M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1858-01-14
Popping the QuestIOn.

ttnd their moral courage tasRed 70 me
utmost.
Many man who would lead
forlorn hope, mount a breach, and
seek the bubble reputation even at the
cannon's mouth, trsmbles at tho idea
OF asking a woman the question which
is to decide his fate. Ladies' may con,
lggatulat8 themselves that nature and
tcnaton. bnpo sDndS ibSdl the rosP6nd-
ing party.
In matter which men have al
ways found so terrible, yet which in
one way or other they have always
contrived in some awkward way to
accomplish, it is not easy to give in
structions suited to every emergency.
A man naturally conforms to the
disposition of the woman he admires,
II she be serious, he will approach
the awful subject with due solemnity;
| Iifgay and lively, he will make it an
excellent joke; if softly sentimental, he
must WOO her in high romance, and
ifsevere ly practical, he relies upon
straightforward common-sense.
There is one maxim of universal
application. Never lose an opportu-
nifty. What can woman think Of q
lover who neglects onel Woman can.
not make direct advances, but they
use infinite tact in giving men occa-
sion to make them. In every case IL
is fair to persume that when woman
gives a man an opportunity, she ex,
poets him to improve it; and though
he may tremble, and feel his pulse
lthrobbing and tinglng through every
limb; though his heart fills up his throat
and histongue clcaves to the roof Of
his mouth, yet the awful question must
be asked, the fearful task accomplish.
ed.
I In the conntry,tb lover is taking
romantic walk by moonlight with the
lady of his love-talk of the beauties of
the scenery, the harmony ofnature, and
exclaim-"Ah! Julia, how happy
would existence prove, if always
had such a companionlh
She sighs and leans more trem bling.
y on the arm that tremblingly sup
ports her.
"My dearest Julia, be mine forever" |"
This is a settler, and the answer
ever so inaudible, makes Or undoes
him quite.
} "Take pity on a forlorn bachelor, says
another, in q manner which may be
either in jest Or in earnest. "nqrry me
at once, and put me out OF my mis-
cry"
"With all my heart, whenever you
are ready" replies the laughing fair.
A joke CARED thus far is easily
made earnest.
A point is often carried by taking
thing for granted. A gentleman who
has been paying attention to a lady,
says, ,"Well, Mary, when is the happy
day9" "What day, prayl" she asks,
with conscious blush.
} "Why,everybody knows we are 60
ing to be married, and it might as
we'll be at one time as another; SO when
shall it bel"
: Cornered in this fashion, there is no
retreat.
: "Jane, love you. Will you marry
mel" would be somewhat abrupt, and
| frankly given ''yes!" would be short
and sweet for an answer.
Il "Ellen, one word from you would
make me the happiest man in the uni
verse;"
Il 81 should be cruel not to speak it
8 then, unless it is a very hard one."
e at is a word of three letter sand an,
e swers the question, will you have
! meg"
The lady, of course, says "yes." un-
less she happens to prefer word of
J. only two letters, and answers "No."
t Axd to this interesting and simple
process,in practice simple as tits in
o theory, is varied in a hundred ways,
g according to circumstances and the
various dispositions.
One timid gentleman asks, "Havc
!. you any objections to changing your
n name!" and follows this up with an.
n other which clinches its significance,
!. "How would mine suit YOU"
+ Another asks, "Will you tell me
e what | most wish to knowp
"Yes, it can."
"The happy day when we shall be
i, married"
q Another says,"My dear Eliza, we
!. must do what all the world evidently
d expects we shall"
!. "All the world is very imperti.
l. nent."
"Iknow it-but it can't be helped
When shall tel. the parson to b,
!, readyp ,,f
s As a general thing a gentleman
i need never be refused. Every woman
J except heartless coquette, finds tn
: means Of discouraging u man whom
J. she does not intend to have, befor
" the matter conpa t0a y,aint of dacla =,