Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-06-06
CuriOslties of COurtship.

ASSsssSc Va SO~s ~sssRs
Courtship, it will be admitted, is q
very ancient practice and prevails
everywhere. Aud yet, whatever mcy
be the inner and concealed lines on
which it is conducted, the external and
visible ones vary with country, age and
circumstances. In some lsnds it is an
affair Of the State, and with certain peo-
pie it is q mere matter Of family ar.
rangement; with others the adjustment
of few financial questions. In such
instances the true fire and inspiration
Ut love--the "stound which give
life to the forms OF courtshlp, are of
necessity absent. The following curl.
osities Of courtship in its various phases
may interest our readers: William
Drummond, the poet, wooed and won
Miss Cunningham, beautiful and &C
compiished young lady, who died
when the wedding-day WAS fixed. This
melancholy event 80 overwhelmed the
poet with grief that he never ceased to
pour fresh tears over her grave. At
least for many years after the death OF
Miss Cunningham life seemed to Drum
mond "a naught, thought, masque-
ARoO Va uACdu6s LILO llNCu ala u 6LdL6
of celibacy till the age OF At, when he
married Elizabeth Logan, a lady in
whom he traced many strong resem.
blances to her whom he first loved,
and by whom he was SO greatly
charmed.
A gentleman in Nottingham looking
from ILLS window one day, saw lady
pass who Looked very much like his
late wife. He made haste after her, and
having succeeded IN obtaining all nee
essary Information she Was married to
him because Ut the likeness which she
bore to one whom he had tenderly
loved.
Reported virtues have sometimes
paved the way to the most romantic at
tachments. Col. Hutchinson, Governor
Of Nottingham Castle and Town in the
time of the civil war, being ct the house
OF Sir Alien Apsley, was greatly
pleased with chiia OF q pleasant and
vlvaclous spirit. One day when look
ing on shelf, he found few Latin
books, and asked whose they were, he
was told by young miss that they
were her eldest sisters. He ut once
wished to see her; but as she was gone
from home, he was not likely to have
his wish fulfilled. Meanwhile gentle
women who had been Miss Apsley' s
companions used to tell him how re.
served and studiOus she was; and these
reports 81 inhamed his desire to see her,
that he began to wonder why he should
have sdch u strong impulse toward one
whom he had never seen. There
scarcely passed day but some acct
dent or discourse still kept alive and
strengthened his wish to see her. Once
lii a company at gentleman house, a
certain song was sung which was said
to have been written by Miss Apsley,
who, by'the-by, was greatly praised by
two or three gentlemen in the party.
He Mr.. Hutchlnson) heard all this,
and said to one of the gentlemen 81
cannot he ut rest till this lady return,
that l may be acquainted with her."
The same evening while they were at
supper, some statement was made which
gave him the impression that the young
lady was married; he was taken ill i'm.
mediately, and had to leave the table.
He. however, learned shortly after that
his impressions were wrong. After
wards they were fortunate enough to
meet, and friendship at once created
which ripened into strong election.
Devotedly attached to her, she became
to him O most admirable wife and COM
panion, and lived to be the writer of
the History of the Siege of Noting
ham Castle"
Another instance of love arising from
reported virtues is related of the Rev.
Joseph Gilbert, who was so charmed
with the writings of Miss Anna Taylor,
and the eulogium of her personal
merits pronounced by those acquainted
with her, that, without having seen her,
he addressed letter to the young lady,
inquiring whether any peremptory rea-
sons existed which might lead him to
conclude that q journey undertaken
with the purpose Of soliciting her heart
and hand could not possibly be success
full. After little correspondence, the
journey was permitted, and an inter
view was obtained, which ripened into
happy welded life.
The celebrated John Newton, of
Olney, fell in love with Kentish maid
at first sight. The girl was under IA
years of age; but such was the impress
sion she made on young Newton, that
his affection for her appears to have
equalled all that the writer's of romance
have imagined. When in distant parts
of the world, the thought Of her
checked him in a proAigate career.
When sinking on the coast of Africa
into a wretched state of slavery, and
when ready to put an end to his life,
the thought of her aroused him to en-.
ergy and inspired him with hope. All
the oppression and scenes of misery
and wickedness through which he had
to pass never banished her for single
hour from his waking thoughts for the
following seven years. When he lived
in London, he would repair twice
! week to Shooters Hill, and from the
top of that eminence comfort himself
by distant view of the district in
which his loved one lived. Not that
he could see the spot itself, which was
/ in reality too remote; but it gratifed
him even to look towards the spot. She
eventually became the bright star OF
his life.--Chamber's Journal.