The Washington herald., 1909-02-14
Rr PRETTY GIRL.


Fron, the Nsv YORK Herald
IN this beatifc period OF the worlds
history We are all girls until we get well
along In the thirties This being the
case. I am presuning to utter the things
am burning to say to the Young Man
about 70 Wed
While, technically, I may not be quail
ned To air my views under this caption
make bold to assert that the things I
wish to mention 10 the aforesaid ,-oung
man at this time are considerably more
20 the point than any, Of the things I
said 10 him ten years ago. when MAS
presumably "a pretty girT'-just out
OF school
The young man himself dn ten years
viii realize how prohtably lie might
have pondered these things in his heart
OF course. Just now he won't-nOr until
it is quite too late.
Never having had a husband Of my
own. clam 10 be a superior judge Of
the ereature-holding always that OBJ
servation is as good a teacher as expert
ence: the tuition less costly. and the
curriculum more broadly optional. AS
school friends have married and set up
hospitabIe hearthstones OF their own, I
have been given quite intimate glimPses
OF the inside workings Of many homes
and a view. at close range, Of the elusive
male in ali stages OF domesticatiOn. Do
not understand that 1 set myself 10 be
4 critic on the hearth Cthat would indeed
be an abuse OF hospitality. but in my
capacity as visitor I have acquired a
very definite idea OF a Husband. the
composite Of various individual hus-
bands.
I am thankful 10 say that. an the
whole. this composite husband is a rath-
er decent sOrt-lOvable. too. l am just
officious enough TO want to tell the young
man who is contemplating matrimOny
some Of the reasons why he may fail to
attain any great degree Of domestic
felicity.
If / dared. this is what 7 would tell
him, even If I We're. myself. engaged TO
him In all earnestness and in all love.
but for his good and mine. for the sake
Of the happiness We were looking for
ward 10. 1 would say:
Young man. search well your heart and
know its inmOst desires. II life still
seems tc you TO offer much that is de-
sirable outside Of the little new home
YOU are contemplating: If marriage IS 10
be z mere episode to provide you with a
boarding place having all the comforts
OF home and with con1panionship during
the evenings when you are too tired any
how 10 20 to the club; Il II occurs to you
that your little game with the fellows
at the club viii be more enjoyable be
cause she IS waiting for you at home,
If YOU find yourself inclined 10 boast that
she IS not the sort TO wish TO tie you
down-then. I beseech you. fly to the
ends Of the earth-be a cad in the eyes
Of the woTld-but break the engagement
now.
Nine chances to one he would reply.
What And break her hearth I couldn I
think OF such a thing
Yes. IL may break her heart. but BY a
process less subtly cruel and no more
certain than bringing her into the sort
Of domestic bondage you contemplate.
The heartbreak over a broken engage
meut is like the clean cut OF the surgeon S
scalpel. which removes at once the cause
OF the suffering, compared with which
the old way Of keeping the pain duIled
with opiates and the patient alive with
SLlululdnlS IS a n6IDdLtC cruelty
Suppose. after a vast deal OF serious
thought, you enter into the solemn obli-
cations OF matrimony and settle down
into a cosey little home Don't imagine
that IL you pay the bills (and pay them
/ cheerfully) and II yo1 keep your temper
when the furnace man fails TO show up
or the cook serves a poor dinner to your
bachelor chum that you deserve a crown
Of glory. These are crises which you
grid I'D your soul to meet. It is the
everyday, little. unrecognized test which
VIII prove your fitness for the married
state
Remember that If the girl you love is
young she VIII have tremendous stTug-
gle II mastering the details Of home
making she VIII desire diversion out
side. and has a right TO expect your CON-
panionship when you are at your best as
well as when you are dull. IF she seems
stupid. a little frank introspection may
show you she has some cause 10 be
bored you are not always a stimulating
companion you know.
Last Of all, il she is a girl OF brains
and OF spirit she is bound 10 DO some
( thinking during the long evenings. when
the clock ticks OF the seconds and
! strikes the hours marking her helpless