DO PARENTS KNOW BEST?

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 93, 15 May 1909, Page 3

DO PARENTS KNOW BEST?

BY A DAI-OUTER WHO THIS*! THEY DOX'T. Why is it that parents alwavs i'ancv Ihey have a right to sit in judgment upon Hie love allaii's of their children 1 In all probability thev resented parental interference in their own courting "lays, and possibly married in spite ot it; yet, for some undefined reason thev consider their choice of a son or daugh-ter-in-law to lie of far greater importnme than their children's choice of. a husband or wife.

Their methods are often mean—particularly in the ease of a dau«hlcr. When the object of a gill's choice is brought home for the first time, it is to undergo an examination which lie has virtually no chance of passing, for the parents have failed him in advance. With unreasoning prejudice thev augur the worst fro'iii each detail. If lie is careful of his person, he is a fop: if he can speak intelligently upon genera I topics, lie is conceited and forwardmid if. on the other hand, he is shy and has little lo say. he is ovidontiv a ii tdiot,

YV-llEliK THE SOX.JS--LAW SCOKKD. Take the case of ~ young girl within lie writer's experience, who one dar hroiight home a sweetheart some icw years older than herself.

II P "as rei-eived with grim disapproval by her people, and the objections urged against him were many. The daii'ditel' was forbidden to see him again. Love, however, proved stronger than hlial obedience, and. six months later, the daughter married her forbidden lover. Her parents' feelings were outraged.

Four years later the father, having failed in business, accepted a partner" ship with his' own son-in-law! Unfortunately for their welfare, some daughters are too obedient, and the happiness of many a girl has been sacrificed to the wanton-prejudice, of her parents.

A young fellow who camv from a poor b'lt ambitious lamily fell in love with a pretty girl whose circumstances were superior to his own.

His alleiilions 'were favored bv the girl, but resented by her people. 'l)eini>parvenu*, thev acted in (he parvenu maimer. Tliev had no objections lo urge against the young man .persouallv, but he was poor—and povertv is tlie worst ol crimes.

So l hey prevailed upon the girl to give him up. In a spirit of recklessness, the latter straightway married another girl, and within a few months the traditional uncle in Australia had died and left him a small fortune. The obedient da lighter never married. 'SI'ITOIIS AXD .STRATI'XJY. Perhaps the best weapon to use against unreasoning is strategy. For example: The family of one girl criticised fie man of her choice so adversely that she [felt it would he unwise to attempt !o j bring him home again. She promised to think seriously of giving him up. [ A'tter Hie lapse of only a month she .introduced a -econd suitor to the do-' lnestie circle. This one was received I with gloom, anil comparison was made ■between him and his predecessor—much to the advantage of the latter. ATith exeiiiiplarv willingness the I maiden dropped the newcomer, only, .however, (o „iihmit vet another for inspection a mouth later.

This one was practically shown tile door. And the girl's parents began now to regret, (hut the original lover had

For the fourth time (he unfortunate girl es-nyed it) please her parents. Vet another suitor was presented and found wauling.

I'liou this, the noildcn lngemion.lv confessed that she had never rca.lv abandoned |,,, r lirst lover at all. Willi the assistance of fou,- amateur actor ehums of his, she had laid a plot In convince her parents of their injustice, and Hie result had proved so satisfactory that onlv the efforts of three of them wen. needed.

Two months Inter the wily pair were married.---Home paper.

Sir Hubert vou fferkomev. sneakin" al the Authors' Cub. <.m] vMt hj„ mv-e •">«• a picture called "The Coming Slorm- advcrlised fo,. sale, and nailer Ihe title (hen. were (he words in larw t.vne. "Siiilnbli. for a wedding present." The vast niainrity of Mexicans eat no butter of any kind.