Western Kansas world., 1888-02-18
POPPING THE QUESTION.

POPPING THE QUESTION.
How Nan Proposes and what Induces
Him to Do So,
EChicago Tribune.l
This popping the question is funny
business.
| Another queer thing is that almost
any girl will freely confess, with lit
tie urging, the number of proposals
she has had, and goodly proportion
of sobered matrons even are not averse
to recounting the conquests of their
youth. But ask married man how he
happened to propose to his wife, and in
nine cases out of ten he will only
answer with an uneasy laugh and look
as sheepish as if you had found him out
in the one inexcusable folly of his life;
and, as for unmarried men, who has
ever known one who would acknowledge
how many times he had been in
duced to offer himself and his more or
less tempting prospects in matrimo-
NAL way?
Toa woman proposal very rarely
comes unexpectedly. Not that women,
as rule, are given to looking upon
every eligible man in the light of q
possible lover or husband, as one
young lady declared to be the case with
herself; but for the reason that the
majority of men very naturally dread q
refusal, and consequently postpone the
critical moment until confidence is in
| spired by kindly encouragement of
the guarded advances they venture to
make. It is an open secret that lit
tie diplomacy is often employed to
bring q cautious admirer to the point,
and clever is she who so skilfully man.
ages the delicate task that the effort is
not too manifest. All the world knows
how Ruth schemed to capture Boaz;
and she was right modest and proper
damsel, too. But Ruth was q widow,
and she had had experience, and was
level-headed enough besides to see the
advantage of standing by her mother
in-law; so her success is not to be won-
| dered at. Maud Muller tried very
much the same dodge later on, but it
didn't work quite so we'll; and all the
feminine world has been devising other
and equally harmless little schemes
ever since Ruth's triumphant proba-
bly, before-down to the famous
French woman who revolved before her
partner at ball and frankly said:
"Monsieur, I desire husband. Do
you not find me beautiful"
"Mademoiselle. we will be married
tomorrow.
This was about as direct proposal as
that of a prominent man in the North
west, whose courtship had been rather
long drawn out. II am going to the
Rocky Mountains" he abruptly re-
marked one evening, "and if you want
to go as my wife be ready next week.
And she was ready.
Equally matter-of-fact was the foi-
lowing, written by Yale man on q
gilt-edged invitation card:
MY will probably
not be greatly surprised at receiving pro-
posal from me- The fact is it is the proper
thing to be engaged junior year, and as it mas
always been understood that we should be
agreement now Of course you know that
love you and al that, and if you accept me 1
shall write to you regularly, initiate you into
the class secrets, and tell you all about my
affairs Anxiously awaiting favorable reply,
yours devotedly,
The depth of devotion which
prompted this remarkable epistle may
be- questioned; but it stands as a
unique example of college boys
first effort
Very few people fall in love at first
sight, and propinquity is doubtless the
commonest cause of marriage, though
occasionally an unpremeditated act or
needless jest develops into serious at
tachment. Master Cupid has roguish
eve, ever on the watch for unwary
game, and frequently sends his arrows
in unexpected directions.
Circus goers of twenty five years ago,
will remember Herr Driesbach, the cell
ebrated lion-tamer, but probably have
never in their lives connected him with
q romance; and yet he not only had a
veritable romance in his life, but one
that blossomed out of dish of onions; |;
and it was through the medium of that
most plebian vegetable that he won
his lovely wife. Persons who knew
Mrs. Driesbach before her marriage re-
call her as the belle of Worcester, O.,
of which place her father was wealthy
resident. Accomplished as she was
beautiful, witty, and full of pranks-
to meet her was never to forget her.
Happening to be placed with party Of
young people at hotel table where
Driesbach was sitting, some one dared
her to pass him dish of onions. Imme-
diately seizing the dish, she not only
passed it, but inquired if he would have
an onion. He said he would, and took
one; and from SO small a beginning
sprung an acquaintance that in three
months ended in marriage. It was a
singular marriage, and people long
wondered whether the dauntless lion
tanner would have equal success in
tanning his wife.
Pats Promotion.