"THE WOMAN TEMPTED ME."

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 190, 13 August 1928, Page 6

"THE WOMAN TEMPTED ME."

How Ella Basten delights to rend her unfortunate opponents to shreds and toss the remnants to the four winds! How she gnasheth with her teeth and longs for my real name wherewith she may glut her rage! And then she complains because I meekly murmur that she has misread me and calls it a personal attack. Save us I I have mislaid my first letter, so cannot quote it. But I am sure that my last does at least explain my meaning. Judging by the lady's quotations. she has taken in a special sense mT use of the word "desire," when I intended it in a general way as equivalent to feeling, inclination, emotion. However, I believe it i« not wise to argue with a lady, so I will not attempt to reply further, except to say that I was not referring to the Christchurch tragedy particularly, and certainly was not defending the low scoundrel who deceived that girl. I was but reminding the feminine world at large that a considerable share of the responsibility for hurried marriages and worse misfortunes must rest at their own door. The key of the situation is the proper maidenly reserve which can so check the least impropriety even of an unseemlv fellow and will always prevent the very thought of evil in a decent bo v. MARRIED.