a pretty nifr fsllo~
70 az ne bllI Nf,h fbers- But ! haea
no doubt fhsFe sre hgnfrets arsoaE
fhose that consider TIE hesf elass II
women who srs Eifasfe1 lust a. asn
They lie nsen. probably. bgf circ1r.-
stances pen theru - 70 Themselves.
sn1 they i've ard a. staEis
AZ ;0r rngself hs4s uot Tsf foare
a way 20 nseef ne iafies whom Z aisa
% knoz. KATHERINE BLADFza