New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-08
THE ENTERPRJSING AMERICAN.

To the observant man scarcely day passes,
perhaps that he is not forcibly reminded OF the
far-reaching influence OF modern improvements
and the decay of old customs. This can even De
noticed in those little affairs OF the heart In when
young people are supposed to be Interested, ana
the custom of scaling stone wall and sitting
under pomegranate tree while you serenade
lady, and momentarily expect to be playfully run
through the body by her interesting ldnsmen, has
practically fallen into disuse. But the plan, at
more critical stage of the courtship, of the gentle
man getting down on his knees, or at least being
present in person. has, believe, been kept up
to the present day. 1t now appears, however, to
be doomed.
We learn from perusal of a recent copy OF
little Michigan paper, published not far from Ann
Arbor. OF an occurrence which, it is said, took
place not long since in Detroit which seems TO
confirm the idea that courtshp as we'll as most
other things will hereafter be greatly facilitated
by recent inventions. 1t appears that there Is
Young lady living in Detroit who for some time
has been the recipient of the attentions of two
young men, one young professor in the State
University at Ann Arbor and the other a travel
ling salesman for a New-Yorlz wholesale hard
ware house, whose route extends through Mchi-
gan and parts of Canada. One day last week
afternoon, and OF course Immediately started max
ing the rounds of the retail hardware dealers
with the laudable purpose Of selling each good
stock for the winter before the representative
of any rival house should put in an appear
ance. He had hoped to call on the Oh
Jet of his affections in the evening" but
business was good. and o'clock found him very
busy trying to induce a Woodward-ave. dealer to
take six dozen axes, four dozen grindstones and
half-carload Of wooden pals At this stage of
the proceedings younger brother of the young
lady dropped in to buy a new jack-knife, and
mentioned casually that the Ann Arbor professor
up at the house 1t instantly occurred to the
cnicrprsing hardware and cutlery salesman that
the professor had ome.for no other purpose than
to lay his heart at the feet Of the young lady he
himself adored. For moment there was a strug-
gle in his breast. but he speedily got control of
himself and decided that he could not possibly
leave the store, as the dealer just on the
point Of deciding 10 take the pals. But the
thought of giving up the lady who had been for
months constantly in his MIND waking and sleep
ing was unbcarable. Light suddenly dawned on
him. Handing the dealer a circular explaining
the merits of his new doublebladed chopping-
knives, he requested the of the merchants
telephone for five minutes, stepped 10 it and rang
up the central office.
moment later the telephone bell at the resi-
dence of the young lady rang, sharp and decisive.
The professor had been there for an hour talking
pleasantly of the grand educational work they
were doing in the department of fosslOlogy at
Ann Arbor When the bell rang, the lady's
father being absent he is physician, she cx-
cused herself and went into the adjoining room
to answer it. The professor heard her step to
the telephone and say, :" Yes make short
pause and say Yes' again. Then there was a
longer pause, and he heard her say: Why
why-really, this is very sudden Then there
was still longer pause, and he heard her say
Yes" very softly, then good-by," and she hung
ND the receiver and came back into the room
The professor moved closer to the fire, and re-
marked that it was a chilly evening, and he
thought it was going to snow, and then resumed
his talk about the great work at the university |
Fifteen minutes later there ring at the front
door-bell The lady answered it, and district |
messenger boy handed her plain gold ring, which |
she slipped on her finger and returned to the /
parlor Miss -" said the professor five |
minutes later, l want to ask you very i'm |
portant question this evening. Excuse me for
putting it bluntly, but will you be my wife,
But we need not go further with this. Two
minutes later the professor went down the front
steps, shook his fist at the telephone wire and
took the 8: AS train for Ann Arbor
II this story be true, and We have no reason to !
doubt it, it opens vast field of usefulness for the
Telephone and shows few other incidents |
could. the great enterprise OF the American people
This could not have happened in any other country
in the world except America We are a great
growing, pushing, energetic people, and no other
Nation on the face of the globe can approach us |