The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1900-03-08
THE WAY TO PROPOSE.
What the Maiden and the Matro
Had to Say About 1t.

What the Maiden and the Matron
Had to Say About 1t.
II never could accept proposal from
a man unless the conditions were just
right said the romantic maiden
thoughtfully.
"Of course not" replied the matter
of fact matron. "He must be the right
man in the first place, and he must pro-
pose in the second. Those are the con-
ditions that must be always just right
before any sensible girl will think of
marriage"
ooh, don't mean that" returned the
maiden. He must know how to pro-
pose. Do you know, l believe if l were
really in love with a man and he didn't
propose properly l should reject him."
when it comes to proposals of mar
riage," replied the matron, with de-
cision, ANY way is the right way"
ooh, no, it isn't asserted the maid
en-. ''The surroundings must be appro-
pirate. Everything must be in har-
mony. If my Prince Charming proposes
to me in the house, he must be in
dress suit, and he must be earnest but
digniied. There must be a certain ease
and elegance of manner, and his words
must conform to his actions. If he
proposes to me in the woods or on the
lawn, he may be in negligee attire, out
ing costume or something like that,
and he may then be more impassioned
and vehement in his declarations. But
I never could accept a man in negligee
costume who proposed in the house."
Don't you be too sure about it, re-
turned the matron.
ooh, but am" said the maiden. 81
havefiguredit all out very carefully. The
scene must make a perfect picture. 1t
would just kill the romance if it didn't,
and 1 couldn't possibly accept him.
And his words and tone! Both must
breathe love and yet be in conformity
with all the surroundings"
ave known lots of girls who thought
that" said the matron refiectively.
"And it didn't happen that wayF'
"N-o; hardly"
"But in your case"
The matron sighed.
II had the same idea," she said at
last. 81 pictured some quiet nook, the
birds twittering, the sun shining
brightly and all the world joyous as
he poured we'll rounded sentences
throbbing with love into my ear. Or
else l saw him sinking on one knee in
front of the divan upon which l was
sitting and looking me straight in the
eyes with long, lingering look of
love, while he said: oh, adorable one,
H. @l,o% ~ Se 81 10 no
world of Stygian darkness for me, but
that the sunlight Of true love shall
shine ever brightly as we go through
life hand in handy"
ooh, beautiful! Lovelyv cried the
maiden. That's just the way I've
pictured it. And when your Prince
Charming did come what did he say"
The matron sighed again.
"He was taking me home under an
umbrella in a rainstorm," she explain
ed. II was wet, and he was wet. My
hair was stringy, and there was mud
on his trousers, and we were altogether
two of the most unprepossessing look
ing mortals you ever saw. When he
was about to leave me at the door, he
suddenly exclaimed, Say, I'd like to
carry that umbrella over you all the
time
What? l said in some surprise.
"'Oh, to put it in plain Words he
said, let's get married. How about
itY"
"How dreadfulv exclaimed the
maiden.
"Wasn't itY'
'Such an inappropriate place and
timer
Eyes, indeed"
"And such prosaic wordsT
"Most prosaic."
ooh, couldn't accept a man under
those circumstances"
eff he was the right man, you would,
nevertheless"
"Oh, couldn't do it possibly" pro-
tested the maiden. "I'd feel that I'd
lost half my life. Why, in a case like
that he couldn't even fold you in his
arms and all that when you said d.
"Wait a minute" interrupted the
matron. "Not so fast. You'll know a
lot more about men than you do now
when you accept one, no matter how,
when or where it may be. There are
some features of the occasion they new
er overlook, but don't you build your
hopes too high on everything else be-
ing in harmony" New York Sun.