davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1919-12-28

her pretense of passiveness and
openly fling coil after coil about him
until he is secured forever"
Of course, all this, though put
with that engaging frankness which
is typically Shavian, is beside the
mark, for the problem now con-
fronting womankind is that of MAX
ing their proposals openly and
frankly, instead Of by the indirect
method referred to by the English
author, but it is worth putting down
as showing how at least one eminent
mind views the subject.
4 WOnuans Vie,p
Equally interesting is what some
other authors have had to say on the
question of women making pro-
posals
John Oliver Hobbies, who was
Pearl Richards Craigle, woman,
CONSIDERED the subject one OF great
Importance, but treated it with
Righteousness nevertheless.
"Should girls propose?" she asked
in an article. "Could marriage with
a man too cowardly to propose make
her happy?" Then, after making
caustic reference to "hulking fel-
lows" being treated in leap year
as though they were delicate
flowers, capricious zephyrs, sensi-
tive plants or moping love BIRDS"
she concluded:
of we allow~-even for arguments
sake-that it is for women to ar
range marriage, all social life would
be doomed to destruction"
Of course, she was writing satir-
ically, and may have meant some of
New-York tribune., 1919-12-28
and, If they are, how best to 20
about it.

oHO, IL Cucy are, now DeSC TO 20
about it.
For, after all, if women are to be
encouraged in making proposals the
first question is to give them the op-
portunity, and the next is "How to
go about it,"
The answer to the second question
seems to- be as difficult to obtain as
to the first, and virtually the only
sources of information are the plav-
wrights. These craftsmen have not
hesltated to offer solutions, but the
trouble with them is that no two
agree, and in many instances the
methods suggested are not at all
suited, in the opinion Of many peo-
pie, to practical needs.
An example in point is shown in
a motion picture play which is now
New-York tribune., 1919-12-28

''B 9ss@''':" :.s's' II. VA; a; '', ;; 's: ;':
inconsequence and vul-
garity to some sort of
recognition among certain classes
1t is manifestation Of unhealthi-
ness developed of late not only In
painting but sculpture, music and
in literature" declared Sir John
ston when I talked with him recently,
aboard a Cunarder, on his first trip
to this country since his retirement
from the stage In 1915-I6.
We had touched upon the labor
question, spoken Of the future of
the Anglo-American alliance and the
development of the drama, and then
the conversation drifted to the SUBJ
Ject of art, on which this greatest
of Shakespearean actors can speak
with authority, for, like Joseph JEFF
ferson, had he not given his life to
a hlstrionic career he would have
been equally famous as a master of
portraiture.
His leisure time has always been
devoted to his painting, and several
If his canvases, including his por-
traits of Ellen Terry, Mary Ander-
son and Samuel Phelps, the great
lctor, which now hangs in the Gar
New-York tribune., 1919-12-28

saint were successful so far as max
ing Leap Year a permanent feature
was concerned, but-and this is
pointed to to-day by many women
as indicating the chronic state of the
masculine mind-so unwilling were
the men from the very first to be
partners to it that in several in
stances laws had to be passed to i'm
press them with their obligations.
Became English La,c
Record of one of these early laws,
adopted in this case by an English
hamlet, is still in existence, and
readsp
"AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAWS
OF COURTSHIP AND MATRI
MONY.
albeit 1t is now become part of
the common law In regard to social
New-York tribune., 1919-12-28
4 Stage Example


