The Observer.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 235, 14 March 1885, Page 2

The Observer.

Saturday, Mabch l<t, 1885

EDITORIAL TROUBLES. I was consoling myself in the expectation of a comparatively quiet week. I had not been interviewed by more than c a hundred bores a day ; the inevitable loungers who come to smoke cigars, read the papers, and ask all kinds of questions on politics, science, art, literature, and everything in general, were comparatively few ; even the bucolic poet with the big bundle of manuscript was absent. It was in this blissful state of repose, when all around was serene and lovely, that 1 received an extraordinary epistle from Wairoa South, which was enough to make one's hair stand on end. The writer propounded a series of questions, as follows :— " Ist. — that is, how can one tell when one is in love t or loved? 2nd. Do disappointments do anygood to a person, and do the disappointments suffered by an individual produce any benefit to society in general ? I don't mean trade disappointments. ' '

Now, here are pretty questions to submit to an unsophisticated man who is as innocent of love as a new-born baby. However, I submitted the riddles to a grey-haired old sinner, who is a perfect Don Juan, and knows*-^ all about love and disappointments. His reply is as follows :— lst. When you are really in love you experience a kind of all-overish, ticklish sort of sensation, like a youngster when he gets the . first taste of sugar - candy or ice cream. You lose your appetite, take to writing sentimental poetry, wear small sized boots, and get yourself up to kill generally. You can always tell when a girl is in love with you — while it lasts, though you can never be

sure how loifg it will last, because another fellow may come along. She takes you round shopping and gets you to carry the parcels, makes eyes at you like a dying duck in a thunderstorm, finds fault with the set of your neck-tie, evinces an interest in your worldy affairs and prospects, especially the state of your bank account (if any), and generally displays a disposition to claim a sort of proprietary interest in you. (2) Disappointments in love are certainly beneficial to a .Aan. After he has got over the first feelings ol pique he realises what an awful ass he was making of himself, and if he waits till the girl who jilted him has been married to the other man f or]j a few months or so, he"comes to understand that what he took for a disappointment was really a blessing in disguise — a providential escape. In this way disappointments in love have a most beneficial effect on society in general, as they tend to keep many fools from rushing into illconsidered marriages, and produce much happiness and contentment where there • would otherwise be only discontent and misery.