AUGUST 437 



the qualities which the more ordinary experiences and 

 pleasures of life destroy. Hence the unexpected and 

 deep love episodes at an age when young people imagine 

 such a thing is impossible. I remember quite well 

 thinking at eighteen : 'What does it matter what 

 women of thirty do?' Has not the world been lately 

 given an example of this kind of love, for which it will 

 eternally be the richer, in the Browning love-letters? 



That clever old French wit Chamfort, when he was 

 reproached by a lady for not caring about women, an- 

 swered : ' Je puis dire sur elles ce que disait Madame de 

 C. sur les enfants : "J'ai dans ma tete un fils dont je 

 n'ai jamais pu accoucher" ; j'ai dans 1'esprit une femme 

 comme il y en a pen, qui me preserve des femmes comme 

 il y en a beaucoup; j'ai bien des obligations & cettefem- 

 mela.' I believe this kind of feeling keeps many, es- 

 pecially cautious men, bachelors. This is a mistake, 

 even from their own point of view, as these are the very 

 men who are apt to fall victims to strong fancies when 

 it is least wise for them to do so ; and when they are on 

 the borders of old age nature often has her revenge. 



I quote the Chamfort story to remind girls that good 

 and sensible men require certain qualities in a woman 

 whom they are thinking of marrying, and the reason 

 why ordinary women are wise to consider twice about 

 refusing to marry young is that perhaps that gift of 

 youth is the only real thing they will ever have to give a 

 man. When a dead level of mediocrity is reached, think 

 how large is a man's choice, in England especially ! 

 What is there in a woman of from thirty to thirty -five, 

 who has knocked about the world, flirted and amused 

 herself, given and taken all she could get, that should 

 particularly make a man desire to marry her? Her 

 freshness is gone, and her want of wisdom is often 

 sadly apparent. 



