IF I WERE A GIRL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 54, 22 February 1908, Page 4

IF I WERE A GIRL.

■ — o ULUvLL'X JvOWAIJOES, TJIK FAMOUS -NOVKLKsT TKLL-, WHAT UK MOULD DO.

If I were a girl with (lie desire for a husband which I am told is ipiite common in olhcr girls, [ shouldn't trouble about my tace.

It must he granted thai 1 am an average linglish girl as regards looks. That is u quite .satisfactory asset to start with.

I should set lo work resolutely to take an interest in men; study theiu as one studies geology and other '" ologios " I hat appeal to one, and make one for the time completely forgetful of one's self.

This would be a great initial score. So many real girls seem to spoil themselves, and what I suppose may be called their "chances,' by behaving as if il were man', duty to study them. Cntil a man they judge suitable for lliis purpose comes along, tliey hold tlieniselves aloof most ohjectiomililv. Of course, they may lx: the admirable young creatures they think themselves, but they surely can't know- how this attitude repels investigation of their merits.

My plan would work dill'erentlv. Beginning on that extremelv valuable principle of self-forgetfulness,' [ should soon Income practised in that other very valuable talent of sympathy. To my mind, a girl is never so charming as when she is unconscious ot Jiei'ndf aininmiably interested in someone els-?. When that someone else is a young man of some charm of his own. you are already hall-way to an infatuation on the young man's side. So far, capital. Afany suitors would soon toe that half-way line. tint 1 should say., be very careful indeed with them from that point onwards. A certain amount of recklessness would perhaps be necessary in the earlv stages of study of my specimens, 'as they may be termed, tint even with this 1 should take heed, above all things, not to lay myself open to the charge of being a llirt. Their lives and individual natures would be my direct objects of inleresi, not their hearts. Jf they were susceptible enough to bring their hearts to the front while I was obviously only concerned in their everyday troubles and ambitious, the responsibility would be theirs.

Such impulsiveness on their part might or might not immediately increase my interest in thi'in; but I do hope 1 should have myself sufficiently in hand to discriminate: promptly in such cases. Nothing ought to be easier than to cheek a man's giddiness at the outset. 1 should simply lessen the force of unsympathetic interest in him. It is important to urge that T should expect nothing from my young mennot even chocolates.

Also, 1 should persuade myself, long before beginning to arrange my specineits in their order of merit, tliat men lave a. very hard time of it ill these lay,. The battle of life is reallv as strenuous for women as for men,' but

I should never mention my own girli.'h s|niggles and disappointments. Mine (he noble task, in any event, of encouraging my specimens-—all of lliem—lo light on gallantly against odds and wounds.

Behaving thus, always, be it under--lood, with extreme discretion, 1 hare no doubt at all that 1 should become precious to most of my specimens. The selection of one of them for my lifelong comfort would he no more than" plucking the most beautiful and fragrant rose in Ihe garden.