Another stage example Of h,
else the proposal may be made va.
offered by J. Baldwin Blackstone !,
the three-act play in which the nlo.
dealt directly with leap year pros,
fer.
In this production the action !.
much more gentle, and is phrased !,
the politest of words. A vour,
woman Of wealth is desirous =,
forming a union in holy matrimon,
with a young man named N,
Dimple, who, unfortunately, j. !,
financial straits, ard FOR that reaso,
hesitates to ask her to be his wife
SO she-her name is Miss O'Learr-
approaches tie subject this way:
Miss OL.-Ah, sir! Their. sr
times and seasons when the custom,
of society become reversed and
ladies are allowed latitude which
at other periods are denied them.
Mr.. Dimple-Ah!
Miss OI.-And now, Mr.. Dimpl.
intend to take advantage o. the priv.
ilege as regards myself
Mr.. mple-Oh, dear ne, Mw
I really-I-
Miss OIL know you have long
wished to meet with a hear. tba.
you could call YOUR owa.
Mr.. Dimple--T confess have had
such thoughts don't, don't lei ma
say too much.
After that the rest is easy, and q
happy marriage, which neither ever
regrets, is the result.
Once again, it is pointed out, tn.
method may not be exactly what is
wanted to-day, but it furnishes
suggestion in the art Of leading up
to the proposal which. some CON
slider. might prove helpful.
But these are by no means the
only examples to be had, the stage.
abounding in plots which provide an
almost endless opportunity for stud
by women desirous of learning the
best way Of meeting their particliar
problem.
In New York City. for instance
one Of the popular plays has in it
young man who is extremely shy in
the presence Of his loved one, al
though when with others he has no
trouble at all about making love.
The young woman whom the
young man really loves is everything
that his heart desires, young, pretty
and vivacious, but somehow when
ever he is in her presence his cour-
age forsakes him. There is little
complication which causes the young
woman, entirely against her inclina.
ton, to engage herself to an adven.
turer who seeks to force her to
marry him by holding over her head
the threat Of making public an al
legged theft that had been committed
by her brother while in his employ;
but this is incidental to the real
courtship, which is between her and
the shy young man. He also is COM
PEELED to engage himself to another,
but this, too, is extraneous, and
merely holds in suspense the interest
of the audience. and serves to keep
the play going through the required
number Of acts.
New-York tribune., 1919-12-28
Her Subtle Courfship

The way she finally wins him "
this: First she tells all of her
friends that she is in love with him
and that she is certain he Is in love
with her. Then, whenever the op-
portunity offers, she sits beside him
in the moonlight, although these op-'
portunities are brief, as the young
man, in his extreme nervousness
falls off the bench or makes hasty
exit into the night.
Finally she wins him by Sheer
weight of accumulativc effect, and
before he knows it he rinds himself
clasping her in his arms, and the
curtain goes down on a very happy
ending.
This method, especially that part
OF it which includes telling the mans
friends that he is TO be married BE-
fore making the proposal to MIN
direct, is considered by the experts
to be mot so bad" and as offering
real helpful hint which, in the COM
ing year, may be used to good effecl
by women seeking to take advantage
of their opportunities during Leap
Year.
These are all the helpful sugges-
tions that could be gathered. As 10
whether any of them will he &C.
cepted, however, is matter upon
which no one will venture al opih-
ion, and which probably because OF
the reticence usually displayed after
ward in such matters will never Do
known.
The only thing that is known Is
that this Leap Year many men are
perfectly willing for the women 70
try the experiment of making the
proposals--on the condition, OF
course, they don't tell the men
friends Of their husbands after
ward. -
New-York tribune., 1919-12-28
The Pay Envelope and the
Ballot May Alter the
Situation

to look for solution as provid;r,
a hint that, however the nro,a..,
may be made, a certain arnopnt =.
persistence IN some cases n.v =
necessary.
New-York tribune., 1919-12-28

IS at hana when 1t is mans
(calendar) privilege to lean
back comfortably in his arm
chair and to address in this manner
the anxious, shy and highly agitated
woman kneeling before him:
"All right. Go ahead and ask me,
and maybe III marry you"
But will she ask him? Even If he
adopts a less standofElsh attitude,
giving her every encouragement pos
sible, will she do it? Moreover, hav-
ing decided to ask him, what is her
best way of going about it?
AS each Leap Year approaches
there have always been problems, and
there are again problems this time. It
is freely admitted on all sides that
never in their history have women
been so favoraby placed for taking
more aggressive attitude in mat
ters Of courtship and matrimony as
to-day, but it is also conceded, with
equal unanimity, that the way of go
ing about it is just as complicated
as usual
What, therefore, are the women
going to do in the season beginning
next month and ending & full year
hence? Will they take advantage of
the hard-won privilege gained for
them by st. Bridget on the shores of
Lough Neagh, so many centuries
ago, or will they again be reduced to
the necessity of employing the
'wiles by indirection" Of which Ber-
nard Shaw complained so bitterly in
his book?
What are the women going to do
this coming year?
A cautious and careful survey
it had to he cautious and careful for
reasons which will appear later
seems to Indicate that there is a
growing conviction in many quarters
that if they ever intend actually to
take advantage Of their Lean Year
opportunities the time for them to
DO It is now.
In the first place, they have never
enjoyed such complete "emancipa-
ton politically and economically.
They not only have the vote in a
majority of the states, but about 80
per cent more than ever before are
self supporting. IN a greater de-
gree than in their history, too, they
arc on an equal basis" with the
men in the United States in earn
ing capacity. The war, especially,
was great boon to them, and
women are now employed In many
fields i'll which they never were seen
before. Moreover, it is contended,
in many instances, they and not the
men hold the ''paying jobs" and are,
therefore, in better position than
the males to take the initiative in
proposing matrimony.
But will they do it?
Object to Being Quoted
In making an investigation with
view to offering a conservative fore
cast of what may be expected in
1920, surprising amount Of reti-
New-York tribune., 1919-12-28

