The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-06
FpOM OTHER PENS
cUP1D.s GAME IN BALTIMORE.

CUPID'S GAME IN BALTIMORE.
A bullying browed statistician in the
west estimates that the average period
of cOurtship in the United States is now
seven months, two weeks and three
days. Two thousand years ago it was
much less. In those days, when a young
man happened upon q maiden VINO
pleased him he grabbed her by the hair.
dragged her off to some holy hermit 8
cave and married her out of hand. But
civilization counsels delay and medita-
ton in all things and SO 1T happens
that the matrimonial game has grown
slower and more intellectual. Love at
first sight Is out Of fashion Your mod
ern young man. before he espouses his
about her views OF things, her skill at
cooking, her theories OF domestic fin
ance and her political, social and spirit
ual prejudices. So he wooes her DELHI
erately and decor0usly, and the pro-
ceedings occupy more than half a year.
Walk down any residence street in Bal
timore at this season OF the year be-
tween the hours of and 10 p. m. and
you will see faring lights in every third
parlor. DO the same thing two months
hence and you will find the lights some
what dim. Repeat the peram bulation
toward the end Of March and you Will
and them almost out. Thus the course
Of true love gradually robs the gas
company, and the stage is set for the
grand hymeneal fiesta Of the merry
month of June. Even In Baltimore,
where all young wonderland nearly all
older ones-are petrifyingly beautiful,
marriages are not arranged in a day.
The customs of the human race. how
ever, fatuous1y require period OF
doubt, misgiving, hesitation and nego-
tfation Before he may decently lead
Angelina to the sacrificial altar Clar-
ence must dance attendance upon her,
buy her chocolates, take her to routs
and the play and sit in her parlor.
Hence the unanimous illumination
these depressing autumn evenings. It
reminds one of the vast bOnfireS the
medieval BritCns used to light on
Christmas eve. 1t is the first warning
and signal of the impending matrimO-
NAL rush. In the summer they meet; In
the fall they discuss Shakespeare and
the musical glasses: in the winter they
hold hands; in the spring they buy
raiment and borrow money; in June
they are we'd. observations extending
over 40 years convince US that in Bal
tirnore most courtships are begun about
the middle of October, when the even
ings grow chilly and sitting in the par
lor becomes comfortable. Just before
Christmas there are often halts-due
principally to a certain reluctance cost
ly to vendors Of Christmas gifts. But
after the holiday season there is com
monty a roachement,a and along tow
ard January 90 there arrives the period
OF preliminary and tentative osculatfcn.
The middle Of February sees Clarence
advance to the strange hold, and by
rnfd-March Angelina is giggling with
her prospective bridesmaids over the
details Of her rousseau April and
Nav are spent by Clarence with the
money sharks, floating loan to finance
the honeymoon. With the first stroke
Of june endeIssohn-"A Amt she pale!'
let no man put asunder! -I Ohen-
grin''-rice-old shoes-Atlantic City
rascal.-plays his ancient game!-Bal-
tfrnOre Sun.