Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 69, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 March 1911 — MUST THANK JESTER [ARTICLE]

MUST THANK JESTER

• ’ 1 r • ;/• ABKING GIRL’S PA NOW EASY FOR) THE SUITOR. '> ... •• ■ v- — Old Custom la Happily FalliiM Into Disuse—The Bride Is the One Who j Is Now Taking All the * " n * "" " We’ve often wondered why it is always the bridegroom who Is rattled during the marriage ceremony, wheat It’s the bride who Is taking ,all the chances. Not that this question baa anything to do with what we are going to talk about; but neither has anything else, and one must start somewhere. And really It is strange hoar cool the girl always is. Our theory is that this Is because a person doesn’t easily get rattled at the complications that follow the business in which he is an expert. The tyro is the one who la nervous, petting married a man Is entering unknown ground. The girl, on the other hand, has the whole field plotted. Getting married Is her business—it is the man’s fate. Where the man falls down first is In the horrible ordeal of “asking papa." This old custom Is happily falling Into disuse, but in many old-fashioned families It Is still considered necessary. The conventional picture shows a timid young man, hat in hand, approaching an ogreish old person to whom he has to Introduce himself. The young man fully expects to be killed, but he Usually gets off with a few minor bruises. This is the way It Is done in the funny papers and in some of our more conservative families. ’ In real life the man has an easier job. The girl casually announces at breakfast that she Intends to marry Jack. Mamma screams: “What! Didn’t I tell you I didn’t approve of him?” “Yes,” answers the daughter, cheerfully, “but that’ll be all right. He doesn’t approve of you, either." Papa doesn’t even get a look-in. To salve his feelings the young chap consents to call on him. ‘1 suppose Mollie told you we were going to get married,” he observes, handing out of cigar. "Hope you and I won’t let It interfere with our friendship.” . “Are you sure you love my daughter?” asks the old man. ‘‘Great Scott!” exclaims the younger, with a giggle. “You aren’t going to get sentimental at your time of life, are you?” The father'blushes and offers to buy a drink. Sometimes, to be sore, it Is an ordeal for the suitor. He considers it a doubtful compliment when he says: '‘Can I have your daughter?” and the old man says: “No; but I’d like to give you a job with my firm. I hat# to see such nerve as yours going to waste.” There are so many comebacks to the “Can you support her in the style to which she has been accustomed?” gag that the modem suitor has his prospective father-in-law licked before the conversation is fairly started. Life and Its problems are simplified by a sense of humor.