In making an investigation with q
view to offering a conservative fore
cast of what may be expected in
1920, surprising amount Of reti-
cence was encountered among per-
New-York tribune., 1919-12-28
Vhat Will Enfrancfised Woman Do With Leap Yea
An Inquiry Into What May
BE Expected i'm the
Future

NNCE again the happy season
q is at hand when it is mans
(calendar) privilege to lean
New-York tribune., 1919-12-28
By Frances Fisher Byers

* OLSHEVISM In art has
3 forced its way by its
inconsequence and vul-
New-York tribune., 1919-12-28
Object to Being Quoted

But will they do it?
Evening journal., 1919-02-12
sick YOUTH SENDS
BULLET into HEAD
Weldin Smith Ends Life
While Preparing to Go
TO Funeral
DOCTOR SAYS HE
DIED INSTANTLY

Dependency over III health Is said
by the police to have caused weld.n
Smith, aged 35 years, son OF Mrs Anna
NJ Smith OF No. si7 West Fourth street
TO shoot himself while In tao second
story front bedroom OF his home about
1880 O'Clock this morning. Smith used
a 30 calibre revolver owned by George
VI. Barney, a nephew. whose father was
found asphyxisied in the same house
several months ago. The bullet en-
tered the young mans brain.
According to Mrs. Smith, who is the
mother-in-law OF John S. Bradley, s.,
OF No. 1924 West street, who diei on
Sunday and whose funeral took place
this afternoon, he sOl went 10 bis
room this morning to get dressed to
attend the funeral Of his brothe@-in-
law, and shortly Afterwards she heard
the report nf revolver.
Going 10 the room, Mrs.. Smith was
horrL1ed 10 find the boiy OF her son
lying on the floor, blood running from
a gaping wound oyer the right temple
The clothes ne was TO have worn TO
the funeral were lying on the bed
Other occupants OF the house called
DR.. d. l. McColley. who hurried 70 tle
house and pronounced the man desu
In the meantime word was sent 10 tne
police station and the police patrol ~ /
charge OF Special Oflcer Johnson hut
ried TO the house. The police toVh
cboroe M the revolver. George NJ.
Barney, nephew Of the desu s..ni, ,nsn
owned. The weapon had pevn iuhs
Continued on Page Eleven. !
Evening journal., 1919-02-12
WOMAN YOUTH END THEIR ESSUGGEST LOWER INCOME TAX RATE
KILL THE BILL THAT AIMS TO KILL
AN HONEST COUNTY ASSESSMENT!
(EdifOriaD

We are informed that the House Committee
that has had under consideration Representative
Brooks bill providing for the repeal of the law
creating the new Board Of County Assessors for
New Castle county and the destruction of
honest assessment for this county, has decided to
report the repeater con its merits"
In short, this dastardly piece of proposed legis-
lation, which is a menace to every honest prop
erty owner and taxpayer in New Castle county,
including Wilmington, and beacon of promise
to every dishonest property owner and taxpayer
who thinks he viii have pull with the restored
old assessment machinery, is to be tossed out on
the floor of the House to be dealt with by the
Representatives as they see fit
The committeeman seemingly afraid to
come to grips with the disappointed office-seekers
and the assessment crooks who are behind the
repeater.
They are unloading upon the members of the
House the performance of public duty of the
first magnitude which they should not hesitate
to perform themselves, regardless of the wishes
of disappointed ofice-seekers and the
ment crooks who would like to have the repeater
pass
Well, If the committeeman dodge their duty
to the honest property owners and the honest tax
payers in New Castle county, the members of the
House as a whole should not hesitate in the per-
formance of that duty.
They should stand as a man in opposition to
the bill and waste little valuable legislative time
in killing it beyond recall.
II is damnable IN its conception and doubly
damnable in its purposes, which twofold.
One is to give public pap to certain hungry
politicians who never are satisfied except when
feeding at the public trough-men who think tho
tsxpaying public owes them good and easy
living.
The other is to destroy the fair and honest
equalization principle in its application to the
Evening journal., 1919-02-12
BY the United Press.

