Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-21

we'll observe her fiance. Does
he take the morning paper fur
lively or seize it boldly with
selfish indifference to others?"
Most marriages are unhappy because
the rosy illusion does not last. Under
the test of daily association, Of eating at
the same table. OF engaging in the sordid
details OF household life, the texture OF
the golden dream becomes plain burlap.
and very coarse gray burlap at that All
is not gold that gltters; all is not TO.
nance that blooms in 'Springtime.
And 80 think it a good plan for a
young woman 10 test out companionship
with the man she contempates marry
ing in his home as the Brooklyn poetess
did. ] think it would be excellent also
for young man TO make test on his
side. if the girls proves satisfactory, in
the home OF the young woman.
II Dcsdemona. for instance had antici.
pated the Brooklyn poetess and had gone
into Othcllos family she would have dis.
covered his jealousy. Ophe!ia did live in
hamlct's house. and certainly she found
him to he mad Would Lady Caroline
Lamb have become frantcally enamored
with Lord Byron il she had seen how no
acted at home toward Lady Byron? II
people who fell in love, or imagined they
had fallen in love, undertook this unique
test they could certainly ascertain
whether they got tired with each other
or more and more interested: they would
certainly know whether intimate contact
tended TO excite antagonism and aversion
or d closer and more congenial compan.
onshlI Under that test they would find
lfNt.a lr,.l
youth and sex.
In such trial visiting engagement
the young person would be like Saul
going ont 10 find wild asses; some. like
Saul might find Il Kingdom others less
than what they set out to find.
How would girl going into the home
OF her intended husband, be able to test
his character? You would presume that
the Young man, knowing he was under
surveillance, would be on his good be-
haviOr lie would be- But in q period
OF from one TO three months he would
inevitably disclose his real nature One
cannot he on good behavior in the home
all the time. y girl possessing sense
of drama could find much interest and
excitement in this experience. She could
see how the man she idcalizes treats his
mother and sisters. If he treated them
roughly She would know what TO expect
as a wife
Does the young man try TO "boss? p"
a happy marriage is n companionship
wherein both have equal rights and
neither tries to dominate and rule the
other girl would probably find the
most illuminating index to mans char
actcr IN the small things OF life She
might ask him TO read to his mother IN
the evenings. man who reads to his
mother shows quality OF consideration
and unsclfishncss
Perhaps the most trying moment OF
the twenty-four hours IS breakfast time
There are good psychological reasons
why this IS so, and it seems to be equally
true Tor both man and woman.
no woman looks her best at the break
last table. and most men are likely to be
rather irritable until they have had their
cup OF coffee. This IS the moment when
man who Is not thoroughly amiable
and truly unsclfish is likely to be caught
OF his guard and leave the door ajar for
peek into his real soul
This would he the moment for very
close observation of q pros pcctive Ufe
partner. With mental pencil and note.
BOOK the trial engagement bride-tobe
might well observe and note whether
the breakfast greeting is mora than a
perfunctory piece Of acting. Is /. ,an'a