Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1874-04-17
Selected Misfrllanp.
Courtship from a Business Standpoint

Papa observed to bis daughters beau :
Jim if you want Lou you can have her;
but don't want you hanging around un-
less you mean business If you intend
to marry, hurry up. for l can't be kept
awake Of nights much longer" -Ea.
This old gentleman's head was emf
nently level. He first displays an eye
for business and then for comfort. The
fact is there are few parents who would
not rather see their daughters happily
married than to lose one nights comfort
able repose. But TO speak more to the
point, not ouly papas, whose nightly rest
is often broken by the dallying of the
bcaux in the parlor or the hall until the
wee hours of the morning, but the fair
ladies themselves prefer the business
way. This view of the matter is well
illustrated by an anccdote told by Gov.
Vance A girl, when her bashful sweet
heart sat in stupid embarrassment, and
kept pressing her foot with his under the
table, exclaimed : John, if you love me,
why can't you say so like man, and
quit dirtying my clean stockings"
There is no room left for doubt but
that this is the spirit which animates ev-
cry sensible girl. They like sense, and
sensible men, business men. They can
bear with the poor fool who fddles and
fumbles around and pays attention day
after day, week after week, and month
after month. and will use him as con-
veniencc, an escort, partner in dance,
if his accomplishments lie in his feet in
stead of his head, but marry him, never!
except when she can do no better, and
has to take him to get rid of him. And
the misery is that if she does that, she
will fling it in his face to her dying day.
The General who lays siege to the en-
omy's capital, if he really desires to scale
the breastworks, force the erection of the
white flag of capitulation, and penetrate
the citadel, goes at the work in au earn
est business way. He is no laggard, no
lounger, but regarding that business he
goes in So in courtship. If man
desires to succeed, he must comprehend
the situation at glance, and tackle the
matter in hand as an earnest business.
He must go at it as he would at grub
bling, earnestly and with will, saying
what he means and meaning what he
says. IF there is any created thing a
woman admires it is man, and the more
manly he is, the greater the esteem.
Besides, this indefinite dallying around
is not only loss of precious time and
valuable opportunities, but is tho worst
of policy.
The beau of whose ultimate intention
the fair object of his alteration has the
least suspicion, is watched and scanned
with lynx-eyed scrutiny His every
fault, foible and short-coming is careful
" conned and weighed against his at
fractions and prospects. What man Of
our day can successfully pass through so
trying an ordeal As in general, too
much intimacy engendcrs contempt, so
in this case, too thorough an acquaint-
ance, in nine cases out Of ten, reveals
repuIsive points, which lead to calamity
in the suit. The moral Of this is, that
man should never allow the lady of his
choice to become too well acquainted
with him, if he expects success and gen
orally, we may add, nice versa.
TO sum up the whole matter in one
sweeping deduction, the sesame to sue
cess in courtship is comprehended in very
few words, TO wit: short acquaintance,
half hour visits, and striking while the
iron is hot.