Hints for Lovers Part 27

If the s.e.xes were to change places, more marriage licenses would be taken out.

'Frailty,' says man, 'thy name is woman,'--and then he takes advantage of it.

At arm's length it is difficult to offer a helping hand. Yet it is hazardous to reduce that distance.

Neglect is the unpardonable sin in a woman's eyes. Woe to the man who is guilty of it.

If a woman possessed only a man's tact, what fallings-out there would be!

Man's summum bonum is to combine a comfortable home with congenial club.

Woman's summum bonum is the almost equally incompatible combination of a well-regulated family and the height of fas.h.i.+onable gaiety.

Man's infinum malum is domestic distraction.

Woman's infinum malum is social exile.

Between man and man, to lay another under pecuniary obligation is to jeopardize friends.h.i.+p. Between man and woman, a like cause brings about an opposite result.

The man with something of the feminine about him often knows better than his more masculine rivals how to work upon feminine susceptibilities.

Most women know how much to leave to a man's imagination.--But then, man has not much imagination. Besides,

Man's imagination is always highly complimentary to woman.

Affinity covereth a mult.i.tude of sins.

To attract sometimes requires temporary repulsion. But

Some women miscalculate their satellite's...o...b..t. With the result that either it rushes on to certain destruction, or it pa.s.ses beyond the limits of gravitation.

The woman who to one man is no more than the sub-stratum of frock and bonnet, is to another man the centre of gravity of the created cosmos.

When she is such centre to more than one man, her horoscope is difficult to cast.

When one heart lays siege to another , both sides throw up entrenchments; and this even when both belligerents are ready to negotiate for surrender. But,

Never, never show that you expect capitulation. And

Flank movements are not to be recommended.

In conversation, the last thing a woman expects from a man is information, unless it be information concerning himself. In fact,

Talk is a mere subterfuge. It is what is left unsaid that tells.

Nevertheless,

When once the troth has been plighted, both M and N try to utter what has been left unsaid. But always with indifferent success. Alack and well-a-day,

Can Love ever say what it feels?

It is difficult to say to which s.e.x it is a greater compliment that widows always prove such successful fascinators. Either they still have a penchant for mankind, despite their intimate acquaintance with him--in which case the men may congratulate themselves; or else they have so completely found men out that they find no difficulty in entrapping them --in which case it is the women's turn to applaud.

When our feelings are unwittingly hurt by a beautiful woman, the pain is largely tempered by a subtle pleasure, which proceeds from a feeling that, inasmuch as we have been undeservedly pained, we merit her sympathy, perhaps even her affection.

Women seek not so much man's esteem, as his admiration. In fact,

Women would rather attract than inspire.--Indeed, (by him who dared) it might be added that

Women would rather be kissed than be sonnetted,--which is mighty lucky for the majority of men!

The most interesting man or woman is--well, perhaps the one most interested in us.

The least interesting man or woman is--well, perhaps the one most interested in him-or her-self.