The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-03
How a Mere Man Would
Choose d Sweetheart

IL isn't often we allow mere men to
encroach on our woman's page. but
since. somehow. they are necessary
eVils, ana appear to be dear to some
OF us. the story OF how one OF them
would choose a sweetheart IS given in
his own words:
Does a man ever marry his ideal
girl? can't quite remember the date
when my ideal girl first began TO stand
out distinctly in my mind. but think il
was when ] was twenty-five. She was a
heroine of book I read. She was the
most adorable creature ever pictured.
her hair was a golden bronze. fine. silky.
glossy. and long. No hair but this kind
ever appealed TO me. At first her eyes
were gray, but / changed them to a
sKy-oiue. because i discovered that that
sort is the most innocent and sirIish.
she was very thin. just a little armful
that 1 could pick up. Her hands were
small. slender, and very pink. and her
Ieet were just big enough for baby
shoes.
She could be childlike and pleading
tender and womanly. cheerful and in
dustrious. self-reliant and strong q
Joan OF Arc and a baby by turns.
imagined her in times of plenty sitting
at my feet like a child wife: in times
OF munger turning out huge beefsteak
pudding; in the springtime. securing the
mouse from top to bottom; a ministerino
angel in sickness. the fairest OF the fair
at dance; timid when ! felt strong
Drawny when my confidence was low.
That was the sweetheart / chose. and
having thus set her up-a creature of
beauty. wit, and work-the next thing
was TO find her and marry her.
met a girl with golden-bronze hair
put she was tall; so. without considering
her further. | tried again. Soon 1 was
introduced TO one with Just the slight
figure and appealing blue eyes Of nv
ideal. '
Her hair was rusty red. and when I
imagined her at my hearth 1 closed the
acquaintance
strangely enough, within a week I met
q girl who might have been the twin sis
ter of the last, with this difference-she
had The exact golden-b bronze hair of my
ideal. / was Overjoyed. L loved her as
soon as set eyes on her hair and face.
but ] hesitated when 1 saw her hands
and feet. They were large-hugei How
could kiss and fondle hands like those?
We parted
Since then I have met many girls who
were nearly like my ideal. but not salts
factory. Those who were tender and
childish could not cook or mend; those
who could cook and mend were big and
practical One of them l nearly became
engaged to. She was pretty, slight. all
wished but for one thing-or, rather
tWo-her eyes were a pale red. Many
times looked into them. trying to make
up my mind if j could accept them IN
place OF blue. If / never looked into
them excepting at twilight we might be
happy, / thought; but supposing some
time in the morning sunshine ] took that
small face between my hands and looked |
for two blue eyes. to be met by pale red |
onesi / dare not risk it.
At twenty-nine my bronze-haired. /
blue-eyed ideal is but a memory; and /
I'm afraid II / met her now, radiantly
perfect. l should not suffer a heart |
Lbrob
Another mas taken her place. One day 4
a medium-sized girl came along-a girl
with brown hair, brown eyes, a CHEEKY.
gocd-fellow laugh and heart bursting /
with affection. She had laughed me into !
liking her very much.