New-York tribune., 1912-01-28

1T is characteristic Of the girl Of the
| period" began the mother OF two grown
| up sons, "to sit up I'm company and reclte
| the requirements she demands Of the
! suitor who would win her hand She may
| herself be a pert young thing. possessed
| of the most superficial attractions, let
alone attainments. but she confidently eN-
| poets that the best will be only too READY
| to fall at her feet She declares that she
would never dream Of marrying a man
with less than such-and-such an income
| year-such income, by the way, being more
| than her father has ever made in his
whole hard working life. And as for her
! expecting to do any homework, not she.
! Catch her marrying a brute Of man who
would permit his wife to wash dishes like
n common servant! AS for children, she
might graciously favor her liege with one
or two, provided there would be always an
adequate supply Of competent nurses on
| hand.
| Now, we older women who overhoar
such statements know that they are not
only foolish, but unfair TO the true char
acter of the girl who makes them. We
know that, although while she IS heart
whole and fancy free she enjoys talking
loudly and laying down the law concern
ing the things she will and viii not have,
once the right man appears upon the
| scene she VIII gladly bow her head TO the
! yoke and accept bravely whatever destiny
| shall mete out to them twain. Even the
\ girl herself has dim perception that she
| is talking nonsense and that did only
young Lochinvar that moment dawn on
| he rmaidenly horizon she would be only
| too ready to change her tactics. But in
! the mean time she likes TO think she Is
| enhancing her value in the eyes of all
masculines within reach, causing them to
, feel that she Is a girl to be strlvcn for.
"As matter OF fact, she wofully fails
| in her endeayor, for every man, Whether
ne be eligible or ineligible, cherishes deep
within his heart a vein of sentiment and
| the desire TO be loved for himself alone.
| Yet many a nice girl who will sit up and
| hold forth as If Il mans bank account
| would be the sine qua non in her accept
| ance of an offer of marriage would be
| Mortified al man cold bioCdCG enCurh %
| assert that he would not marry a girl who
was not a good cook and laundress or who
! was too sicl5ly to bear children. Yet why
| should the girl expect to enjoy a monopoly
OF practically when considering the matr.-
| moniai question?
Now. the man of to-day has as nigh
standards OF living as. If not higher than,
has the type OF woman whom he would
wish TO marry. He has no desire to live in
cheap quarters. subsist on cheap food and
| forego all Injuries and amusement, ana he
perhaps looks forward 10 the day when ne
! can retire and live on his income. Yet at
the outset of his career he Is acutely con-
scious of the struggle before him, and the
wife he selects must be a helpmate and
moi a pampered doll The girl who airs her
views in his hearing may be very attrac-
tive and very allurng, but IL, as she says.
she is unwilling 10 take any chances on
the future, but insists that her husband
shall be a finished product, with steam
Yachts and automobiles, like a modern So
ciety novel. then she is not for him and
no does not give her The chance 20 refuse
Rim. lie may even grow coldly critical and
conclude that she is nothing very wonder
ful any way. and then turn his attentions
away from the seemingly unattainable god,