Page:Sexology.djvu/43

 spective papas to arrange for the wedding ceremony. Dissatisfied with the terms proposed (probably of the marriage portion, for these European gentlemen are great fellows for such details, especially when they condescend to marry untitled American girls), the father continued his travels, taking along his daughter, what was left of her, perhaps with the hope of disposing of her to better advantage, and so all Europe is scandalized, less at the very natural maneuver of M, Le Comte, than at the inconceivable stupidity of Crcesus, pere.

The girls of our country are trained and educated in the idea that matrimony is the end and aim of their existence; to marry well, that is, to marry wealth if possible, but at all events to marry. The air-castles of our young misses are the objects of their thoughts and dreams, the topics of their daily conversation. Not one word do they hear of the good old-time veneration for voluntary virginity. Their Bibles have for them no literal meaning as regards the passages inculcating the rewards awaiting her who piously resolves upon perpetual chastity. Our modern Christianity, alas! has no honorable niche for "old maids." They are the Pariahs of society, at least in the estimation of young girls and married women. "O, poor thing! she might have married Mr., and be now the wife of a cabinet minister; he always loved her, but I suppose she looked higher then." O, miserable worldlings that ye are! Wait till you behold her wearing the crown of the virgin, and singing the celestial canticles that none others may dare to sing; fortunate if you behold her not as Dives beheld Lazarus.

The latest modern invention, which we fear will plague the inventors, is the proposition that women are entitled to the same "privileges" as men in conducting political affairs,