The Press., 1915-09-22
A Scientific Wooing
 Curiosity, Sympathy and Imagi-
 natDa We're the Basic Principles.
By E. A. MITcHEL

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 Dr. Shotwell was about to leave hii
 consulting room at the close of hi
 morning office hours when a man en
 tared whose appearance at once ar
 rested his attention. There is no wort
 to describe his appearance excep
 queer. He was neither homely mol
 good looking, neither well nor poorly
 dressed. Indeed, there was nothing fo
 or against his personal appearance
 He was simply queer. Nevertheless
 inss..sct was expressed in his face
 He might have been a poet; he migh
 have been a Socialist; he might hav'
 been a lightning calculator escaped
 from a dime museum
 The doctor looked at him with aI
 expression intended to ask what h'
 could do for him. The patient thrust
 his hand in his pocket and pulled out |
 roll of bills. from which he selected
 ive tens and, handing them to the
 doctor, said:
 There's nothing the matter with me
 doctor. I'm in perfect health. I de
 sire to consult you as to a matter of
 importance to me, and since I know your time is valuable offer payment | in advance. For these bills I desire half an hours consultation with you | or such part of that time as may be necessary to my purpose"
 The doctor gave a tacit consent, ask | ed his visitor to be seated, took chair himself. and the other proceeded: ''I desire to win the love of a certain
 woman who has not manifested the slightest interest in me. I am con vinced that love between the sexes may be produced by exciting the i'm agination. Nine-tenths of our mar riages in America are for what is call ed love. but what I call an abnormal temporary development of the imag- tnative faculty. In proof of this I would cite the different conditions of a couple about to be married from those of a couple that have been mar ried. During the courtship, while they are feeding on what I call imaginary love food, they are in an ecstatic sus- pense. Marriage ends that suspense and brings reality. After that their relations are dependent upon a number of conditions, the chief of which, to state 1t concisely, is whether they are naturally fitted or unfitted to give each other aid and comfort"
 The doctor sat attentive to this dis quisition on love, an incipient smile gathering on his lips as his visitor pro- ceeded- When this point had been reached and the speaker added, Do you follow me? the doctor replied: 'I do. Proceed" whereupon the man continued:
 My name Is Norman Bloodgood. wish to marry a young woman named Catherine Anderson. The reason why I wish to marry her Is because desire to marry some one, and have settled upon her. There Is no more reason why she should marry me than any other man. She has met me once and treated me with indifference"
 Beg pardon" interrupted the med ical man, "did she not evince at least curiosityT'
 "Now l remember" responded the client, there was look on her face at seeing me indicating surprise or amusement or something of the kind, but nothing indicating admiration or in any way being drawn toward me. But why do you ask this?'
 Il take 1t for granted from what you have told me that you wish me to suggest some scientific method of ex- citing an interest In you. which, being l famed by the imagination, may result | in love"
 Exactly"
 Very we'll l would recommend at- | tempting to effect a lodgment through l curiosity, the only constituent part of your makeup that seems to have taken l any hold upon the young lady. Begin ming with this as foundation We may build upon it with other excitants of the feelings commonly used by wooers. | Sympathy may be excited by real or feigned misfortune. Flattery when undetected as such Is a stimulant. Sen- hment excited by gifts. principally flowers. Is an excellent means of pro- | ducing love. Then when a substruc- ture has thus been laid a touch of | hands. kiss''-
 "I am aware of these methods, com | mon to all mankind" interrupted the visitor. What I desire to learn from ! you Is how to handle that very difi- cult matter of making a beginning. Subsequent devices may or may not serve. What l am looking for is some thing that must produce a scientific re- suit. just as the mingling of one part of oxygen with two parts of hydrogen will produce water"
 While am willing to admit" re- piled the doctor, that there may be some means of prisiucing such an ef- feet doubt If we have attained to a knowledge of 1t. Nevertheless l. con- fess that the bent of my mind Is to- ward investigation. and I win be in- in assisting you to win the love of the lady of your choice by sci entific means. but"-handing his visitor the proffered fee-"I could not copsent to take money for what is beyond the pale of my profession"
 The matter of the fee having been settled by the client accepting its re- turn, the doctor proceeded: "Since you the imagination the excitant yf love I am willing to work with you 'n this line. But we must in your 'ase begin with curiosity, since you ay that Is the only hold you have lpon Miss Anderson's attention. Now, uppose you make mystery concern ng yourself. Hint at some great grief D your life, some injustice done you.
 would not scruple to try to impose lpon the lady sin you have commit ed, of which you are repentant"
 But. doctor, the time must come vhen 1t will become necessary to make lain this mystery"
 Not necessarily, but if 1t does you nay gain strong point by confessing ome noble act which your tender con- cience has exaggerated into a crime" Shake, doctor!" said the visitor, rasping the others hand. "That sug- nSrTO0 Ia worth mora than apy y,ra |