The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-09-27
Choosing a
Husband
By EINOR MARSH

oA'oiS' anu sue was quite sure that all
or them wished to marry her money
as well as herself and without her
money would not think of marrying
herself
She resolved to submit series of
questions to each one Of the half dozen
men who had proposed to her. These
questions We're to be propounded anon
ymously. the men not knowing from
whom they came, This was the form
OF her interrogatories:
"Flrst.-State what you consider the
claims of wife on her husband.
"Second.-Do you hold that the hus.
band or the wife should be at the head
of the household?
"Third.-What is the object of your
life?
"Fourth.-Do you believe in the pres
ent system of education used IN schools
and colleges?
Fifth. Should the mothers or the
| fathers views be paramount in the
training of children?
"Sixth.-Should the wife he permitted
| to receive the attention of men other
| than her husband?
seventh Should the husband be
permitted to pay attention to other
women than his wife?
Eighth. What are your views as TO
, the use by a husband of money be-
longing to wifeE
Miss Ashurst hoped in the replies to
! these questions. selected with some
care, to form an opinion of the inner
selves of those who replied to them
Had she asked them herself Of her
suitors she knew that she could not
depend on the sincerity of the an
swers. She surely had an advantage
in not being known.
She was somewhat disconnected to
find that all her suitors were appli'
cants for the hand of this wealthy un-
known. The replies were all evidently
well considered and satisfactory to
her, some especially so in certain num-
bers, some In others, but altogether
they made up fair average. Yet
there was no one that showed in every
number Just what she wanted Be-
sides, she was miffed that every one of
the men who had tried to make her be-
lieve he loved her and would be mis-
cradle without her was ready to marry
another girl with a fortune She re-
solved to send her list Of questions to
another half dozen of her men ac-
quaintances.
She received replies in every case.
Five of these replies were acceptable.
some of them being carefully worded
and showing that the writer was a
thoughtful, well balanced person.
while one treated her examination pa
per with contempt. This person was
Bob Clendenin, a young fellow whom
Virginia might have considered as one
she would like for a husband had he
not been a sort of free lance. apparent
" obliyious to the seriousness OF life.
His reply to the number as to the
claims of wife on her husband was
that the fewer claims she had the less
likely she would be disappointed lie
ayerred decidedly that the husband
should be head of the house. His OBJ
iect in life was to get through 1t with
the least bother. He pronounced the
present system Of education rotten &c
the core" The fathers views as tc
the training of children should be par
amount. but they never would be. NC
father could ever compete with the
mother in winning the affection OF the
children. Consequently they would
always be Influenced by her instead OF
him AS to wife or husband being
permitted to pay attention to othel
men or women. either might 40 50 az
,ib unless the other objected.
Whom II came to the last question
concerning the use of a wires none.
nv husband, the reply was that M
was incompetent to answer 1t becaus'
no being poor. would not on any &C
count marry a rich wife. and he knew
tbo+ such condition would surel.
render the husband subservlent 10 III
wife. and he had no fancy Tor an.
such serfdom.
Miss Ashurst. who had started on
with one idea. became captivated Wit
another She had intended TO be guld
oil as TO the sutton she should accep
by the good. hard sense ind'cated u
rho REPLIES OF the applicant. The MAJ
showing the most depth Of though
and feeling in his replies would o.
favored. But she was much staggere'
nv Mr., Clendenin's examination paper
especially by his reply to her las
ouastion. In which he declared that n
would not be tied to any rich woman
What staggered her was a desire ina
sprang up in her breast to make hin
eat his words.
And so il was that this human al
trihute which is in both men and won
, on came up to interfere with Mis-
Asbursts very sound and practca
wav of choosing a husband. she re
solved 10 win-if she could-the ma
who would likely give her the mos
+ronbIe. for. with his views concern
inc a poor man married to nc
wife. constant friction was to be eA
pected.
Az 70 how Miss Ashurst won nus
OrsrsW