Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-03-02
POPPING THE QUESTION.
from Chamber, journal.

clare his passion. when opportunity
afforded his courage deserted him, and
when he was resolved to speak, the
fair one never could be found alone or
disengaged. Driven to desperation,
he one day succeeded in accomplishing
his purpose in a somewhat remarkable
manner at dinner party. To most
people, dinner party would hardly
seem the most suitable occasion for
overtures of this description, especially
when, as in this instance, the lady is
seated at the opposite side of the table
from her admirer. The latter, how
ever, was equal to the occasion. Tear
ing leaf from his pocketbook, he
wrote on it, under cover of the table :;
"Will you be my wife? Write Yes or
No at the foot of this"
Calling a servant, he asked him in
a whisper to take the slip-which of
course, was carefully folded and direc.
ted-to "thc lady in blue opposite" "
The servant did as requested and the
gentleman, in an agony of suspense.
watched him give it to the lady, and
fixed his eyes, with badly disguised
eagerness, to try and judge from her
expression how the quantity made offer
was received. He had forgotten one
thing-namely, that ladies seldom
carry pencils about them at n dinner
party. The beloved one was, however,
not to be baffled by so tritiing an OBJ.
stacle. After reading the note calmly,
she turned TO the servant and said i:
"Tell the gentleman, Yes" They were
married in due course.
When Professor Aytoun was wooing
Miss Wilson, daughter of Professor
Wilson, the famous christopher
North" he obtained the lady's consent
conditionally on that of her father be-
secured. This Aytoun was much too
shy to ask, and he prevailed upon the
young lady herself to conduct the nec-
essary negotiations.
ave must deal tenderly with his
feelings" said glorious old Christopher.
"Fll write my reply on a slip of paper,
and pin it on the back of your frock. ="
"Papa's answer is on the back of my
dress" said Miss Jane as she entered
the drawing room. Turning her round
the delighted professor read these
words: with the authors compli-
ments."
In Lord Beaconsfeld's last novel an
eccentric old nobleman pops the ques-
tion in the following matter rof.iact
language: II wonder if anything
would ever induce you to marry me ?
This was evidently intended a fresh
illustration of Lord Montford's eccen-
tricity; but it is really much nearer
the terms in which the average man
proposes, than is the average proposal
of the novelist. The Americans, we
know, carry everything to extremes,
and we are told that the New York
young men have reduced the formula
of the critical proposition to a couple
of words Lets consolidate" Moth.
ing, however, could be neater or more
ingenious than the proposal of the
Irishman, who thus addressed the rustic
beauty upon whom he had set his atiec-
tions "BiGdy, darlint, they've been
tellin' me there's too many OF us in the
world. Now, if YOU an me get the
praste to make us two wan, .truth an
wouldn't there be wan the less"
Different customs prevail in differ
ent countries in this as in other mat.
tiers. A curious ceremony, for exam
pie, is associated with popping the
question among the Samoyedes of
Russia. When a young Samoyede de-
sires to marry, and has come to an un-
derstanding with the damsel of his
choice, he visits her father and with n
short stick taps him, aud then the
mother of the maiden, OH the shoulder.
He then demands the girl in marriage,
and offers the father and mother a
glass of vodka which he has brought
with him. As a token Of his good will,
the father drinks the vodka; he tells
the young man he has no objection,
but that he must ask the girls consent.
A few days later the young man comes
again, this time accompanied by what
servants be has, and provided with
plenty of vodka. His retinue remain
outside while be enters the room and
seats himself by the side of his lady
love. The father hands the young
man a glass of vodka he drinks half,
and hands the halflull glass, under
bis left arm, to the girl, who finishes
the draught. The father then gives
his daughter glass Of vodka, and she
in like manner drinks half of it. aud
presents the remainder, with her left
hand under her right arm. to her lover,
who drains the glass. After this the
father hands piece of raw meat 10
the young man, who eats it, aud then
takes a piece from the floor, eats half
and presents the other bali, under his
left arm, to the girl to finish. She in
turn takes n piece of meat from the