The Washington herald., 1913-10-11

do not see how there can be any
question whatsoever. Surely 10 any sane
and moral mind there can be no doubt
that the right age to marry is to be
found in the late teens" and the early
''twenties'' To be more explicit, 1
should say anywhere from eighteen to
twenty-five. Personally, do not believe
anyone should marry before reaching the
age of eighteen. and few should marry
after twenty-five.
And now for the benefit of those who
may challenge this opinion as arbitrary.
as fantastic, or as Controverung the Wis
dom and experience of the ages. l want
TO say that II is and does nothing of
the sort There is everything TO be said
in favor Of marriage before the age of
twenty-five. and nothing whatsoever in
its favor If postponed beyond that period.
Science, sentiment, and common sense
all declare for the youthful union, and
science, sentiment, and common sense
all decry such a marriage as eliminates
between Mr.. Christopher Dallas and Mrs.
Farrell Howard in Years of Discretion"
in which production Of Mr.. Belasco's
have the honor Of playing the part Of
son to that foolish and misguided widow.
The prejudices which the dramatists OF
that play have put in my mouth as Far
reu Howard. jr., and which l express
very forcibly. though without avail, to
my wilful and infatuated parent, coincide
precisely with my prejudices as Grant
Mitchell in real life. As matter OF
fact, I will so farther and say that in
real life if / ever detected any such
symptoms OF belated amativeness in my
mother or an elderly aunt, I should feel
it a family duty to Immediately consult
En aienst. Just fancy If you were
young fellow of twenty-four or five hav-
ing TO sit by and watch your own mother,
aged forty-eight carry on like an eight
een-year-old girl, your mother whom you
have ideahZed in a thousand ways rs
only a son can idealize. Fancy your
widowed or sPinster aunt whom, from
tender childhood. you have revered as
the repository of all wisdom and pru-
dence-the aunt whom next to your
mother YOU have always looked upon as
your guide, philosopher and friend fancy
her il you please in the undignifed and |
unseenly attitude Of 'spooning.
Bitter Trial.
You laugh and shake your head. Can
you imagine it? OF course you can't |
That is, unless you are one Of the un- |
fortunate who have had this bitter trial |
to contend with in the bosom Of his |
own family. That not being the case. it
appears as a great joke to you-this |
pathetic exhibition of autumnal senti- |
a moment you will reco.lect that every
one of these foolish middle-aged sirens |
Is somebody's mother, somebody's vener-
able aunt. Indeed, quite as often she is
also somebody's grandmother, somebody's
grandaunt.
A great deal is written and preacher
nowadays about the so-called folly of
growing old. Men and women are taught
that they can cheat time, they are taught
that by denying the reality of wrinkles
and crows feet and grey hair and stiffen-
ing joints, they can play a scurvy trick
on old age And not only that, they are
likewise taught that they can, by force
Of will, keep young in their emotions
Everywhere one goes one not only sees
men and women masquerading in guises
calculated to make them look twenty
five years younger than they really are.
but conducting themselves as if they
emotionally registered sixteen summers
instead of thrice that number of win
ters.
It is such people as these, It is the
Mrs. Howards and Mrs. Brintons OF
real life who are responsible for the
monstrous theory that there is any other
age for marriage save the age OF pink
cheeks and soft glances and slender.
delicate lines, and the capacity for dream
Ing and idealizing which is the spiritual {
accompaniment of these physical quail {
1es 1t is the Christopher Dallases, the !
John strongs, the Patrick DoyIes, the I
Amos Thomases of real life who would J
arrogate to themselves the prerogatives
't the youthful lover. That the world
5 full OF them I will and cannot DENY
Wherever one goes one is confronted with
he elderly beau trying to play the
'outh's part. And I am bound TO say
hat he carries the part OF very well