It is truly astonishing that the man who is about to marry prefers his girl to be somewhat naive and weak!

Said one young man, giving his opinion of the girl of today: She is capable; she has no need of you. If you try to offer her help, she thinks you are insulting her. I want my wife to lean on me, and to be the object of my trust and the repose of my thoughts!

Another answered: The modern girl is very clever and strong; but I prefer the girl who hides from me her ability and skill in managing her affairs, and who, covertly, makes me feel at ease with her. And so, give me a girl graceful in conversation without chatter, pleasant in company without flattery.

The idea of today's young man comes down to this: he admires the girl of complete femininity, who thanks him if he offers her a helping hand, who smiles — without guffawing — at his jokes, and who understands how to conduct herself with him. He also wants her neat in appearance without excess of artifice; and elegance here means charm of form and harmony of dress, with an agreeable face on which the eye rests with pleasure — it need not be beautiful — followed by grace in speech and movement.

A girl is wise if she watches over the growth of her body and avoids stoutness, without making that the subject of her talk at every sitting; for a man contemplates the trim figure not merely for its beauty, but because it gives an idea of its owner's spirit and of her alertness to what goes on around her.

Grace comes at the head of a woman's duties, and it shows from the crown of the head to the soles

of the feet — provided there is nothing in it to draw stares. And here are some of the things a man hates in a woman:

1 — Excess in makeup: penciling the brows and eyes and using lipstick heavily stirs disgust in a man's soul, besides leaving its trace on the handkerchief, the coffee cup, the spoon, and the cigarette.

2 — Excessive adornment detracts from elegance and mars your appearance; likewise loud clothes worn to catch the eye are spat out by good taste — and he wants you to be sound of taste.

3 — Most important of all

is conduct. Do not let yourself go. However much a man may show indifference, he hates the combing of hair or the renewing of "touches" in the street or in a public place; nor should he hear the resounding laugh, the raised voice, and coarse gestures. Second, he refuses to have his girl under the influence of drink, for she is wise if she knows how to behave and converse. She must have a measure of tact, making him feel that he is the only one who stirs her interest and claims her attention; and she should receive his appointments and his praise with an enigmatic smile. Her reputation, too, has its effect on her personality in his eyes, and convinces him that she does not cling to him like a bramble.

All of this comes down to one thing: if you would like to be esteemed, try to be wise — and do not show all you know!

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