The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-07-02

Crusty Old Bachelor. NO doubt the
writer would be a nice pleasant young
lady to have about the house. She
speaks, however, more like the indul-
gent mother of a spoiled child than "a
sweetheart or wife"
She's certainly liberal in her views"
Polly declared. She says that an un-
married man is justified in spending his
money on but one person. and that is
HIMSELF"
He'd be selfish dog to do it," the
Bachelor said. Tie certainly wants to
get something out of his money over
and above the few creature comforts
he can buy for himself Count them
up. If he smokes and smokes to ex-
cess, it becomes a dissipation and not
joy; and IL goes to his heart and he
has to give it up. If he eats too-much
he has the govt. If he drinks too much
he gets the d. It's and has to go to
Muldoon's OF course he can travel,
but what pleasure is there in watching
a beautiful moon-if you are all alone.
Chance firtations count for nothing.
whatever Platonoic. friendships sail
along smoothly enough, but the first
thing you know she announces her en-
gagement and the casual admirer finds
himself left ont In the cold, cold world
with nobody to even talk to, that is
interested in him"
Il don't agree with you there Polly
said. "A man never gets too old to be a
beau. while the yearns woman may be
belle, are numbered. know an old
bachelor in<this town who has 'courted'
down, seven generations of girls; he has
seen the debutantes of 20 years come out,
and make their bow to the world, and
there isn't single set from which he
might not have picked a bride, II. he'd
been progressive You'd think hesd be
passe now, but he is just as much sought
as dinner guest today, as he was 40
years ago, and yet the girls who came
ouf when he did, are most of them grand
mothers now.
Does what you are saying, by any
means bear upon the article in the mag
azine,V asked the Bachelor
Directly said Polly. ut would have
been fearful tragedy IL those same
girls hadn't married. Do you think II
they had been left spinsters-high and
dry on life's beach. that they would
have felt kindly to the man who is now
as gay and debonnair and popular as
ever-disporting himself in the blue
capped waves with the pretty young girls
of today"
II agreed with you, that it would have
been tragedy" said the Bachelor, IF
those women hadn't married for it is their
daughters who are the summer girls
of the season. and give the man chance
to play his part?'
"Play his part" Polly repeated.
yes, play his part, for you can't call
it-LfVING,'' sighed the Man. Hes
only going through the PAGES of His role
Dou won think a man of that age is real
ly enjoying himself with girls who are
young enough to be mis- grandchildren
man of that age wants more than a
mere butterfly wheel to amuse him.
Doesn't he know before he goes to a din
ner what the sweet little talcumpow-
dered olive-eating, gum-chewing, de-
butante, Dorothy Cummings, is going to
say, long before she says 1t? Certainly
he does. He's dirtner-partied too many
girls of her age, not to know exactly
what will happen. It's only when a girl
marries that she gets out of this class
Then you agree with the writer of this
article said Polly, holding up the maya
zine and looking straight at him. that
marriage Is the door that leads O woman
to freedom?''
81 do" was the answer. "a girl doesn't
have any real occupation until she mar
res.
'How about those that work?' asked
Polly. Doesn't the bachelor girl have
the same liberty that the bachelor man
has?'
No. said the Man, why? Because
she's a--WOMAN, No business career or
artistic career ever brought out the high
est capabilities of a woman. Her char
actor isn't really formed until the re-
sponsibilities of wife and mother are put
upon her. If women would devote the
next ten years to the study of household
economies, and the serious consideration
Of the care of home and children-Suf-
frage and other burning questions of the
day, would easily solve themselves
thy Johnson, Miss Helen Eusts, Miss Jes-
sic May Perkins, Miss Kearney. Miss
Coleman, Miss Bowie, Miss Gregg, Miss
lTardie.