The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1874-12-10
The BetrOthed Lovers PurgatOry.

L u d
ter of fact, many engaged persons may
be said TO live in a mild sort of purga
tory, which even many kisses and Ca
resses cannot render anything more than
barely endurable Take the case of an or
binary engaged young man and what can
be more melancholy: There are, as
rule, some halfscore of people whom he
is bound to propitiate. At the same time
he may hate them-and justly-with as
great cordiality as he loves the maiden
whom he wishes to marry He must, per-
force, be civil to the papa and mamma
OF his intended wife. Yet he NAV be
perfectly well aware that the papa is a
skinfiint,' about whom the strongest
thing il the way of commendation that
can be said is that he is strictly honor
able in business, as if a man deserved
any credit for not making himself a
thorough paced cheat. 1t may be re-
marked, by the way, that such is the low
tone of morality prevalent nowadays,
If man is not an absolute knave, though
he may be stingy and cheese-parlng to
the last degree, it seems to be thought by
many people that he should have all his
faults condoned and be held up to the
admiration of large circle of friends.
The bridegroom that is to be may know,
further, that the scrubby papa will have
something to say when the question of
settlements is brought on the carpet, and
that he will not dover his daughter with
larger portion than he can help, if, in
deed, he does not skillfully get out
OF lowering her with anything at all.
The luckless lover NAV, also, be per
fectly well aware that the mamma is one
OF those dear-i1 more senses than one
creatures who are never happy unless
they are managing other peoples affairs.
He may be fully conscious that the anna
bic dame regards him with something
very much like suspicion, and that she is
convinced that he and her daughter will
never be able to get along without her
assistance and advice. He may, indeed,
sec in the distance a day in which he will
have to fight pitched battle with the
generous hearted female, during the
course of which he will be compelled to
intimate in very plain terms that when
he wants advice he will ask for it, and
that he is determined to be his own mas
ter. Meanwhile, he is bound to smile at
the majority of her aggravating efforts
Then there are his ady-love's brothers To
them also he has to assume a friendly,
If not absolutely cordial, demeanor. If
Some unlocked cub plays upon him a dia
boilcal practical joke he can do nothing
but absurdly grin at the wretch. When
brother OF another type seems disposed
to treat him in supercilious fashion,
and to show that he only tolerates him
Tor the sake of his sister, the unfortunate
engaged young man is bound to simulate
a blindness that is simply pIeposterous
IN being protesting to have any sense
at all. Again, if third brother OF vet
another sort, whose principal character
lstlcs are love for bad company and a
talent Tor getting into scrapes, selects
nm as his confidant and friend-rhe at
lenuant consequences of this are not
easily forgotten-what can the poor vic
TIM do but laugh and pray for "a speedy
dellverance from all his troubles? Then
there are his betrothcd's sisters, who
are inclined to dislike him because he
has not shown prefer ence for them in
stead OF her to whom he is engaged
Ihey are ever on the alert to pick out
the weak places in his armor and gladly
give him sharp pricks when he is least
prepared to bear them Still he has to
pretend that he loves these ladies as if
they were verify his sisters. He is made
to feel that everybody looks upon him as
an interloper, and think that the sooner
he takes the bride away to a den of his
own the better it will be for all parties
Ot course papa and mamma are, after
fashion OF their own, civil to him in return
for his elusive, polite attention to them.
But when he is talking business or poll
Tics with papa, domestic economy with
mamma, amusements with the brothers,
and everything IN general with the sis
tiers he cannot avoid seeing that he is in
nine cases out of ten, successful only as
bore. He knows and they know that
after he has been safely married and
done for he will drop into that insignifi-
cant position which he is most fitted to
adorn and which is most conducive to
his comfort. Under these circumstances
he may be excused if belongs for the
time when he may not be called upon to
appear amiable when he feels the reverse,
when he may not have to spend hours in
conversing with people with whom he
has no sympathies in common, and when,
IN short, he may not have to act the part
OF thorough going humbug."