The Press., 1915-08-04
:ADesperate Remedy
 1t Was Applied to Two Pa- tients and Was Successful
By E. A. MITCHELL

l "John," said my especial friend, Mrs Edith Allison, Il am very sorry to SCI you neglecting the most importan matter in mans or a wonians life Some day, when you are an old man | tired of the social life, tired of you club, forced in the evening to go ou to seek the companionship of persons whom you care little about, and man, of whom care less for you; when yo, return to your lonely bachelor quar ters, with no one to welcome you, tt pass a night alone, you will regre having wasted years of opportunit. to provide yourself with home"
 "What horrible picturev'
 "The picture is not half as horrible as the reality
 l Marriage is an awful risk"
 "A risk, yes; the other is a cer tainty."
 "But l can't compel myself to love any woman nor any woman to love me-"
 That is where we in America err OI the side of romance. Abroad the prin cipal feature in wedlock is the dowry here 1t is what we call love. A dowry is tangible; love is intangible. Far be 1t from me to decry pure affection but that emotional condition, which il men and women is one minute ecstatit and the next may turn to hate, or latel to indifference, is no basis on whicf to make a life contract binding two persons together" "Would you have me go into room bltndfolded where there are q number of unmarried women, take one of them by the hand and lead her to the altar?'
 "You might as well do that as take a partner while blinded by love. You don't need to do either. One thing you can do that is reasonable in choosing a wife. If you take any one into your employ you require references, don't you?"
 Certainly"
 "Very well. Why should you not all the more require references in taking a wife?"
 "And the wife, presume, should re- quire references of meT
 Certainly"
 "It seems to me-" I replied after some hesitation, that your idea would I might marry still farther apart"
 Not if it is properly carried out"
 What was Edith driving at? con- fess 1 could not make out. That she was a woman of great originality l knew. That she wls my devoted friend did not doubt. She had Cau- toned me before this against waiting ing, and suspected that she now had some plan for me. ] wondered if she was not bent on making 8 match be- tween me and some young woman who, like myself, was growing out of her youth and should be mated.
 Come, Edith," l said; tout with it. You're bent on marrying me off. What Is your planY'
 She paused a few moments before replying; then she put down some fan cy work she was doing and, looking me straight in the eye, said:
 Desperate cases require desperate remedies"
 Granted" ...
 "It would do no good for me to in- troduce you to a woman who l believed would make you good wife"
 'I should probably spurn her."
 "Nor would it avail to introduce such a woman to you, assuring her that she would be happy with you.'
 "She would wonder if you thought her bereft of any taste whatever"
 q have a woman in mind and have had just such a conversation with her as I have had with you"
 'The dickens you havew
 "Yes, and she admits that any man introduced to her for the purpose of making a match would repel her.''
 q see; you are going to throw us to- gether without our knowing of your design
 Nonsense. That threadbare theme of novelists might do for very young persons. You and the woman have In mind are too old. The only way by which you can be united is for both to place the matter in the hands of a third party
 "As in Turkey where the parents arrange matches for their children and the groom never sees the brides face till he lifts her veil after they are married''
 "You have stated the case exactly"
 "Very well. to cease generalizing and come down to a definite plan?"
 '"The lady whom have assured that you will make her good husband has consented to leave the whole matter to me. My plan requires that you do the same. Do :ou consent?"
 "How can I consent to what don't know?'
 "You are both being assured by me that neither will make mistake-to turn the key of wedlock on yourselves without having seen each other"
 Great heavensv'
 ''Is it not done every day in Turkey?"
 "GO on"
 You are to be married without any previous acquaintance, not having seen each other till you stand before the clergyman who marries you. At the conclusion of the ceremony you are to separate for week, at the end of which time you may, if so disposed, call on your bride. From this time further, if you are both so disposed, you are to do as much or as little courting as you like"
 "It seems to me that this is putting the cart before the horse.''
 "Not at all. It is simply applying a sdmulant to obviate the indifference of middle life. If you cut gash in your arm what do you do to draw the parts together?"
 Apply an adhesive plaster"
 "That is the intention of this plan of mine. It Is an adhesive plaster to draw you and the woman together. Married you cannot fly apart. You are bound by matrimony"
 Edith" exclaimed, what a head you have on your shoulders! You should have been scientist"
 'I am giving you nothing but conn