The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-11-17

curled by the artist, and who introduces
himself in rhyme:
''To all fair ladies' who may view this page,
gentleman Of six and twenty years OF age
Politely begs to make his wishes known.
He would not live or, rather, live alone.
Has form and features let the portrait tell;
On these his n,odesty forbids him dwell.
| He needs q lady with pretty face,
mo est fortune, and winning grace,
| temper suited TO an honest mind,
Which to her slightest wish shall be inclined.
| merccnary wretch he may be branded.
| But his best wishes TO be most candid:
She must have money; tho.gh indeed az present
To dream think day OF want may come
To the young lady whom he eadeth home.
| And yet, TO prove no sordid ends combine
| To make him pen the seeming selfish line,
| lie hereby covenants, agrees, engages,
| To settle herself and the sweet pledges
| or her affection, all that she may
" GUsTAvUs EDWARDS"
The ladies will hardly fail to appreciate
tho charming air of candor, which, like q
transparent varnish, shines over this an
nouncement. To dread that "a day of
want may come to the young lady whom
he leadeth home"-what could be more
amiable, more considerate?
The next correspondent describes him
self as a merchant, doing successful bus
mess, and alludes TO his affairs by asking
"what paltry $4,000 year can be to the
great house Of ---n Brothers & Co. 2"
(the lady he is addressing being in posses
sion of that sum Then we have an au-
thor who candidlv says that "his fortune
may he best expressed by an indefinite
number of ciphcm, with the unit at the
left" (meaning the right, probability II,
however, he spends his money, he works
for more, and has enough to afford wife
every comfort.
Many Of these applications appear to be
unavailing; nobody comes to be married,
nobody comes to be wooed. Others are
more fortunate, and observe one case in
which q candidate receives more than one
reply. A certain Mr.. George Hubbard,
who describes himself as widower, and
whose portrait represents a pleasant-look-
ing man of middle aged, says he would
be glad to marry again. Next week two
ladies scrd their portraits and compliments
to him, which are duly presented in the
journal. The contrast between the fair ri
walls is very striking. The first, with the
signature Of "Strong-minded Woman"
describes herself in these terms:
81 am possessed of little sentiment, and
do not believe in love in cottage, and
think pork and beans are more necessary
to human existence than moonlight ram
bles or screnades. | am unable to boast of
numerous conquests over the gentlemen,
but assure YOU | am some in making pump
kin pies do not understand the glorious
art of painting, but my whte-washng
will surpass competition. My modesty will
not allow description of my personal ap-
pcarance, but | will say that | have neith-
or red hair nor frccklcs. Wishing my va
rious accomplishments may suffice, l beg
you will address
STRONG MINDED WOMAN"
The second writes in a strain so simple
and sincere, that, anywhere out of print,
l should call it charming:
"MR. HUBBARD Il notice in the Ledger
picture of yourself; it p.cascs me exceed
ingy. would be happy to open cor
respondcnce with you.
NV age is twenty. lone. | don't know
how you would be pleased with me, but
truly wish YOU might, for feel deep in
tcrest in your picture. | should be happy
to write further particulars.
Aficctionately yours,
JENNIE WIGGEN."
The portrait which accompanies this let
ter gives very favorable representation of
the writer, but it produced no effect. The
ladies may be interested to know that the
pie carried the day, and that the
next week Mr.. Hui bard wrote long let
ter to the "Strong- minded Woman" in
which he congratulated himself on the
good fortune of having attracted her no
tice.
The question what the ladies like, must
always be of deep interest to large ma
majority of the other sex. That question
tho difficulties of which have hardly
been diminished 10y the imaginative pow
ers of writers of fction-is to some extent
elucidated in this correspondence. II any
confidence may be placed in the evidence,
it appears that prospective husbands arc
not required to have money; wit is seldom
wanted; and good looks can scarcely be
said to be at a premium. An amible dis
position is indispensable, and so is youth;
a good family very desirable; manly and
honorable nature much in request. Those
qualities are required which, in America
rs here, are comprised in the emphatic
word gentleman. Tobacco is in general
objected to; but cigars, if required, are
tolerated. Surely the age Of chiyalry is
indeed gone, when lady is compelled to
endure the "wecds" on taking husband,
as commonly as to wear them on losing
him.
The gentlemen are much moro fastidi-
GUS; one and all of them want something
very nearly angelic. They usually take
credit to themselves for magnanimously re-
some one attribute of perfec
tion. Books on female education condemn
The pursui, of surface accomplishments in
preference to the more solid requirements
which are really valuable to the mistress Of
a household. It would appear, however,
that the latter are attractive rather to per
sons of the age Of Mr.. Hubbard, than to
younger ones.
One young lady, of the interesting name
Of Lola, appears TO have advertised herself
in a sheet we have not seen, and TO have
met with very considerable success: the |