The Washington herald., 1909-07-28

From the St. Louis Star.
Assuredly one Of the principal reasons
FOR the oft-lamented fact that men won't
marry is the extravaganza Of the modern
girl and her deplorable lack Of the
housewifely. slipper-warming, tea-mak-
Ing qualities!
Against this sweeping indictment there
will be hurled, know. a perfect tempest
Of wrathful protestatlons; but the fact
remains that girls ruin their own chance
Of happy marriage nine times out Of ten
simply through their mistaken views OF
life and the things that, in the long run.
make for happiness.
Take the typical maiden, whose parents
are. as they themselves would declare,
comfortably off"-on something rang
Ing between $50 and $50 week
Had she been Of her own mothers day.
she would gladly and as a matter OF
course have devoted herself to house
keeping arts from the moment she left
school-thus fitting herself TO become a
good wife, and. incidentally, saving her
fathers pocket the price Of a servant.
To go needlessly into the big world
would have seemed 70 her n foolish, as
well as rather wicked. proceeding. Provi-
dence having provided her with safe
and comfortable shelter. she stayed In It
contentedly until she left Il for a home
OF Ter own. a home she by no means eX-
pected 10 be the equal of that she left
20 insist on beginning where parents leave
on being a failing OF the damsel Of to-
day.
She scorns the idea OF homework.
Housework!-the very word IS anathema-
Mademoiselle requires much service at
the hands Of those she considers fitted 20
perform such tasks; she elects TO become
a wage Garner.
Possibly she proves both dilgent and
clever, and speedily earns a decent sal
airy. More probably she Is just one OF the
many thousands OF 'pin-money" work
ers, who spoil the market for the living
wage earners. and so keep down the
marriage rate.
In either case-small salary or big
II all goes on her dress and personal
amusemcnts and extravaganza I'm both
directions. out Of all proportion 20 her
position in life, becomes second nature to
the foolish fair one.
Love. we are often told. is blind But
the man in the marrying mood. II he can
md a suitable mate, Is exceedingly keen
eyed and timorous.
To the young fellow Of her own class.
the extensively dressed vision who pratt
ties gayly OF new plays and foreign tours
is distinctly frightening.
How could he dare venture 20 ask her
10 share his lot-the lot of the SIS a
week clerks wife.-when she is used to
gayly spending half that on the luxuries
Of life in the same period?
It has been truly said that this IS an
age Of show rather than comfort Every
thing Is sacrificed 10 appearances. The
whole tendency is 20 live beyond ones
means. and thousands jeopardize the in
comes they have 10 seem to possess
more; but the greatest and most foolish
sinner Is the modern mlssi
To do him justice the average man is
q very supplemented, much-as-his-
fathers-were sort OF individual. When
he thinks OF marriage. 1t Is Of a bright
and winsome little helpmate he dreams
A some one who VIII understand the
cares and anxieties that beset the path
or the climber on Fortunes hill-some one
mot too bright and good for human
nature daily food.
He dreams Of her In all sorts OF homely
Euises-with sleeves rolled up above her
pretty elbows. wrapped In a white apron.
making pastry: tripping along beside
him under an umbrella, on marketing
thoughts intent; sitting by their own FIRE
side, darning his socks.
And with such dreams in the back
ground Of his mind. he begins 20 look
around among all the pretty sisters Of his
friends, in the hope OF realizing them
only to discover that the dear little home
", home-making, hOme-loving ways that
would win his heart are apparently left
out of the makeup Of the beautifully
dressed ladies who turn the local tennis
club into a flower garden and the local
church parade into beauty show,
More than likely the special charm OF
one lures him into close acquaintance. and
she becomes, IN more senses than one, a
dear friendl
With gay inconsistencies she permits
him to squander no inconsiderable por-
ton Of his weekly income upon her.
Dances. theaters. little trips up the river
miladay regards as pleasing attentions
that should, Of course. be showered upon
her by an admirer. nor Is she by any
means chary at limiting she will expect
them IN G husband. also
How dare any young fellow suggest
that she should endeavor to learn other
ways, fOrego her grand ideas. and settle
down happily to the joys Of her own fire.
side, varied by an annual fortnight at
the seal
Let him tentatively murmur OF love in
cottage, and she will laugh cheerfulIy,
and begin 70 talk Of the fine house now
owned by some girl friend who has mar
ried we'll"
For those whose marriages have not
been Of an equally prudent dissertation
for the girls who have forsaken cycling
10 cook their husbands dinners. or are
teaching tiny feet 10 take their first stems
along HES pathway she has nothing but
more than half contemptuous pity.
Is II to be wondered at that such girls
don't marry2