BY the United Press.
PARIS Feb. i2.-The associated pow
ers, according TO international expects
idday, face these two vital problems:
Imposition OF sufficiently restrictive
measures on Germany to remove any
possibility Of her renewing the wa.
Tempering Of the peace settlement,
both as regards Germany and Russia.
10 prevent those countries from enter
ng an alliance that would be a per
manent menace 10 world peace.
Upon the peace conference was the
overwhelming responsibility Of Steer
ing a course between this international
scylla and charybdys-a course that Is
admitted In some officials circles 10 be
so narrow and dangerous that It's sue
cessful navigation win require the ut
most fnesse and skill.
The threat OF German militarism 4
FAR from allayed In The view OF tn
French nation from the highest ofilcia
10 the lowest peasant. They see I
Chancellor Eberts threats at WeimaI
in Field Marshal Won II ndenburg'
creation Of a new and powerful arm
"to right the Poles, in countless othe
Incidents of similar character. a rea
and imminent threat against Franc
Rumors fly thick and fast Of Germany
Evening journal., 1919-02-12

sessment Of property in New Castle county and
restore the old assessment system under which
property owners who could manipulate the
sessment machinery escaped the paying of their
fair share of county taxes, while property owners
who had neither the power nor the desire to
manipulate that machinery were compelled to
pay not only their own fair share of taxes but also
had unloaded upon them those portions of the
financial burdens of county government which
had been lodged by the crooked friends of crook
ed assessors.
The honest property in Wilmington
and in rural New Castle county want such
restoration.
They want an honest and an equalized
ment that is fair to every property owner and
taxpayer in the county, be that property owner
and taxpayer a poor man or a rich man or
moderately well-to-do.
II was an insult to Representative Brooks to
place such crooked bill in his hands for intro
duction.
II was an insult to the Legislature for the dis
appointed ofice-seekers and the assessment crooks
who are consorting with them to make formal and
serious proposal of such arepeaL
II would be an insult to and crime against
the people of Delaware for a legislative commit
tee to report such a crooked bill fsvorably.
e would be equally an insult to and crime
against the people of Delaware for the House to
fail to make summary disposal of this bill of
sessment crooks by assessment crooks and for
sessment crooks and aimed to destroy the cardi-
nal principles of true assessment and taxation.
If, as is asserted, there is not enough red blood
and backbone m the House committee to scotch
this snake which has reared itself against all
honest property owners and taxpayers, we feel
sure there is enough red blood and backbone in
the House itself to attend to the matter in a
ner which, while it wquestionaby viii be dis
com6ting to assessment crooks, will be eminently
satisfying to honest taxpayers.
Evening journal., 1919-02-12
WOULD STRIP HUN
OF EVERY CHANCE
TORE-OPEN FIGHT
Peace Makers Are COnfrOntedWifh
Problem of Preventing Russian
German Alliance That Would Be
Permanent Menace TO World
TeutOns Build 16O NeiU Submd-
rines-France Insists on Perma-
nent Safety

alleged present duplicity. For In
stance:
Have you heard what the Germans
did about the submar nest" inquiries
one Frenchman OF a friend; then pro
ceeds 10 explain that they not onls
failed to turn over a hundred OF The
u-boats promised under the armistica
but are building i6O new ones The
source OF such stories can be traced
only TO the fear that permeates tha
whole country. An echo OF this fear
or, In their case. perhaps. discretion
Is heard In the Speeches OF French
statesmen and military officials arguing
FOR imposition OF more drastic military
regulations In the new armistlce terms.
acquls tion Of the whole east bank OF
the Rhine and even retention OF some
form OF defensive alliances. i.
While this alarm is not apparent
among the other associated powers.
Germany's potential power is being
/ threshed out by the peace conferees.
some argue that It is necessary to
strip" Germany now, lest she put an
army OF 100000 In the neld. This
brings out the contention that strip
ping" process In Germany now. i0gett-
er with refusal 10 give Consideration
10 the Russian situation. would be the
! Continued on page twelve.)
Evening journal., 1919-02-12
SOME LAWMAKERS
FAVOR lowering
INCOME TAX RATE.
Balance of $567.000 In
State Treasury Sets
High Record
WILL need MOkEY TO
BUILD new HIGHWAYS
stan Correspondent.

