The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1831-11-01
From the Edinburgh Literary Journal.
POPPING THE QUESTION.


the operation designated by the elegant
phrase have selected fdr the title Of my
present lucubra,ion. Much winding aud
cautinn. ani previous sounding are necessa
~ whea you have got favor to ask Of n
great man. II is ten chances TO one That he
lakes il into his head TO consider your request
cxorbltan'. and to make this the prctext for
shaking of what he naturally considers a
cumbersome appendage to this statc---a man
who has claim upon his good Offices. But
this hazard is nothing in comparison with the
risk you run in laying yourself at the mercy
al youag gypsy, fonder Of fun aud frolic than
any thing 10 life. Even though she loves
yoa with the whole Of her little heart, she
possesses dow ofspirits, and woman's ready
knsck ofpreserving appearances, and though
her bosom may heave responsive to your
s'ammesing tale. she will luro you on with
hind cofnplscent looks. until you have told
your "pitiful story" aud then hugh in your
face for your pains.
Il is not this either that mean 10 express
Men are not towards, because they soc dis
tinctly il.s danger that lies befure them.
When person has coolness sufficient to ap
preciate i:s full extent, he has in general ei
,hcr self possession enough TO back out Of
the scrspe, or. lift is inevitable, to march with
due resignation to meet his fate. In like
manner il is not like poor Pillgarlick. the Low
er. hasa clear notion fpersons in HE condition
are rarely troubled with clear notions) ofwhat
awaits him, but he feels kind Of choking
bout the mech. of his heart, q hangdog inclna
ton IN 90 backwards instead of forwards, a
.heck. sudden stop in all his functions. lie
knows not how to look or what to say. Ills
fine plan. arranged with so much happy en-
'l,usissm when sitting alone in an arm chair
after good dinner. aud two or three glasses
of wine, In the unsertain giimmcring of twi
light. with h's feet upon tho fender, proves
quite inpracticable. Either i, has escaped
his memory altogether. ar the conversation
perversely takes a turn totally different from
that by which he hoped to had the fair one
from indifferent topics TO thoughts at ten
derer complexion. and thus. by fine degrees,
(hc watching, all tho time. how she was at
fectcd, in order 10 be sure of his BUTTON, be-
fore he makes the plunge,) to insinuate his
confession. Just al a moment that he knows
it will BE- wei, received.
The desperate struggles g. fiounjcrings by
which some endeaSor to get out Of their en-
bassassment are amusing enough. We re-.
member 10 have been much delighted the
hrst time we heard the history Of the wooing
of q noble lord, now no more, narrated. His
lordship was q man OF talents and enterprise,
Of stainless pedigree. AMI n fair rent roll. but
the veriest slave of bashfulness. Like all
iimid snd qpie, men, he was vety susceptible.
aad very CONSTANT, ss long vs he was IN. lhp
habit Of seeing the object of lis uffcc,muS
daily. He chsnccd. At the beginning Of an
Edinburgh winter, 10 lose his hear, Ia Miss
-; and rs their families were Ia llir
habits of intimacy. he had frrqucn, opportu
mites of meeting her lir gpzed and sghrd
inccsssnily "a very ryDumbie.discs. but tha, he
hadla larger allowance of BRAN; he followe:!
her every where /: h" fell jealous, unconfort
able, savage. IL she even locked clvily at a
mother and yet notwithstanding his stout res
olutions -notSihsta nding the enrours &c.
,saR sf'rdcd him by the lady. a woman of
sense. who saw what his lordship would be
IL. esteemed Ms chsractc,. was superior to
girlish sdsc'aiion, aud made every advance
consiAtcnt vita wonanly delicacy the win
tee was fast fading into spring, aud hs had
not yet g0 his mouih opened. Mamma a,
laI lost al patience and one day when his
l,sdshsp was taking his usual lounge in the
drawing rooa,. silent or m.ering an occasion
81 'asnosylIsb'e. the good lady abruptly lef,
sss roosn. aud looked the pair IL alo,e,
When h's iosdship. on asssyiny 10 take his
leave, dsc"versd the pred,csment in which
he stood. Desperate 6i Of resolution seized
INN. Mss - set bending most assidpousIy
over her needle. deep blush on her cheek
It's l"sd.bso sdyascsd towards her. bot Ioos
,ng hesa ~ t'ss wsy. passej on In siiencs
Co the other cad Of the roo,n. lie returned
,oihe charge. bat again without effect. a,
lsss. nefs'ng hns~sf ike one sbau, to spring
spswder mine, he stopped short before hei
=" Miss -. VIII you marry ,neS'- -.lvui
the gresisst pleasure. ny iord," wss 'he an
s~es given "a . i,S. sone~hst tim,d. bu
snfsissrsns s..ce. while deep csi,nson sui
la~d the lace .f the speaker. Aad q rigi,
lsv.i " ifs shs made L:m.
-, ~ vsut'ctnga. .ya.,tv ns,,..,. .aI ,,n