The Washington herald., 1909-02-28
STUDIES OF DISCONTRNTHENI

NDAAG f-E-a-c aaAg A1AA---tt - re-
marking that am considered by the
world at large as a very fortunate young
woman. am nearly thirty years OF age;
am well born, well bred, Wen educated.
rather clever, not bad looking; I possess
sufficient income to keep the wolf at
safe distance from the treshold. IN sddi-
ton to that. hold position in the bust
ness world which brings me in a salary
on which many man supports a wife
and family-most uncomfortably- 1 have
a host OF attractive friends. there are a
dozen homes ia which I may find myself
a welcome guest any night. I i've well
in a suite furnished with my own books,
treasures. and pictures. What do I have
10 complain Of? Because / want 20 get
married, says a woman writer in the
New York Herald
AS a matter or fact. I have had more
attention from men than most Of the
women I know. For one thing. my work
has constantly thrown me in contact with
men, unlike the work OF a teacher. who
of necessity spends her time in a con-
tiaCally feminized atmosphere. I have
had seven offers Of marriage. most OF
which were too ridiculous TO be enter
tained seriously. Some Of the offers were
from boys. others from Old men. the rest
were . Job lot OF worthless incompe-
tents who. I had reason 70 think, r.
garded my paltry income as no deterrent
in the choice OF a wife
Where are all the desirable men Of fic-
ton? I DO not mean great catches:
mean what might be considered ordinar-
ily wei educated men. established in
business or a. profession. and able
and willing 70 support the wife
Of their choice In the style to which their
own sisters have been accustomed. The
species seems 70 be becoming as extinct
IS the dodo.
When a man arrives at the successful
stage In his career which would warrant
his asking girl. Ike myself. for in
stance. 70 marry him. he finds that his
own comforts and pleasures pretty well
use up his income. To marry. therefore.
would entail sacrifice. and 20 welcome
/ sacrifice one must be under the spell 81
romance But romance is such a silly
.
thing that the average. cool-headed, sue
cessfui business man OF professional man
SCOTS at It.
Or every side see refined lovely
women Of my acquaintance settling down
10 resigned bachelor girlhood. planning
their lives Independently OF the male sex.
They have their clubs. their teas and
amusements. and have pretty good
time: but / know. as they do in their
I heart Of hearts. that this IS not the life
Of their dreams. for It is not meet for
woman to I've alone.
Yet the papers do chronicle no
] tices Of marriages. Yes. OF course. Our
civilization Is rapidly coming 10 the
same state Of affairs as exists IN Bu-
rope. where the girl who expects 20
marry must provide the. home. the
money. the social position. in fact.
everything but the man who graciously
$50 far-provides himself IN exchange
for ali the rest. On every hand one
/ sees women who have deliberately sac
rificed themselves to suitors who are
obviously Enthusiastically. IN order that
they may satisfy their natural instincts
/ for home. children. and q husban6-be
/ he never so humble. II a man pos
sesses an ieta OF attraction he goes
TO The girl who has more 10 0ner. In
these days II is a case OF Queen Co.
phetua and the beggar mani
Many young matrons have given NJ
entertaining entirely, except for the
married set because they can find no
men TO grace their dinners and daBces
/ Their husbands seem TO have severed
/ all association with their own sex OF
| their wedding day. The debutaR.es tell
me that the functions given for them
are enlivened only by the presence Of
vapid youths who take themselves SC
seriously that they are ridiculous, and
lantediluvIans. who were paying the
same compliments when the preceding
/ generation was young.
I should Ike 70 meet man or SO
! whom a reasonable young woman
might intelllgently learn to love. honor
and obey-should he give her The chance
! without sacrificing every ideal OF heI
girlhOod. Am unreasonable in this2 ]
wish sons one would tell me quite imper-
sonally. for It isn't the sort OF thing !
can ask nv friends. With many OF
them the question comes too close Il
home.