The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-05-11
Classification and Anaiysis-The
Regular and Irregular Varieties.

The two commonest methods of class
living engagements are first: by the
degree to which they are sanctioned;
and secondly, by their duration Thus,
engagements, when classified according
to their sanction, are divided into two
principal sorts-the authorized or reg
ular, which have received the approval
of parents, guardians and other legiti-
mate authorities: and the unauthorized,
or irregular which have no such sane
ton. So, again, these irreglar engage
ments naturally subdivide themselves in
the forbidden, which, having been an
nounced to the proper authorities and
discountenanced 10y them, are, neverthe-
less, cherished in the imaginative souls
of poetical Edwins and Angelinas as
things which have area and substantial
tive existence, though the world ignores
thcm-and the clandestine, which are
not brought to light at all. An engage
ment of the clandestine type hardly
ever lasts long in that phase. As the
life Of a Young girl is much more do
nestle than that of Il young man, the
burden OF coicealment presses much
more heavily upon her than upon her
lover. On this account and also be-
cause of the greater tenderness OF a
girls conscience, the almost invariable
end of a clandestine engagement Is, that
after lasting a few weeks, it is announc
cd 10y the girl to sister or mother. and
passes either into the regular or the for
hidden phrase. Most fortunately for
the authority of parents, there are few
girls who would not rather run the risk
of sacrificing a lover, than keep such a
secret six weeks with absolute integrity
ANY one who has noticed the amaZ-
ing rapidity with which the news of an
engagement spreads among the host OF
female friends, relations and acquaint-
ances. will feel how keen q pleasure
must he taken by them in circulating
such titbit Of gossip and conversely,
what a severe deprivationit would be to
them not to be permitted toannounce IT.
Parents sometimes, from reasons OF
mortified pride or mental indecision, de-
sire that news of an engagement, though
sanctioned, should be confined to as few
persons as possible. But this is always
found to be an untenable position. The
eagerness of each last recipient OF the
secret to communicate il to Il specially
privileged friend soon puts an end 10 the,
parents fond hope of limited liability
to congratulation and convinces them
that an engagement, like a libel, can
not be published for private circulation
only. 1t is, in fact, one OF those conf
dental communications which are
sometimes called shouting secrets.
The classification Of engagements ac-
c6rding to their duration gives us sever
al interesting types. Some engage
mcnts are of short but rapturous KIND;
others are of a protracted and Platonic
character. Some are contracted for
fixed term of years, as the engagement
of a minor to marry when he attains
his majority, or of widow to wed after
two wears inconsolability. Others are
terminable after an indefinite period, as
where a fellow of a college engages to
marry as soon as he gets living, or
where young lady promises to make
her lover happy when he can show that
he is able Ito maintain her in the style
to which she has always been acustom-
ed, and to supply her with the comforts
and rcfinements which she has Alright
from her position in society to expect,
Other engagements may be considered
as terminable at pleasure, such as those
projected between officers ofsmall means
and the notorious flirts OF garrison
town, which it is pretty well understood,
are only designed to last until the regi,
ment is moved to fresh quarters, or till
Providence provides the fair coquette
with a more handsome or more sub
stantial lover.-LOndon Saturday Re