The Washington herald., 1912-04-05
By DOROTHY DIX.

The newspapers contain an interesting
account Of a young couple who have en-
tered upon a trial courtship with a view
to getting line on each otner's qualif-
cations for making a desirable husband
or wife, and to ascertaining before mar
riage how they are likely to suit one
another instead of waiting TO find this
out when IL is too late, as most folks do.
According TO the story, the young man
has gone TO spend three days in the home
of the girls mother with the full under
standing that he is to pop the question
at the end of that time IL he is satisfied
with his observations of the young lady,
and that she is to accept him IL she Is
still pleased with him. Otherwise no
wedding bells for them.
He is to watch her method of keeping
house, sample her cooking, and study her
ways. She is to observe If he Is handy
about the house. II he is a good provider,
and to take note of little manners and
pecuharities that will tip her off as TO
his desirabillty as life partner.
Good in Theory.
The theory OF the trial coUrtship is
good, but it will fail of real results be-
cause the execution will be faulty. Con-
sciousiy, or unconsciously, both parties to
ii will be hypocrites, as every man is
when he goes a counting and every girl
is when she is trying to capture a man.
Nature makes them put thn best foot
foremost and to exhibit to each other
the most charming side OF their charac-
tiers, just as II makes the male bird strut
and plume itself before its mate IN spring.
It's dollars to doughnuts that the girl
in this case, aware that her sweetheart S
appraising eyes are upon her. will come
down to breakfast of a morning in the
neatest and trimmest shirt waist that she
has and with her hair marceIled to the
roots; that she will work her fingers to
the bone cooking up everything on the
place, and give life-like imitation Of a
household angel that would capture any
mans fancy.
1t is also a cinch that the man on
trial will go through his best PAGES; that
he Will swear that he adores helping TO
wash the dishes after a hard days work;
that he will declare that he isn't par
tiCular about his food, and wouldn't want
his wife to bother much about the COOK
ing, and that he will exhibit the patience
OF Job and the amiability OF a saint
want meals are net on time.
These ante-nUptial exhibitions OF an
gelic dispositions. however. are not fair
samples OF the real thing, and If any
young couple is really in earnest about
trying to find out beforehand what they
OF following the general custom Of TAX
ling the grand risk with eyes shut, they
could make a trial engagement Of some
actual value.
If, for instance, a girl wants TO test
the quality of a mans affection for
her, let her appear at breakfast with
her hair slicked back into a knot. the
size of a walnut. and with a loose,
comfortable working dress on. That's
the way she looks at home when there's
no company, and the way she Will
look when she's married and has TO
wrestles with teething babies, and cook
ing stoves that won't cook. Any man
that will pop the question when
woman is looking her worst has got
the kind of love that's all wool and
yard wide, and that won't shrink N the
wash of everyday life.
Sure Test.
Again if she wants to find out what
sort of a disposition he has got. let her
set him down TO a meal OF heavy bread.
and watery potatoes, and overdone meat,
and let her observe whether his ami
ability under such circumstances has a
natural spontaneous ring or is forced.
That's the way TO judge whether he's
all heart, or mostly stomach.
II she wants to test his patience let
her keep him waiting or three-quarters
of an hour every time they go anywhere
together. II he can calmly compose him.
self to reading the paper while she pins
on her hat in forty-seven different ways,
instead of charging up and down the par.
lor floor like a Gagged hyena, she Will
know for sure that he is a philosopher,
and an optimist who will always be Lit
tie Sunshine in the home.
II a man wants to find out how much
a girl really thinks of him let him an
pear before her with a three Gays beard
on his face. Any woman who can see a
romantic hero in an unsnaven man has
got the life-everlastig brand Of affection
that nothing will kill.