Omaha daily bee., 1915-01-19
Why Love Making is Now a Lost Art

heroine, or address her in such burning
languagef
None. Modern novels reflect modern
life. and 1t Is significant that in not a
single six best sellers is there a proposal
that even q kitchen maid can view with
out contempt At the critical moment
when 1t is up to the hero to make love,
he balks. and has to be beaten over the
hurdle. He does not take the leap with
the swinging stride and free gait and
perfect poise Of the thoroughbred of the
past.
These criticisms on modern courtship
are offered more In sorrow than in anger.
1t is even realized that il is not mans
fault that he has lost the art of love-
making. and that somehow, whenever he
approaches near to It, he manages to run
his great clumsy feet sprang through all
the pink chiffons of romance.
Doubtless every man regrets this him
self Doubtless every man sees himself
a Romeo, and has visions OF himself
making love to some woman in beautiful,
poetic language. that she win be proud to
remember MS long as she lives, and Il
must give him a shock himself to realize
that he is popping the question to her as
badly and in as commonplace a way as
II he were asking her to have another
fish ball.
Being practical, so long as the present
method OF making love works men are
sufficiently satisfied with Il; but to
women IL Is one of the secret EorrowN OF
life. OF course. IL q woman loves a man,
she accepts when she asks her to marry
him, no matter how he does IL; but IL is
one thing to have your hearts desire
presented TO YOU on n silver salver
wreathed in roses, and another to be
slugged with IT,
From her earliest years every woman
looks forward TO the time when some
man will really love her ana court her
and propose to her. BY the time she is
six years old she has begun picking out
the kind OF romantic wooing that she de-
sores and expects to have; and from
year to year she adds TO the specifica-
lions and ground plans; throwing out a
new wing here and q bay window there,
ana adding an ornamental cornice and
running UP a few turrets. as her study of
the great romances OF poetry and fiction
and the stage adds to her knowledge of
the subject.
Al last the time arrives and the hour
and the man ana the situation meet. II
is a blow to her that her hero il named
Tom instead Of Reginald or Percy; but
she overlooks that There's nothing in a
name. as her friend Romeo remarked. II
It all in the love making. II Il. He be-
gins oy calling her upon the telephone
that cursed instrument Of trade. Who
can talk sentiment ever q wire? And N
ne did. who would want anybody whisper
Ing sweet things In her ear with his
mouth thousand miles off?
He sends her flowers. Great punches
OF costly hothouse roses. when violets are
her taVorite flower and she always wears
SHADES OF lavender and purple. She
: srihas her teeth as she puts the i'll
CHOSEN ana thcrny messages OF love in
water. Fool, Dolt Idiot. Chump why
why, why didn't he have enough senss
, to send for q I6-cent bunch OF violets
, with note saying that they were ike
, her eyes. or that she always made him
think OF violets. or something to show
that there was some personal Significance
In his choice. something to show that he
: though OF her, instead OF going on the
! general principle Of sending flowers TO q
: | woman?
! Then comes the climax. He has given
unmistakable indications Of being in Iowa
4, The girl knows by many signs and
: tokens that no is going to ask her TO be
!, his wife. and she waits with palpltatina
= heart for the great hour Of her romance
A for all her dreams to flower. Surely h.
! will rise TO the occasion. Surely he viii
r. select some moment when they are alon.
, together In the still hush OF the evening
= or when the moon draws the soul up q
: the stars, or when the sea IL beating II
on the shores and the tank OF the sal
e waves makes one mad with the Joy o
A living; or, perchance. he will speak som,
}, night under the palms OF the conserva
Ie tory. with the throbbing strains OF
IL waltz dying on the air. and he viii say
e oh. certainly, all the things that he
n ears have thirsted for. for love must max
10 every man a poet for once In his life
le He speaks. lie eOoses as the psyche