Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-04-17
Misftllarreons.
POPPING THE QUESTION

a kcItlcuoH u1ft iOuS Dcch pay tDG al
tention 10 a young lady whom he was
very anxious to marry. but to whom be
had never ventured to declare his passion.
When opportunity offered, his courage
deserted him, and when he was resolved
to speak, the fair one never could be found
alone or disengaged. Driven to despera-
ton, he one day succeeded in accomplish
ing his purpose in a somewhat remarkable
manner. at dinr er-party. To most peo-
pie, 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 OPP
posite side of the table from her admirer
The latter. however, was equal TO the oc-
casion. Tearing a leaf from his pocket
book, he wrote on it. under cover of the
table: xviii Won 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 directed-to
1.-THE lady in blue opposite" The SER
want did as requested; and the gentleman.
in an agony Of suspense. watched him
give it 10 the lady. and fixed his eyes.
with badly disguised eagerness. to try and
Judge from her expression how the quaint
ly made offer was received. He had for
gotten one thing-Eamely, that ladies sell
dom carry pencils about them at dinner
party. The beloved one was however
not to be bafIIed by so trifling an obstacle.
After reading the note calmly. she turned
to the servant and said: TELL the gen
tleman, Yes" They were married in
due course.
When Professor Aytoun was wooing
Miss Wilson, daughter Of Professor Will
son, the famous christopher North" he
obtained the lady's consent condtionally
on that of her father being secured. This
Aytoun was much to shy too ask. and he
prevailed upon the young lady herself to
conduct the necessary negotiations.
"We must deal tenderly with his feel
ings," said glorious old Christopher.
"I'll write my reply on sheet Of paper,
and pin it to 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 compliments.
In Lord Beaconsfield's last novel, an
eccentric old nobleman pops the question
in the following matter-of. fact language:
WOuutt IL uiNtniDG NOuiu
you to marry me ?n This was evidently
intended as fresh illustration of Lord
Montford's eccentricity; but it is really
much nearer the terms in which the aver
age man proposes. than Is the average pro-
pOsal 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 couple of words-''Let's
consolidate" Nothing. however. could
be nearer or more ingenious than the pro-
posal of the Irishman, who thus addressed
the rustic beauty upon whom he had set
his affections: ''Biddy. darlint, they've
been telling me there's too many of us in
the world. Now, if YOU an me get the
praste to make us two wan. troth. an
wouldn't there be wan the less ?'
Different customs prevail in different
countries in this rs in other matters. A
curious ceremony, for example, is associ
ated with popping the question among the
Samoyedes of Russia. When young
Samoyede desires to marry, and has come
to an understanding with the damsel
of his choice. he visits her father,
and with a short stick, taps him,
and then the mother of the maiden, on the
shoulder. He then demands tine girl in
marriage, and offers the father and moth
er glass of vodka which he has brought
with him. As token of his goodwill,
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 Games again.
this time accompanied by what servants
he has. and provided with plenty of vod-
ka. His retinue remain outside while he
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 half-full glass
under his 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. and 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 to the young man. who eats
1t. and then takes a piece from the floor.
eats half. and presents the other half I'M
der his lett arm. to the girl to finish She
in turn takes piece of meat from the
floor. eats half. and hands the other half.
under her right arm, to the Young man to
finish. This extraordinary ceremonial
would appear to complete the transaction.
and may be regarded as Synonymous with
our engagement. The feasting and other
ritual necessary to ratify the contract gen
orally take place soon or Immediately
afterward
$50 you would not take me to be twen-
TYP" said young lady to her partner,
while dancing the polka one evening.
"What would you take me for then?''
''For better. for worse" replied he: and
he was accepted. Here is another case
in point. Riding home from the hounds
AFTER certain famous country meet. a lady
observed to her companion "Why should
we not marry. Sir John?n "Ah," said
Sir John, .'that is what | have of.en
thought myself" And married they
were -Cha,nhers, .LnnrnaI