The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-05-17
ODD OFFERS OF MARRIAGE.
Some Curious Devices That Have Been Used.
A Minister'S Proposal.

There is more method. perhaps, than
modesty in the recent proposal to the
world at large OF a Japanese lady, who
advertises: Il am a beautiful woman.
with cloudlike hair, flowery face, will
lowlike waist and crescent eyebrows.
have enough property to walk
through life hand in hand gazing at
the flowers in the day and the moon at
night. III there is gentleman who Is
taste, will join with him fer life and
share the pleasure of being buried in
the same grave"
One OF the most unconventional and
startling proposals on record was that
Of Lorenzo Dow. an eloquent and popu-
lar Methodist minister. Mr.. Dow. says
the Philadelphia Times, had mourned
his first wife for year. and thought
Il was high time to replace her. One
day at the close OF the sermon he cleo
trified his congregation by announcing:
II am a candidate for matrimony. and
II any women in this congregation
would care to take me, let her rise"
After a modest interval two ladies roso
from their seats. one at the foot OF tho
pulpit and the other at the back of thu
church. The reverend gentleman i'm
epected them for a moment and then
said: "As the one nearest TO me waa
the first to rise. 1 will make her my
wife. and now we will sing hymn No.
-" Such an audacious proposal de-
served the happy union which followed
1t. and Mr.. Dow was not the less con-
tented with his choice because she was
amply supplied with this worlds goods.
In striking contrast TO this clerical
proposal was one of which Rochester
police court was recently the scene.
A widow. Mrs Mackrel, was charged
with attempting to commit suicide. In
was clear from the evidence that the
woman had made brave struggle
against misfortune. and that she waa
a good woman and an excellent mother
One OF the spectators OF the trial waa
SO much impressed by the pathos of
the widows position that ne made Nr
an offer of marriage in open court.
whereupon the magistrate dismissed
her with cordial good wishes for her
future married life.
Only a few weeks ago IL was recorded
that a famous performer on the trap
eze proposed to his wife when they
were swinging in midair from the sam0
bar. and in a recent shipwreck an Aus
tralian named Hannen was SO much
struck by the courage and beauty OF n
young governess who escaped in the
same boat as himself that before they
were rescued he had secured her prom
ise 10 be his wife.
One OF the most Ingenious dcvices
ever resorted to by a bashful swain So,
cured charming wife for Prince faft
ferward Czar) Nicholas of Russia Tho
young prince was so smtten by the
beauty OF Princess Charlotte daughter
OF his host. Frederick William III OF
Prussia, that he determined 20 losc no
time in making her his wife. During
a court dinner. when he was seated
next to his prospective briie, ne took
ring from his finger and burvlng u
in a piece OF bread. passed Il 20 her un-
seen. The hidden messenger of Cupid
did its work we'll. for when the Young
princess rose from tho table sn1 was
veari-g the ring which pledgs1 her 10
thr future Car.
There have been few ouainter pro-
posais than that of the late B'shop of
Ossory. who. after pulling the wish
fng-hone" with young lady who had
won hts heart laid down his art ~ the
broken bone and whispered 20 her.
''Wiii you Law your bones with my
b0nes7" story like this. N not new.
r. we'll worth telling.
The voun~ Spaniard makes h's walk
sr~-~''ct ~ al th'rcr IN fha world the
v~~'~'e - he nronosaL when ne hos
~--F' F'o'o~f'v sc-ewed ~ HE COURAGE 60
- rr~ee he co'e ~ ne fair ones mar
r'-f~ ~ st-o- e'f~ooev'-e dove and on
- '~~s ~,f '~ove= ris wa'ti,r-sfiel,
> .'~f hi--- - ~ho- no cars again
. ~ shs forvsA dav h'~ ss'ok is -e,urnod
fo him. ho knows that his suit - SUI
efse>u' II however. ~ ards that "
he's been thrown into the f'~cef ne VIII
- wise TO refrain from calling.