Academy of Music.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3867, 21 May 1881, Page 2

Academy of Music.

■ Last evening Madame Lotti Wilmot delivered her second lecture on the Thames. Taking for her subject the all. important one of " Courtship and Marriage," Madame Wilmot proceeded to demonstrate the gross errors both men and women fall into in the selection of a life partner. She deprecated the act of the men who married aged motiied ladies as selling their liberty for gold, and gave it as her opinion that he who married for mousy, and afterwards found himself hampered with an old woman, only received his deserts. She also gave some sound advice to young men, telling them, that ladies did not appreciate a constant routine of " billing and cooing," and such like nonsense, but preferred a man to speak his mind, and bring matters to a climax. The nj&n who went on dilly dallying after a woman for years without any definite time for marriage fixed, was like the merchant who ordered a large consignment of goods without any idea ot ultimate payment for them. It was very nice no doubt for a man to go to his father-in-law's house each succeeding Sunday, and partake ot hyi hospitality, but it was decidedly mean, ana was committing a gross injustice on the jouag lady, as it precluded her accepting or hsteoiQg t# mor e eligible ofters. Men were decidedly awkward at making proposals, and were women to do so, instead of being bound down by prudery, (for it was not modesty) a great many happy marriages would eventuate. She gave aa interesting dissertation on likes aud dissimilarities yf temper and tastes, and maintained that a little oppositenesa iv character was most generally prodgc.tive of a happy marriage. Two silent people would mope by the fireside, while two talkers would make a div equally ujouytouous. It bad beeu said that a uiau

should be several year* older than hi wife, but she thought that equality of ages was the best, a woman of twenty, although not so conversant with the ways of the world as a man of twenty-frre, was in reality as old as him, because wonifln age much faster than men. It was better for • man to marry | early and-battle the world with his wif e , so that they could both see it together The familiar saying that a woman s •• No " meant " Yes " was a fallacy, and a libel on her sex, and she was assured that no sensible woman ever said "No when she meant otherwise; but usually-said what she meant. , . iL , , The lecture was listened to with marked attention, and the ; lecturess was trequently applauded. To-morrow evening, Madame Lotti Wilmot will lecture on " His Majesty the Devil."