The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-26
THIS MORNINGS GOSSIP

Girls, supposing that it ever did come to pass that woman did the proposing, wouldn't it be delicious to see the marked improvement there would be in the gem eral behavior of men? says Dorothy Dix in the Atlanta News. You see they would be so afraid of not getting any proposals that they'd be on their best behavior all the time.
 Think of the excitement when a rich heiress appeared on the scene.
 Heretofore 1t has been mans privilege to lead girl to believe that he meant to propose to her, and when 1t came to the point to fold his tent like an Arab. and silently steal away" leaving the girl to break her heart or wear the willow in any way she pleased.
 It might dc some men good if the tables were turned and little heartache and disappointment were meted out to them.
 If women did the proposing 1t would be interesting to watch the men, who would get the most attention.
 Some of them. of course would become unbearably conceited.
 And some of those who are most con oeited now would be the most astonished men in the world
 The indifferent man would be driven to distraction, because indifference always has great charm for woman, and she'd be very attentive to him just to find out wherein lay the root and charm of his in- difference.
 At dances the men would learn how it feels to be a wall flower.
 The poor, shy man who finds 1t im- possible to propose to woman would find 1t equally impossible to refuse her, and that type of bachelor would speedily become extinct.
 The man who is gentle and considerate In his manner toward women and treats them as though they knew something more than how to make beds and cake would be wildly popular and would be sure to marry his first season out.
 There Is one kind of man that wouldn't get q single proposal; and he's the man who never thinks it worth while to ex- plain things to women.
 Oh, there's no doubt about it. woman would get her revenge for generations of sights received from the lords of crea- ton.
 On what equal terms the old maid and the old bachelor would meet No longer would the former have to bear all the brunt of the jokes and criticisms.
 Personally, I think 1t would be a great mistake should 1t ever become customary for woman to propose.
 She would put too much heart and not enough head into the transaction.
 She would be continually losing her head over men who had no recommenda- ton save good looks and good clothes.
 Proposals would be as thick as black berries in August.
 No, woman has her own sphere, and she fills 1t well it is best she should stay in 1t.
 This, however, is merely one woman's view.
 There may be women who feel that the power of proposing would be safer in woman's hands than mans.
 And how about the men? I wonder what they would think of it.
 Wouldn't the boldest of men be embar- rassed and frightened speeches. if even the timidest mouse of a woman plucked up courage to propose to him?
 If he refused her he'd make a fine tale out of it when he rehearsed the scene to his friends, and if he accepted her he'd fling the fact in her face for the rest of their natural lives. but during the pro- posal he'd be as mild as milk.