The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-01-27

should nove. If 1t were not for leap year there Would be too much time lost with out a chance of regaining 1t. This error is corrected by the system of appointing every fourth year leap year. But to the home mind leap year means nothing more nor less than au additional day. setting to rights of time. a myste- rious adjustment of things, which comes once in four years.
 But connected with leap year there Is bit of sentiment. just as there is in other l anniversaries. And to the girl of the pe- riod, the girl who understands leap year, it has a significance which belongs to no other year.
 | Once upon time. Ions, years ago, when leap year first came in, there was so- ciety If ps1ple which called nself by | name which would mean the leap year society. They were merry makers and testers and they amused the court. Now, these merry-makers decided that leap year, because 1t had one more day than any other year. should be made remarka- ble in some way.
 The Sentimental Year. And one of them hit upon the idea of making the extra day day on which the young women of the society or clique could propose to the men. The proposi- ton was laughingly accepted, and one of the young women present, great beauty at the court, jestingly proposed to one of the courtiers. The knight accepted her hand with low bow and the wedding was celebrated that very night.
 The significance of leap year in this re- spect has been preserved, and there are communities in which the young women wait for the coming of this year in order that they may speak out to the men of their choice. The women propose and are accepted.
 Nor are such marriages unhappy. Hls- tory shows that when the man accepts, as he usually does. ,, the wedding takes place and the couple live happily ever afterward. The reason for this is that the woman, having won the man of her choice, loves him well and is contented ever after to abide by her own decision.
 There have been instances in history where women have proposed to men and have happily married them. And was there not that quaker maiden of Long fellows who proposed and was accepted? Elizabeth Haddon did not wait for leap year, but spoke her mind. and her lover, after thinking it over for a season. came back to tell her that he would accept the offer of her hand. The house and the green field still lie there at Haddonfield. mute testimony to the fact that coupe lived happily and died leaving a great deal of worth.
 Marriages Generally Happy.
 As rule the leap year marriage is a happy one. so experience proves simply for the reason that the woman feels that the marriage was of her own seeking and that she is in sense responsible for it, It was of her own making and she of ali others would make 1t come out right.
 The leap year girl is pretty girl usu- ally, for a homely girl would never be bold enough to propose, and as a wife she has certain advantages over other girls
 She is of a willing disposition.
 She is in love with the man she marrles or she would no thave proposed to him.
 He was her first choice, not her last choice
 She says T love him best of all." She does not say T took him as last resort for fear no one else would ask me-"
 Once married she tries to be happy, for she realizes that in case of failure the blame would come very largely upon her. self. She proposed and the marriage was of her own seeking.
 Should a woman propose and is the leap year girl justified in the course she takes?
 That is a question which Is variously answered There are people who think her a vulgar and forward young woman But there are others who regard her as the most womanly of women
 Should or should not a woman propose? :? The leap year girl says she can and should, and 1904 is the year in which she can do it.
 The leap year dance and the leap year party are now In style, and the leap year girl twill have abundant opportunity for proposing to the man of her choice.