The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1926-06-18
A Psychological
Experiment
By Fl. IRVING KING
(Copyright.l

NFARGERIB PHELPS was fond Of
AVA having her own way, and did not
take kindly to advice. There was
nothing alarmingly eccentric in that
there are several young ladies still
at large who strongly resemble Mar
gerie In that respect. Her parents,
both shrewd and sensible persons, in
stead Of openly and violently combat
ing their daughters egocentric dis
position, and thereby making her more
"set" In her ideas, sought to inculcate
their own by deft psychological tricks,
and met with astonishing success as
rule. Margerie was fair to look upon
and her father had money-which
pleasing combination brought her
many admirers and, altogether, made
life very pleasant for her.
She had arrived at an age now
when the subject Of suitable mar
riage for her was one which occa-
stoned her parents much thought and,
In fact, Margerie herself was begin
ming to pay more or less attention to
the marriage question.
II hope my daughter" said Mr..
Enos Phelps to Margerie one day,
that when you pick out husband
AS you probably will some day
that you will not select one Of these
scatter-brained youths whom l see
fluttering about-like Maurice Olem-
mems, for instance. Maurice has
wealth, to be sure; his morals are
good as those of the average young
man, perhaps little better, and 1t
cannot be denied that he is rather
attractive young man. But will he
ever really amount to anything?
That's the question. So long as you
choose an upright, respectable young
men. we shall not Interfere"
"But you are interfering-now,"
replied Margerie. "You admit that
you have nothing against Maurice and
yet you warn me against marrying him.
There isn't an unengaged girl In our
set but would be glad to marry Mau-
rice Clemmens-if he asked them.
He hasn't asked me, yet-at least not
right out. But / do think he's awful
ly nice"
Undoubtedly, my dear, undoubted-
ly," hastily put In Mr.. Phelps; ''but
contrast him now, with that staid,
sober, sensible fellow Raymond Clarke
Raymond hasn't much money, to be
sure; but he Is very economical and
very energetic, and while his wife,
for the first few years Of her married
life, would undoubtedly have to put
up with having her husband absorbed
in business, yet, in the end, with good
luck Raymond ought to make sue
cess of which she could be proud"
''Humph," said Margerie, II am rath-
er fond Of the good things of life my
| self-you have always seen that I had
| them. Raymond Is very sensible, as
| you say, and he Is nice and soothing
| to talk with. But when it comes to
| attractiveness-why he cau't compare
with Maurice Clemmens. You don't
see the girls running after him the
way they do after Maurice, do you 7
But here you said you weren't go
| ing to interfere, and you have picked
out the two very men who are pay
ing me the most attention and trying
| to induce me to choose the one you
have selected. Father, In selecting a
husband 1 shall be guided entirely by
my own Judgment"
| Certainly, my dear-that Is what
have just said," replied the fond
! papa. 81 want you to be. l was mere
| ly pointing out to you the possible su-
| periority Of the rather gawky and i'm
! pecunious Raymond to his more bril-
liant and wealthy rival. / have no
doubt Maurice would make good
husband; and he is abundantly able
to provide his wife with every luxury
but still Raymond has solid quail
ties the value of which are very great
very great indeed. Don't overlook
that fact, daughter"
Ten minutes later, Mr.. and Mrs.
Phelps, being alone and secure from
any interruption from Margerie, the
anxious mother asked, "How did it
work?''
"All right" replied Mr.. Phelps. II
advised Clarke and she Immediately
began to defend Clemmens. And
then he gave his wife an account Of
his conversation with Margerie.
VERY we'll done, Enos; very we'll
done indeed" said Mrs. Phelps when
he had finished. There is nothing
like applied psychology. The mind of
the young should be led. not driven.
But l fear we are going to have Il
complication. That Reginald Baxter
has been calling pretty often of late,
and | have noticed that Margerie
seems considerably taken with him.
"Oh, we'll, that wouldn't be so bad
replied Mr.. Phelps. "Reggie's father
is worth all sorts of money"
But his character" objected Mrs
Phelps. 1T would be just like Mar
gerie to marry him to reform him"
''Tell her he has reformed" sug-
gested Mr. Phelps "That ought to
fix that. l guess weIl land Maurice
all right for her"
1t was fully a month after that
when, one morning at breakfast, Mar
gerie suddenly said with a laugh, 81
had three formal proposals last night
what do you think Of that for your
little daughter? Reggie Baxter, Mau-
rice Clemmens and Raymond Clarke. >
"And which one did you accept?'
asked mother Phelps, trying to look
Indifferent