Evening star., 1908-01-25
'pecial Correspondence of The Star.
K@WS||

PARIS. January IL, 1908.
THREE American sirds. art stu
dents here in Paris, and myself.
wrapped in steamer rugs and
~ blankets were huddIed the
other afternoon about the char
coal stove which is supposed to give
warmth to our pension living room. but
doesn't Now I'm not going to talk of
the pecularities of that stove, for I've
turned over a new leaf about many things.
and slandering that so-called heating APP
paratus is one of them. No. on this early
day of the new year We We're whimsically
discussing the matrimonial possibilities
# leap year. The quartet concluded after
/. !Jng session that few women care to
propose. and that certainly fewer still
would admit their intention of doing so.
1T Is only another case said the girl
who occasionally has To brush the dust
from her rose-colored spectacles. ''of the
unattainable being desired until it Is at
tanned" Il agree with you perfectly.
chmed in the chorus. for lined up
against the injustice of the fact that man
proposes. only a very few women would
avail themselves of the privilege offered
by leap year But" urged the matter
nf-fact girl. "a woman who wishes to pro-
pose 10 man certainly is not lacking in
sense of hunor. but marriage is no
Joke. and there is very little humor in IL
after the fatal knot is tied. SO perhaps
She is entitled to all the fun she can get
OUT Of II before We all agreed that the
question was more complicated than II
sounded 1t is usually put i'll this simple
manner: There are instances where
young man is apparently too shy 10 de-
clare his love. and the woman should then
be at liberty to relieve his shyness by
asking him 10 marry her Now. if when
tho woman goes accounting her bean ideal
always accepts the situation would not
he so humorous. but IL is Impossible to
imagine more comical sight than man
trying TO say 40" nicely To a fair suit
DRESS. And what of her feelings after the
refusaI?" pleaded tha sentimental girl
Would not any woman worthy of the
name prefer to go to the grave with her
passion undeclared than to subject herself
TO that moment OF humiliation?" we cho-
rused. II is not courage that is wanted al
such a time but a bare faced stoicism.
delightful coaceit which is the salvation
of-well. not of many women. 1t is no
humiliation for a man to be refused Per
haps this is not il should be. but we
cannot alter the whole code of the deli
cacy OF a woman's position for the sake %
few men who are too shy to propose
and tho misguided women who want IAem
for husbands. Real courage Is required
when there is a necessity for a refusal
that is why women shine in this cap2 city
and many a hero who would not finch
before the roar of hundred cannon
would only be capable of murmurinS
Yes" In faint baritone voice il wom-
an should ask him TO marry her.
The Proper Masculine Spirit.
That is exactly the proper spirit to
encourage in men. They should feel in
capable OF refusing woman anything.
and the only security for our happiness
is to train the masculine mind to that
peint OF view. IT. on the contrary. the
custom Of proposals by women ever OBJ
tains the poor men will be married right
and left for few at first will have the
courage to say No" At present man has
little TO say in the matter. although lie
thinks lie does il all. 4 woman can marry
any man whom she determines To make
her husband and without he trouble OF
proposing. which at best must be try
ing function. She just sees him. conquers
and makes him propose TO her. Nothing
easier. or no great Importance is the case
70 the woman who let's her secret feed
,,nor, ber dan,ask cheek because she
.,iay not tell her love. She need never do