Smyrna times., 1856-01-16
Leap Year The Ladies.


Leap year has come again, when, by long
established custom, ladies' are privileged to
"pOp the question: Crusty old bachelors 90
about in terror, giving wide berth to every
pretty girl they meet, and blessing heaven for
the invention of hoops, which prevents the fair
| creatures sezng them ii ct Grmis. Sweet lit
tie creatures, for whom coy swains have long
| sighed in vain, pluck up courage, and, by few
gentle hints, which are no longer unlady-like,
bring the modest youths to the point. Maneuv-
ering mammas, thanking their stars that leap
year comes once every four years, but secretly
wishing also that it came every year, look for
fine harvest out of bashful lovers, and hurry
their daughters into society that they may
take, advantage of the blessed time. Even pa pas,
rubbing their hands in glee, rejoice over the
privileges Of leap-year, as they calculate the
annual cost Of their daughters and the cent per
cent they could make out of that money if
saved. Lucky leap year! Propltious leap
year! The inventor of tho happy custom
ought to have statue raised to him by the la
dies. Or, if the inventor was woman-for
we doubt our sex having sagacity enough for
such splendid coup de main--they should
honor her by leap-year festival, as the ancients
honored Ceres.
We have always thought it cruel to our sex,
that they had to take the initiative in that ter
rlble process, popping the question" 1t is
said that Henry the Fourth, when he carried
Cahors by assault, was in such a tremor of af
fright, it being his FIRST conflict, that he fairly
dropped his battle-axe at the gate of the town
E But, with all this physical fear. he had brave
soul so, picking the weapon up, he turned i
to his troops, and crying Cuhsrs," strucl
, manfuly at the solid doors. At every strok,
: his knes trembled, but still he cried " Cahors.
. to stimulate his men, and still rained his blow
on the iron-rbbed oak. Many poor fellow
. in popping the question, has had as hard
: struggle to keep up his courage. What sha
: king knees, what chattering teeth, what Hutter
ing hearts, what choking in the throat, what
peculiar and indescribable all.overishness
sezes on the brtyest, when he attempts, in col
blood, to pop the question to some angelic mis-
who. is, perhaps. secretly as frightened as hin
a selEu II is emily by crying 10 ones SELF "No'
or never, 60 it, old boy" just as the great her
= cried +" Cabors, -Cabors," that one can music
"a pluck to, make the assault at all. Blesse,
: therefore, beyond all other mundane blessing
are pie-ncs, moonlight rambles, and especial
cozy sleigh rides, for somehow, on such occ
ha sions, the question often pops itself. Yes, o.
~ il comes, like a champagne cork, that cann
= stand it any longer. He is a lucky dog wi
gets into this high pressure condition. Hsr
no or beef, or even pudding, may be taken cold, b
"a popping the question never. We would as Ii
! Jump into the Delaware, when ice was maxim
/. as pop the question in set form and by dellbe
AA'u ate purpose. The whole thing 10 morstrous.
Y The women. who have twice the tact Of 0
~ sex. ought to do this business for US. They
- DO il, we hope, this leap year. If we were
bachelor, il would make ourvery mouth wal
. to think Of sitting up In state and have lots
my pretty girls popping the question TO Us. a !
y she good time is coming ab,st glle,sra
.af Don't be prudish, ,lsdies, we besesch you. .
is longer Mauimony is the best condition for
mo- brutes Of men as well as for your chatmi
ant selves and YOU win really be doing sery
her by seizing all stray bachelors Of this leap y
hat and i.npounding them in arnatrimony. So
the od rogue once said that marriage was like ii
~ ~ wire rat.sraps where . hollow, cone, the
"a e4.I 4. .f.s