The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-07
PROPOSED TO DE II
A WoMANy SENDS cHAuNCEY A LIST
OF/HER QUALIFICATIONS.

Marriage Allowance to His Generosity.
A Jameson Raiders Odd Request and
Why He Made 1t.
Chauncey M. Depew has received q
proposal Of marriage from young
woman in California who has taken
advantage Of the leap year privilege of
her sex. A reporter called to learn the
history Of the interesting event.
81 would like to know, Mr.. Depew,"
began the reporter, chow matters would
appear to you if you were to stop all
work and try to merely kill time by
idling?'
my boy" he answered, "time would
kill me, and before the lapse Of six
months you would be giving ma fine
send Off in your obituary columns You
are eying that correspondence very
closely, see. IF you could but see the
whole Of it, if you could but see half of
1t, if you could but see one quarter Of
it, He toyed with letter which ap-
peared to be in a feminine hand and
wheeling around in his chair said to his
stenographer, when did this Gomez"
Before there was time for reply he re-
sumed: IT am asked by persons in all
corners Of the world to solve all manner
of problems, to extend all manner of as
sistanoe to those who are in want, and
then to tell whether there was really
any asp ct all in question when Cleopa-
ira killed herself. BY and by they will
deny the existence of Cleopatra herself
/ mean her of the ancient time-but they
cannot deny tho existence of the modern
Cleopatra who dwells in the west and
whose assurances of devotion are en-
bodied in these lines" Again he toyed
with the letter with as genuine an air
of enjoyment as tho great Gladstone
himself shows when watching tho play
of his little granddaughter.
"Let me see it, Mr.. Depew?" asked
the reporter.
81 know you we'll and trust you in
all particulars as u man of honor, but
this really is asking too much'' There
was such an air Of coyness and mock
gravity in the way in which these words
were spoken rs made it evident that the
stage lost an actor of no mean excel
lence when Chauncey turned his atten-
ton to the railroad business upon leav-
ing school.
well, what does it contain?' que
ried the reporter with stony hearted per-
sistence.
Whisper, Mr.. Depew said. "It's
u proposalr'
"Mr. Depew, said the reporter, IN
able to conceal his disappointment, II
fail to see anything wonderful in that.
a man in your position must be inun-
dated with such things every day in the
year. have no pretensions to any
prominence, still scarcely day passes
that some crank Of q fellow doesn't try
to-
Softly" interposed tho railroad
president as tho spirit of fun settled
down upon his face and he laid his
hand upon the reporters arm, lyon
don't understand. Z"
"But you said proposal. Mr.. De-
pew"
"Quite true, but mean it is a pro-
posal of marriage.
''Ah, now, this is too goodp' said the
reporter. won't you show it to me?"
He gave way, and in the most deli
cate manner took the knight of the pen
Gil into his confidence and let him see
the letter. The communication had the
stamp of good faith The young woman
gave her name and address and spoke Of
her qualifications quite freely. 1t bore
the postnark Of city in California.
There was an air of simplicity about
the opening sentence
i saw by an advt. in the papers that
you intend to getmarried again. Then
it went on: ''You must have many pro-
posals Of marriage from women who arc
rich and uncultured. Now, am poor,
but intellectual, and as for money, or
rather the want Of it, feel quite GER
tain, Mr.. Depew, that your generous
heart and plethoric purse will more than
make up for that deficiency" The writ
er referred to the marriage of ex-Pres-
1dent Harrison in glowing terms and
closed with request for q "full and
early reply"
Il really must keep that" said MIR.
Depew rs he folded the letter and put
it away in an envelope. What do you
think Of it?" he asked after pause.
1t is pleasant reading" replied the
timidly.
II know" answered Mr.. Depew,
"but don't you think If that sort Of
thing were to be encouraged they wouId
be making matrimonial bureau Of me
i'm short time-a sort Of up town Cas-
tie Garden, SO to speak?''
at might reach indefinite proper
lions, Mr.. Depew, it is true" remark
ed the reporter, "but it would soon be
discovered that there was not enough Of
Won RI on oroupd