IDEALS.

Northern Advocate, 23 August 1924, Page 12 (Supplement)

IDEALS.

MEN AND WOMEN. -If men were asked to make a list of the seven qualities and tne three faults they would expect to find in the character of their ideal woman, and the women readers were asked to do the same for their ideal man, I wonder what the lists would be like? writes Roseman Halkyn in '"]">■<> Daily Mail. ,, Some little time ago " Les Annales, ,, a Parisian weekly paper, published the result of a ballot held on these lines, and the lists interested me ,so much that I think other English people, might like to compare French opinion with their own. According to the list compiled from women's votes, the quality Frenchwomen prize most highly in a man is intelligence. It obtained 44,698 votes. Then follow love of home, goodness, a liking for work, fidelity, strong will, and honesty. Courage just escapes inclusion, love of children comes 17th and politeness has very few votes indeed. Generosity, self-control, patience, broadmindedness—qualities I should like in my ideal man —do not find much favour either.

Curiously enough, the fault which is considered most supportable and received most votes —55,553 —was a love 6f good things to eat. 'i'hen came a love of teasing, and finally what, for want of a better word, I must call "stay-at-homeness. ,, Next in order were severity, pride, curiosity.

The list drawn up by men is much more interesting. It is so refreshingly old-fashioned —and selfish. Love of home heads the liet with 35,905 votes. Love of children, fidelity, goodness, tenderness, devotion and intelligence complete it. Economy, charm, tidiness, gaiety, and common-sense come next in order, but with far fewer votes. As for n woman's faults, a love of dress comes first —65,870 votes. Then a love of good things to eat —■34,4f>0 votes —and lastly, curiosity. A love of teasing gained nearly as ninny votes as curiosity and jealousy, severity and pride occur in the list. On the surface the list indicates a certain reaction which the modern maiden would do well to ponder over if marriage enters into her scheme of life. Personally. I should like to amend the list. Imagine a woman with all the seven qualities voted for! Surely she would be one of those perfect persons so admirable in theory, so borinj in reality. First of all, I should put love of home and children, for the two are. inseparably connected in my mind. A'nd next, intelligence. How can one manage a household, bring up one's children, love, in the best and fullest sense of the word, without a large amount of intelligence? Finally, I should wuiit to include common-sense, gaiety, courage, fnidchnrin^iojyjttssivejirtues^^^^^^