Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-08-18
HER LITTLE MAN

Gus deSuetude We're II not for their
females. Paris, in particular. is the
paradise of the incompetent and lazy
good locker.
And, really, when young husband
brings lump sum equal to his wifes
dot, our American ideals may remain
shocked at his contented laziness, but
we find it hard to criticise with logic.
Pretty little Agnes B., for ex
ample, had a $4,000 marriage portion
from her mother and she was engaged
to Paul c..
DO you give her only s2o.000g''
asked Paul's mother. Make it $780,
900 and will give Paul the same"
Agnes's mother remained obdurate,
and Pau's refusing to make an I'M
equal bargain, the young folks start.
led life on $4,000 each in gilt edged
bonds, producing a joint income of
81 ,500-and here comes the point.
Paul had promised Agnes not to
work.
If / quit father and mother it will
not be to live my days alone" she
said, while to Paul she murmured.
you will rather be with me all day
than go out and make money!"
After marriage 1t was up TO Paul
to make good
But we have only $1,000 a year"
he argued, and being tempted of the
devil he accepted congenial situa-
ton at s25 per. And his young wife
fell sick of it.
His own mother was uneasy and his
mother-in-law scolded. His congenial
occupation ought to be to jolly Agnes.
Agnes grew anaenic, pinned, had head
aches and emotional anxiety.
In the end they had to spend $1,000
in travelling to get her health back.
Paul no longer works, and all is well.
No other country has anything like
this proportion of incomes from long
family accumulations, where breaking
into capital is considered crime. One
consequence is that women quite as
frequently as men may have their
own revenues.
Now, as Jules Simon pointed out,
the French married woman wishes,
above all, security for the enjoyment
of her little man" She fears change
and is an enemy to enterprise. A
French girl with $4,000 marriage por-
ton will certainly prefer husband
bringing the same or more-on condi-
tion that he be "serious"-say at
once, obedient.
But having a sure income of her
own of, say, $3.50, she will just as GER
tainly prefer an obedient young hus-
band earning $40 per week in a gov
eminent Office with short hours and
a moderate pension, to hustler who
might double or quadruple her CAPT.
tai And if she have $500 per year
she will still more certainly prefer an
obedient young husband earning moth
ing to a wonder of enterprise-who is
always at his office!
This explains the immense vogue
in France of those professions called
'of perfect repose." The phrase re-
professions seldom tempt men to risk
capital in uncertain investments; but
repose of body is no stranger TO their
walks. They are army officer, govern
,ment functionaly Zone French voter
in ten is a government functionary)
fbarrister, doctor, engineer and uni
,versity professor.
Engineers, either OF civil or mill
tary specialties or Of private enter
prises, are quoted high, but rather
special. Often they are men who
work. Sometimes they have oppor-
tunities to invest money advantage
ously 1t is a trifie too Uncertain, too
energetic, too masterful.
The mass of young Paris doctors,
barristers, functionaries, professors
and All army ofIicers-can be de-
pended on to make model French nus
bands. | knew the case of a young
doctor whose ambition is to write a
book ON the French watering places.
To my certain knowledge he has three
fine girls with ample marriage por-
lions chasing after him. The mother
of one said the other day;
q told INN ! would make Berthe's
portion s65000 and pay my own ex-
penses if he would agree on his word
of honor that | should go with them. :"
"A dream OF happiness!" her Cos
sip replied, Your only daughter
pigeonholed; a swell sonin-law, with
nothing to do, always beside you"
And the relations, my dear--think
of his relations tShe referred to his
professional relations) We would
fit from one watering place to an
other, hotels at half price, douehes
and inhaiatons for nothing, jump inn
mediately into the best medical sets OF
Vichy, Bourboulle. Uriage ContreXe-
vile, Vittel, Plombieres.
while he is writing his book?'
Exactly, my dear! Provided he
doesn't write it too quickly If hs
marrles Berthe, I'll see TO that"
She need not worry The young
fellow will see to it himself-that
book will be his life work; that and
the daily iollying Of Boston
Herald.
Locomotive Model for Prince.