LADIES' COLUMN. "WHY DO NOT MEN PROPOSE."

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 33, 8 February 1908, Page 11

LADIES' COLUMN. "WHY DO NOT MEN PROPOSE."

A man, horrorslrickpn at. iho number of bachelors and spinstcis "n this lowu, recency opened fire on these cning unwed in an article entitled "Why Do Not Men Propose?" Yet haidly any enterprising letter-writers took upon themselves to discus 3 the pios and cons of this great question. Or the gieater one — "Why don't tho women want to marry?" the answer to the latter question being quite obvious and unanswerable. The girl of to-day is so absolutely free and unfettered — she goes where she chooses, says and does absolutely what she likes, and, above nil. is eminently practical. Romance holds little place in her curriculum. Should a man come along who can give her more than is already to bt found in her lot in life- in the way of money, position, or travel, she will gladly accept him — that is to say, if he is not so old or uninteresting as to outbalance his worldly advantages. But the oidinary damsel has no wish to forfeit her independence and settle down m a, style inferior to that to . which she has been accustomed. To be burdened with the cares of a household and children, have less amusement, fewer frocks is not her idea of bliss. It must be remembered that the average colonial girl (according to Melbourne Punch) is brought up in a manner befitting those a grade or two higher than herself. She dresses, as a rule, quite, above her station in life, and her aim and object in the world is enjoyment. Therefore, most of the possible husbands whom she encounters on her journey through life would be unable to support her in the style to which she is accustomed — a fact which she is far too practical to ignore. How can this modern product look at life from the sentimental 'point of view from which, her grandmother viewed it, especially as an overkeen sense of humour, which inclines* to turn every thing and anything into ridicule, is being carefully cultivated by the feminine youth of this city? This is a deplorable fact, but a fact nevertheless,. There are many — lery many — exceptions to bs found, bnt all must admit that the above is descriptive of the ordinary gill. fcihe is happy ; but the outlook to the political economist is* alarming. Therefore) the question — why don't tho men propose? — and its obvious answer — Because the women won't accept ! — is likely to become one of Our national cries. Evidently this question has arisen in Illinois, U.S.A., as at the high school in the town of Cfrccnfield, in that city, ths principal Russell) has added a course of courtship to the curriculum of the school. The couise will consist of ii series of lectupres combined with the study of 10v.2 poems. At intervals during the course the pupils will be required to write cssujs en such subjects as the f ollov, ing : — How to take the heart by storm. How to detect the advent of a grand passion. . How to behave if parental objection is manifested. How to encourage bashful suitors. How to propose. The parents* it is spid. have raised wholesale objection to the new course of study, but the pupils arc extremely attentive and enthusiastic. Perhaps this novel idea ot Professor Russell's may eventually be adopted in this poi& of the world. Should its success be ensured in America, where they ate evidently at last realising that "lovo" icnlly does make the world, go lound, and that not even the soundest politics can thrive independently of romance a woman's view of life, both of which subjects have hitherto not .boen contained in the political curriculum. Perhaps, after- nil, romance may again, through the kindly efforts of this American professor, replace tho very cheap wit which makes fun of sentiment in all its phasps, and hold nothing sacred but clothes and pleasuie.