The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-04-24
FROM WOMAN'S
POINT OF VIEW.

That the falling off in the matrimonial
market is not 10 be attributed to feminine
indisposition to wed is proved By the
iagility with which women swallow mar
riage bats Of the most dubious sort. That
it Is possible to maintain a profitable
matrimonial bureau with one solitary man
to play the role OF bridegroom is a reaee-
ton upon the fair sex that no amount OF
explanation can reason away. and added
weight comes from the fact that other en-
terprises Of similar nature have been ex-
posed from time to time after a harvest
Of dollars has been reaped.
The wTeeking of the business has always
been due to some peppery woman who re-
lsented the treatment she has received and
sacrificed her pride TO say so. As have
said before. It IS inconceivable that a
woman is willing. nay. eager, to entrust
her life and future happiness 10 a
stranger, yet marriages of this rash order
are performed almost daily. And they say
women have no COURAGE Where Will you
find greater risks?
A man argued with me one day that the
majority Of divorces were granted to cou-
pies who had all the advantages Of rea-
Isonable acquaintance, a suitable period of
courtship and parental sanction to their
union. I could not argue intelligently
upon the matter because was not backed
by statistics. but it did not seem reason
Iable that haphazaTd marriages would turn
out with any degree of satisfaction. Pos
sibly women who are willing to take any
man are equally complaisant in bearing
whatever annoyances their bargain
brings.
Fancy man being able to marry, really
marry $50 women before being brought
to face the consequences! It speaks vol
umes for the ability Of some women to
keep a secret, as the smallest hint OF the
transaction would have brought the law
buzzing about the gay deceiver's ears. l
wonder If any Of those dupes learned q
lesson, or will they be ready to jump
down the throat of the next man who
opens his mouth?
There have been hosts of wooers scared
away by a too great readiness to erceive
their advances. Ordinary masculine at
tentions are construed into expressions of
tenderness before affection is beyond tho
budding stage when a sudden chill is
fatal Men often drift into love without
realizing it, and with no smallest inten-
tior OF being serious. Obviously anything
thar tends 10 disturb thets fancled security
would be disastrous TO the young woman's
chances.
It is never wise to allow any man 10
think he can have a girl for the asking.
She may take frank pleasure in his atten-
ti0ns. but the impression should be con-
veyed that she is only thinking of the
present. that the future will take care of
itself. This is quite possible TO any
woman of ordinary intelligence. The mod
eTn girls takes too much for granted and
ldiscloses her affection before il is asked
for or even desired Eight out of ten men
never go about woOing with a well-defined
intention of marriage.
The thought of wedlock comes TO them
after they discover an OverpOwering de-
sire TO spend every hour with a chosen
companion-it seems alluring and is en-
couraged till the momentous question is
asked and answered. I have heard scores
of married men describe this as the pro-
cess which landed them on the shores OF
matrimOny, happily married men at that.
have heard of other men whose atten-
tons were brought 10 an abrupt end by
chance remarks which showed them where
they were drifting. One of the most de-
/ lightful bachelors I ever knew openly de-
clares that he cannot afford to be gallant
/ to women because his income forbids mar
riage, That speaks volumes.
BETTY BRADEEN.