SHOULD THE WOMEN ASK?

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16503, 2 August 1919, Page 5

SHOULD THE WOMEN ASK?

BY A GIRL FROM THE AVAR. '

A moil" Hic last rights of women to he i fought is the right co propose. j It is the inevitable consequence of the j vote and of the war. The position of j woman with regard to marriage has cu- j tirely changed, and the sooner it is re- J cognised the belter. Up till now nice' women have very properly not proposed j because it meant virtually: “Will you ■ keep me?” _ ■ i\ow that a woman can be as mdc-.l pendent as a man she need have no j sen piles on that score. ii> every other direction the position of men and women with regard to mar- I riage is equal. It is quite ridiculous! that it should be an honourable thing j in a man to love a woman who does ' not return his affection and, yet be a i disgrace to a woman to love unasked, j A proposal from tiie man clears the air, I and it would be the same with one | from the woman. i In the present condition of things a. I woman often wastes the host year's of 1 her life on a hope. It would be very much bettor if she could say in the beginning; “I like you, and if you like me as much as T like you lot us spend our lives together.” It would be quite simple for the man to reply, if he were of a different mind: “I am sorry. Of course I like you, hut I da not .feel like going into partnership.” The woman would then put him out of her mind andi go about her business. Broken hearts heal in time, and it is

possible that hearts would never get beyond the wounded stage if this plan were adopted. ■ There is a- very serious reason why it - should be adopted. Some badly wounded men are feeling very much as if they? had changed places with the women.-' They do not have to say, "Will-yon keep me?” when they propose, hut,-, what to them is almost as bad, “Will you keep yourself?” It would bo a great relief to many a crippled man in love if -proposals ■ wore • | taken out,of men’s hands, i In the present circumstances no nice j girl could bring herself to propose, howi ever willing she is to keep herself,- how- ! ever much she loves the man. | There is no need.to fear that the new ! right would give added license to the I other kind of girl. , She proposes now, I although not in so many words.—Daily ■ Mail. . ! ================ 1 I i | I