Eight per cent stated specifically that he must have high ideals.
Fifty-two per cent demanded that he be of the same religious conviction; 48% said nothing about religion.
Seventy-two per cent said nothing regarding money matters; 28% stated what his financial condition must be, but none named a specific amount. One-half of the 28% stated that he must be rich, and three-fourths of these were under twenty years of age; the other half of the 28% said that he must have a moderate income and two-thirds of these were under twenty years of age.
Forty-five per cent stated that the young man must be taller than they; 55% did not state.
Twenty per cent stated that the young man must be older, and from two to eight years older; 80% did not state.
Fifty per cent stated that he must have a good education; one-fourth of the 50% stated that he must have a college education; 95% of these were under twenty-one years of age; 50% did not state his intellectual attainments.
Ninety-one per cent of all the ideals handed in were written by persons under twenty years of age; the other 8½% were over twenty years of age.
Physical Culture, on another occasion, invited its male readers to express their requirements of an ideal wife. The proportions of the various elements desired are given as follows:
| Per cent | |
|---|---|
| Health | 23 |
| "Looks" | 14 |
| Housekeeping | 12 |
| Disposition | 11 |
| Maternity | 11 |
| Education | 10 |
| Management | 7 |
| Dress | 7 |
| Character | 5 |
| — | |
| 100 |
One might feel some surprise at the low valuation placed on "character," but it is really covered by other points. On the whole, one can not be dissatisfied with these specifications aside from its slight concern about mental ability.