The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-04-14
POPPING THE QUESTION.

a Serious Matter Considered ComicaIiy.
A modern eesayist has written that
=" OF all positions in the world there is
none that demands q greater exertion
OF self-confidehce than q proposal OF
marriage" From the big, brawny-
handed son OF the soil to the most ef-
Terminate specimen of the genus known
RB the society man, the masculine lips
are sure to tremble when they come to
frame that simple but most important
OF all questions I" Will you be my
wifep' Men who will face the caunon's
mouth with GOODNESS, calmly start on
\ trips to the most uncivilized portions
of the world, or undergo privations OF
the most painful character, will shrink
at the rustic OF girls dress, or trem-
ble before weak, delicate woman,
when they are going to request her to
become partner for life. And though
we cannot givo the uninitiated any
valuable advice or information on this
topic, resume Of somo Of tho many
drolleries connected with it will
probably be interesting, both to the
persons who " have been there as we'll
as those who want to be.
Let US suppose that the lady has
been out daring tho evening before to
a party. Tho gentleman might say
that sho looks fatigued. On her re-
joining that this was foolish thought
he will get an opportunity Of saying,
"Not o3lish, Emily feel too much
interest in you to permit my own
wishes to run counter to your welfare"
This is properly called the magnificent
style OF beginning. But very often the
young lady is corsiderate enough to
assist her bashful lover. For instance,
there was once timid fellow who was
fond OF borrowing John Phpnix's Jokes;
when she asked him how he felt, he
avenged himself according to the
PhOnix plan of being very definite,
and said he felt about lightweight per
cent" "Indeed," she said, with q de-
mure look, "are you never going to
par" And she got in her work that
evening. Another young iran wss gay
ing, as he scratched luciier on the
side Of the house, 81 like these houses
with sanded paint nice when You want
10 strike a match, you know" is
that f'' she asked, demurely az
wish lived in house with sanded
paint" and then she looked uuntter-
able. II lie had asked, "What for I"
she would have hated him. Tut lie
didn't He took the hint, and the
match was struck then and there.
This method of "siving hint" has
heen put poetica!ly in this way:
Young Fred. bsshfi, &c, persistent swain,
Vas very inuch in love TI.a Mary Jane.
One night she told him in her tsndercst tone,
at is not good for man TO be alone"
Said Fred, "Just 20, you darling little elf;
Pve often thought of that same thing myself "
Then saii the lass, willis Fred WAS all agog,
"i,u ought to bay yolrself terrier dog"
The purely business like kind of pro-
posal is occasionally met with. A Cali
lorna paper, some months since, told
the story OF scene that occurred in
Alameda county. A respectable old
gyesn*tlsssmuan ys* CT fifty accidentally met 9
frequently heard OF each other through
mutual friends, but had never let face
to face. The following conversation
took place:
Gentleman-Madam, what is you,
namep
Lady-My name is -.
Gentleman-My name is -.
live in Livermore, where I own q ranch
Ahem How would you like me for q
husband?
Lady-Well, really now, 1 don't
know. I've heard your name, Mr.
-, but how would you like me for
o wife2
Gentleman Madam, the sight of you
more than does justice to what have
head. Will you be my wife?
The lady assented. The gentleman
went Immediately to Oakland to get q
license. and twenty-four hours after the
FIRST meeting the couple were man and
wife and started for the new husbands
ranch at Livermore.
| C-.~s- --S .ho-> -4ad of mar
riages by telegram. Here is true
case OF O proposal Of marriage being
made in the same way. Miss Maris
Roop was married in Boston under the
following circumstances Captain
Roop, a distant relative, who sailed an
English ship, visited Mr.. John Roop's,
in st. John. New Brunswick, on his
way to Peterboro, Nova Scotia, and met
his fate in the person of the young lady
who finally became his wife. He re.
turned to New York and began to load
for Java. He wrote to her and pro.
posed that she meet him in Boston the
next week, marry him and sail for Java
His boat was on the shore and his bark
was on the sea, or loading at the wharf,
and she must decide at once. The let.
Ger was received in the morning and had
not been read more than half dozen
times (such letters require great deal OF
reading, it seems) when a dispatch
was received to the following et.
feet: "PleAse answer my letter
by telegraph-yes or no." Any girl
can promptly say yes or no to the offer
OF hand and heart. bu. where such
offer is coupled with three DAYS notice
and a voyage to the East Indies. the
case requires q little moro considera'
tion. She took time to consider, and
added strength to the saying that the
woman who considers is lost, TOR, when
the afternoon of the same day brought
her another dispatch, which was sim.
ply " Yes or no?" she went to the tel.
eeraph oflice and wrote eyes" on a
blank. Tue operator. knowing moth.
ing Ct the vast importance Of that
monosyllable message. placed II on file
for transmission, aud the most anxious
man in New York was soon made happy