New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-18
IN BEHALF OF YOUNG LOVERS
By Country Girl Who Found Park
Spooning Highway to Happy Marriage

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To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir Your article in a recent edition OF
The Tribune about Park Spooning" dis
tasteful epithetD aroused my intense In
terest. Having been "spooner" and a
park spooner." II you please, my decision
was long ago made to DO all in my power
10 relieve the distressing conditions which
call forth such an article as yours, re-
ferred to above. So for the benefit OF park
commissioners and upiifters in general, let
me give a bit OF my inside information
Briefly. the history of the case Is this:
\ country girl. boarding in the city, study
ing working, living alone, homesick for
mother family and the great outdoors,
spent four years absolutely without the
society of men. Finally, the prince APP
peared In the person Of q young man
equally lonely, equally unused to city ways,
equally fond OF tho outdoors. The lonely
maden's salary did not enable her to take
her choice of boarding houses. This par
ticular time found her living In a hall
room OF house OF the ordinary type.
There was n parlor. and It was open, but
II was separated by curtains only from
tho sleeping apartments OF all elderly
couple, who retired before o'clock, and
preferred quiet TO any slightest disturb
ance. The natural consequence was the
lonely maiden and the man developed a
tendency to frequent tho beautiful, restful
park. Some experiences the
first vsits there were no less than revolving.
at least To the young woman unused to
such things. But, as the editor remarked
Young people always will spoon" In the
course OF events these two young people
walked, talked together loved became en-
gagged, and are oven now looking forward
to a happy marriage. So the revusion
changed to endurance. then to sympa-
thetic understanding, almost to emulation
But there was aroused exceeding great
Indignation and rebellion against state
Of affairs which literally forces young peo-
pie out OF homes, out of boarding houses,
to And the companionship all the world
agrees is their right to crave and expect
Those In control. boarding house mis-
tresses, etc. seem never to realize the
value TO young people and TO society Of
opportunities TO become thoroughly &C
quainted before choosing what ehould be
the lifemate Some OF our good people
maxi" It 80 hard for us homeless ones (and
tWo'sl.
80 here IL my plea. Some Of us strug
Cling. s'lf-supportng young people do not
know the dance halls or the summer gar
dcns. and do not care to. Some Of US
young women have always recaiyed our
friends IN our homes under the supervision
Il sensible sodiy mothers. Where shall
We 60 now that We arc turned adrift in tho
city! II IS no idle question. it is a vital
matter with many young couples situated
uuftyorabiy, these await the kindly an
swcr. Why not open tho parks to those
who need and appreciate them. instead Of
tIruia, them out Or barring couples Z?
Instead OF eviction let parks he better
patrollel, made safer and less offensive to
"spooners' who uSe moderation Qt must
Dc admitted there are desrees), ana a well
come extended to all who sorely need the
protection ana sincerely appreciate the
beauties Of parks and the benedictlon Of the
quiet open air.
This communication would not be forth
coming except from a clear conscience and
because OF A desire. a deep, earnest desire,
20 see fair play Tor maligncd "spooners"
who are, after all. just plain human beings
May THIS bit OF experience be Of some
value to the committee In their efforts
toward civic welfare. Hoping for better
conditions I am
\ PLEADER FOR JUSTICE.
Brooklyn. May Is, 1912.