stan Correspondent
DOVER, Del, Feb. i2-It besame
Snown today that at the present time
here is a balance in the state Treas
ury Of $4,000. This Is probably the
largest balance the State mas ever had
At this time OF the year. It is recalled
hat on several occasions in the past
when the Legislature started its 5i-
snnial session the State Treasury has
practically been depleted OF funds.
Considering this large balance and
the startling disclosure made by the
report OF the Stale Treasurer as to the
income tax, showing that nearly $780,
100 has been collected TO date fo- last
year, under the income tax law, OF
which $4,000 came from New Castle
County, some members Of the Legis-
lature have ra sed the question as to
whether II would not be expedient TO
decrease the income tax rate from
per cent 10 One-half per cent.
At a conference yesterday afternoon
in the governs S office, Governor
Townsend went over with the Appro-
lriatlons Committee OF the House and
ne Finance Committee OF the Senate
Prospective appropriations for the next
wo years so that he can prepare q
ludget as required by law 10 be sub
nitted 10 the General Assembly prob
lbly next week. The Governor and
hese committees do not propose to al
CONTINUED on Page Twelye.)
Evening journal., 1919-02-12
SMILES, Then DIES,
OF GUkSHOT WOUND
Mrs. Ada M. Sparks Wife
of Farmer Ends Life =
While Sick
TELLS FRIEND SHE
SHOT HERSELF

Placing the muzzle OF shotgun
against her stomach at her home. near
Talleyville. late yesterday afternoon,
Mrs. Ada VI. Sparks. aged 30 years. wife
Of a well known farmer, living In
Brandywine hundred. pulled the trig-
ger and inflicted wounds which caused
her death a short time later.
Mrs. Sparks, who had been under a
physicians care for some time, was
alone In a room at the time and Mrs.
Harvey Beecher. who lived with the
sparks, hearing the report Of the
weapon ran 10 the room. Mrs Sparks
was huddled in heap on the floor and
Mrs. Beecher asked her If she had shot
herself. Mrs. Sparks hooded her head
in the Affirmative and smiled. falling to
the floor dead.
Word Of the suicide was sent 10 the
coroner's oflce and Coroner Bullock
went TO the Sparks home this morning
10 investigate the case. A certificate
OF death from gunshot wounds, SELF
inflicted, was given.
Evening journal., 1919-02-12
LAWMAKERS ON
INSPECTION TRIP
Members Of Legislature
Visit Ferris and Girls
Industrial Schools
TO BE. GUESTS AT
DINNER TONIGHT

Members OF the General Assembly are
taking a holiday today and are putting
In the time visiting the Ferris Indus
trial School and the Delaware Industrial
School for Girls. This evening they
VIII be the guests Of the Chamber Of
Commerce at a banquet at the Hotel
dupont
The legislators arrived in Wilmington
shortly after II o'clock this morning.
They were met at French street station
by Wilmington members and persons
interested in the two institutions.
From the station the visitors were
taken IN automobiles TO the Ferris In
dustrial School in Christiana Hundred.
An inspection was made Of the school
and the farm. For some time the board
OF managers Of this school, which is a
private Institution, have not been re-
ceiving sufficient funds 10 properly
carry on the work and have suggested
that the State take IL over.
Representative Lyons, OF Wilmington.
has introduced two bills in the House
providing for the conveyance OF the
property to the State ana appropriating
funds with which TO maintain II. The
counties would also be called on TO
assist In maintaining the school, based
on The per capita Of inmates from each
county.
lhe Legislators were welcomed by
DR.. John Ball. John Stroud. DR.. w. H
Kraemer, Mrs Martin Lane, Mrs. Rob.
ert Rayner, Caleb Stsbler and A. ID
Continued on PAGE EIeven)
Evening journal., 1919-02-12
Want LEGISLATORS
TO SEE ASSESSMENT
County Board Invites Solons
to Look Over Valpa-
tion System
GIVES FAIR DEAL TO
ALL, SAY MEMBERS

William B. Smith. Jr., president OF
the New Castle County Board OF As
sessment, and Patrick McGrory.. John
Cowgirl Aston and Charles w. Gooding.
the other merbers OF the board. today
extended ansinvitation to members Of
the Legislature 10 visit the once Of the
board. Inspect the records and study the
assessment system in effect there. The
members Of the Assessment Board in
Continued on Page Eleven.)