Omaha daily bee., 1912-05-29

can compete in woman's favor with
scamp. and no man has so potent way
Of wooing as he who has the story Of a
dark and sinister past to tell
And. curIously enough. the better the
woman the worse she likes the man to
be. That 10 why saints 80 often marry
villains. The woman who has seen much
OF the world, and who knows that pasts
have a way of coming home TO roost. and
that there Is nothing romantic or dashing
about man who comes staggering
along. fuddled with drink. or who
CANDLES away tho grocery money. picks
out q good. clean thrifty man when sha
wants a husband. But the unsophisti-
Gated woman, who knows nothing OF the
realities OF lie. falla a victim 20 the
hlandishment OF the scamp.
OF course. In explanation OF why women
seem TO have peculiar mania for loving
unworthy men. II may be said that the
black sheep very often has graces and
charms OF personality that his white
brother lacks. II is truixm that vice
Is generally more attractive than virtue.
and all Of us know from personal ex-
pcrlence how much more lovabla certain
people are WHO have nothing but their
I faults to recommend them. than certain
other people who are models OF all the
virtues.
We have all seen some men who was a
light In the church. an example In the
community. the very pattern OF problty,
and honesty, man whose wife rode In
her automobile, and had u fine house.
and rich clothing. and everything anpar-
emily that the heart Of woman could
desire, die, and leave a widow who made
aoarreIy q pretsnce Of rsgTatting him.
Such spectacles make US marvel at the
iiloglc Of women. and say that q man
has small encouragement to go straight.
or to work his fingers to the bona sup
porting wife. IL he expects her to love
him In proportion for what he Is. or does
for her. The answer IL that love isn't a
matter OF voiition. and the man who
gives his wife sympathy and tenderness
sometimes gives her more than he who
eives his wife sealskins and diamonds.
Another reason why black sheep have a
fascination for women is because the rul.
Ing passion with the sex Is reformation.
No woman can see anything. or anybody.
without a consuming desire to make
them over according to her own way.
The man who 10 already walking In
the straight and narrow path offers small
opportunity for the exercise of the plea
sures Of reformation. The most his wife
can hope to do is TO make him cut his
hair another way. and buy another style
Of collar. and let her pick out his neck
ties; but the drunksrd. or the gambler.
or the man With past Is like a free
ticket to a picnic TO her.
She has vision Of altering his entire
manner OF life. weaning him away from
all OF bis former associates. auenching
his thirst. curing the Itch Of his fingers
for the pasteboards. binding him TO all
other women, and leading him Up to the
higher life. during all Of which proceed,
ing she Is having the time of her life.
That Is why, when q bad man makes a
little, ignorant, unsophIctlcated girl his
mother confessor. and tells her that he
only needs her influence 70 make him
another man. that is all over except
sending out the wedding cards.
still another. and the crucial reason.
why women love scamps is the eternal
mother love that Is at the bottom Of
every woman's heart, and that Is the
guiding Impulse. Women may admire
strength In q man, but the weakness
makes an appeal to the very core of their
being that strength never does. They may
revere the man who stands alone. like a
rock against the storm. who has the
ability 10 achieve snd command, but they
take the poor dereliet Of life, wind beaten.
broken. helpless. In their arms. and hide
his shame upon their breasts.
They may glory in the triumphs of the,
successful man. but II is the failure who
comes limping home defeated for whom,
they make a crown out Of their tender
ness and pity.
Because ne needs her love more than
her strong. clever. healthy children. the
mother loves best the one that Is sicxiy.
he needs her patience and her love most.
the mother loves her wayward son most.
Because all others have turned away
from him and be has no other home. she
keeps the light burning In the window
for the prodisal. and has the warmest
welcome for him when he comes cresping
back in rags and tatters.
God gave to women this divine power
Of forgivness. this fountain OF love that
flows the more the more it Is drawn upon
this brooding tenderness that takes in
and shelters all the weak and erring.
A-A -. ..a.. ,ns.tI thanL cd fhaa Il