Are Girls too Ready to Think Men in Love With Them ?

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue XI, 14 March 1903, Page 765

Are Girls too Ready to Think Men in Love With Them ?

Half the miseries of life spring from the fact that women do not understand men. Of course, men don’t understand women, but then, they know they can never hope to do so, and don’t attempt the impossible. Most men are “taken” with dozens of girls, dark girls, fair grrls, red-haired girls, ehestirtit-haired girls, dyed haired girls; fat girls, thin girls, willowy girls, chubby girls, etc.; this fluttering of fancy is during the effervescent period from 18 to 27. These are the years in which a man looks round, not with a view to selecting a wife, but with a desire to see what nature has to offer, should he at any subsequent period wish to forswear bachelorhood.

Now. as far as I can see, there is no reason why a man should be blamed for this. The pity of it is that the girls don’t realise that, like nine : tenths of the good ladies who attend bazaars, he has no intentions. He meets Miss Goldenhair at a ball, dances three times with her, writes her name and address on his euff. eomes over for a week-end and calls upon her. chums with her brother, sends her chocolates, buys her flowers, and occasionally takes her and a friend to a cafe for tea. Miss Goldenhair is flattered by these attentions; she exalts them into the signs of love. Worst of all. she presumes upon them, and persuades herself that some day he will ask her to marry him.

Meanwhile, Miss Darkhair has come along, and the large-hearted man is repeating the little comedy. I suppose, dear girl readers, you will gnash your teeth and call him names—you’ll be angry with me for using the word comedy. You’ll vow it’s a grim and bitter tragedy, and that Miss Gollenhair’s heart is broken. Unfortunately. in a great many instances T shall be obliged to grant you that it’s certainly eracked. But whv won’t women be reasonable? This is the eternal question of the mere male throughout the ages. A woman’s heart is a priceless treasure; the fact is indisputable. Every man realises it. and hopes down at the bottom of his consciousness he’ll bo found worthy to win it. But he doesn’t want it given for nothing, and he certainly doesn’t want hearts bv the dozen.

“Keep thy heart with all diligence.” says Solomon. Now. the trouble with nine out of ten girls is that they want to give it away. Bluntly, a heart is a tiresome appendage—it takes no end of looking after, it holds all x he issues of life; it is decidedly pleasanter to get rid of it, to make someone else a present of it, and so shelve responsibility. That’s one reason why girls are so ready to give it away to the first comer. Nevertheless, the oriental king is right, hearts are not made to give away; it’s a duty every woman owes to herself to keep hers —always, if she can—in any ease as long as possible. Half a dozen

compliments, three and a-half pounds of chocolates, a rose or two, a few hours’ conversation, a little interchange ot ideas,” some gloves, some Christmas

cards, even a lock of hair—these are the properties meant to make a setting for comedy, the coinedv of life’s springtime. If girls would only see that nature never .meant to lay the burden of tragedy parts on young and inexperienced players, how much more merrily the world would wag. T am serious, very serious, in this tirade of mine. The woman of to-day thinks she has gone so far along the road of progress that it seems a pity she should not go further. We men want to worship you; we long to lie in the dust at your feet, so that von can pick us up and set us on thrones. We burn to do great things—to show you how strong we are, to compel your admiration; to lay siege to your heart. But to take possession—ah. no! that is beyond our utmost deserts, and we know it. That’s why it makes a man angry instead of grateful when he finds girls giving him their hearts. “Can it. after all. be worth what T fancied —can anything worth having be had for nothing?’ he asks.

Dear girls, don’t fancv a man has serious intentions when he’s only “prospecting.” Don’t think small attentions and smaller presents necessarily pave the way to a proposal. Don’t love a man unless he gives you good cause for doing so.