Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-04-27
sE. WHITMORE,
Publisher and Proprietor.
PROPOSALS OF MARRIAGE.

For the Ledger.
A writer in one of the English papers
has jestingly Submitted a project for the
consideration Of the Chancellor of the
Exchequer in the preparation of his
financial budget, which might really be
taken in earnest for the raising of a
large revenue without imposing a very
heavy burden upon the pablic.
The proposal takes the form Of a
stamp duty Of five shillingS on offers of
marriage, i. e., that whenever a gentle!
man is about to make proposal Of
marriage, be must have in his hand the
necessary stamp, which will cost him
five shilings, and should the lady agree
to his proposal he, as matter of course,
hands over his stamp mot stamps),
which she holds until the wedding takes
place, as a guarantee of the honor and
honesty of the propeser. The stamped
proposal would allow no doubt to exist
Of the mans intentions, and the lady
holding it would be assured thereby it
was not a mere Irritation that was re.
quired, for it would establish an unim.
peschable ground for an action of breach
Of promise in the event Of change Of
mind on the part of the gentleman.
Now what a grand idea this would be
if carried out in this city of Memphis.
Why, in short time we could pay "a
the entire city debt, build hospitals,
school houses, public offices and even
bridge the Mississippi. Besides all this
it would really be doing great service
to both ladies and gentlemen. The mum.
ber of marriages that take place every
year does not represent one 1.-THE of the
overtures that are made, and as every
one Of these overtures would be subject
to the stamp duty, the total amount
would enable our city fathers to do a
great deal more than pay off our debts.
OF course, the enactment being com
pulsOry, a verbal offer of marriage or an
offer on unstamped paper would be a
penal ofense; and no considerable mum.
ber Of men would risk a penalty for the
sake of saving the tax imposed by the
State. Most men, at some period or
other Of their lives, have desire to get
married. 10 factI might add that there
are lots who, when once they have felt
the desire, never get rid of it; and no
man who desires to get married would
for a moment object to pay the imposed
tax, because he, of course, thinks he
will gain prize if he succeeds in win.
ming the lady's heart and hand. All
men think that and it would be libel
on their affections and sincerity to sup.
pose that they would grudge couple oil
dollars for the license to pop the ques
ton" And what jolly arrangement
it would be, when about to make pro
posal, to hold in our hands the symbol
OF authority-the sanction Of the State
as It were, to open the gate to matrimo
nial bliss
Again, another effect that might at
tend the suggested stamp duty on pro
posals is an improved state of matrimo
NAL inclinations. Men would learn tC
know their own minds, and refrain from
backing out OF an engagement after its
novelty had worn of. There would be
more manliness in their dealings witt
the fair sex, and as a consequence the
fair sex would be more womanly; thu
latter seldom knowing whether mer arc
IN jest or earnest meet in way which
does not indicate theiT real feeling anc
disappointment to both is often the re
suit. The men appear to be heartless
and the ladies appear to be hirts. A
man honestly in love would not hesitat,
in giving proof of his sincerity on tn,
stamped paper, and the lady, in the sin
cerity Of that binding tie, would show
what she really is. Their characters
tics becoming thus known to each otheI
before marriage, there would be gooC
reason to contemplate a happy future
The stamp would be virtual beiroth
ment, and its obligation being felt, i
would scarcely ever be broken.
The days of courtship would be pre-
paration for matrimony. Young mer
would begin to save their money, anC
| the Young ladies would studv the want