Evening journal., 1911-03-31
LET WOMEN
PROPOSE.

A WELL known English clergyman
has made a daring Suggestion In
pleading hard for greater eouai,,,, ~.
tween the sexes where certain matter,
were concerned he ventured TO expres,
the nope that the day might not bs
far distant when it should be cons,d-
cred as natural and as modest for =
woman to propose marriage TO a mar
as IL Is now for man to offer his heart
and hand to one OF the opposite soy
His idea is by no means a new one. bu,
the fact that II has been seriousiv
brought forward by cleric will doubt.
less NIL with apprehension the souI =,
man. Hitherto he has regarded n n.
his almost divine right TO suggest mar.
riage. On this fact he has based hi.
superiority. and by this means he has
held woman in subjection. He bs.
made her dependent on his whim and
caprice and favor.
II the time ever comes when girls
will not need to wait to be asked IN
marriage it will still be possibIe n,
man to take the initiative IL he likes
No one would wish to rob him Of tbs
delight of speaking first, only he will
have to be less diffident than he ts AZ
present In rather different way. II
VIII be open to him. too, to refuse an
oner, and perhaps the more conceited
specimens of manhood win find the
plan work much better in their case
They would be able in such circum.
stances to pick and choose" with
greater security. AS matters now stand
II Edwin, whose chief asset is his per
sonal appearance. wants to marry for
money he has to proceed very warily.
He cannot very well ask a seemingly
suitable girl what her prospects are.
Appearances are deceitful. Her father
may have nothing to leave, though he
has town and country house. a superb
motor and wine cellar. So Edwin has
TO run a certain amount Of risk when
he asks Angelina to accept him. Now,
If Angelina is allowed to ask Edwin
she can put her financial and social
position before him. and there is more
likelihood Of mutual understanding.
In the coming by and by women
doubtless will be less financially de-
pendent on man. Presumably, there
fore. they viii more often be able to
marry for love alone. When they do
love. why should they not say so? They
tdH buA AdcA lAit ule as men 90. II TNeV
are refused they will be no worse of, aft
ct all. than if they never tell their love,
but let concealment. like worm in the
bud, eat out their aching hearts. To
do man Justice, his hesita tion to suggest
marriage may often be due 10 his un-
selfshness or his chivalry. He may
not think himself worthy to marry a
particular girl. He may regard It as
impossible to ask her to share such a
home as he can offer. Why not. then.
make no more bones about II, but give
the proposal right to both sexes alike
and see what effect IL has on marriage
statistics? II men do not like the ar
rangement they can but signify their
disapproval in the simplest manner.
The difficulty lies in making the inno-
walton. How could the project be
started? Who would lead of. and how
could a woman be sure that a sufficient
number Of her sex would have the cour-
age to follow in her train7 The only
possible way OF insuring a trial Of the
system would be for certain date to
be fixed. let us say. as a general pro-
posal day and see what advantage was
taken of II. As a last word II may be
pointed out that woman's instinct is
always supposed TO serve her excellent
ly well as a guide. so It is possible that
she would never propose where she did
not think she was likely to be ac-
cepted.