The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-12-17
B PROPOSALS.
some RATHER CURIOUS METHODS
IS or Popping THE QUESTION.

S(f-s rsCFt1tNtl tf1Es QGESi3Sf e
Mriting an Order OF Marriage With
otsun--Ind ditins q Love Letter
with q Observation-Disclosures and
egetabIes Pressed into Service.
MISS annie Oakley, the champion
riae shot, was pracdcing in London
shooting gallery one day, firing at the
reguiation cardboard target, when a
stranger happened along and, picking
up spare rifle, fred 100 shots thereat,
the whole spelling out the following
message: III you marry me?''
The lady was naturally somewhat
surprised; but not to be eutdone, she
promptly replied after similar fashion
with her own match rifle, Certainly
not
This is probably unique as an offer
of marriage, but it is fact that a
young matron living in south London
suburb has in her possession at this
present moment several rife written
love letters.
The lady in question was formerly
an attendant at q shooting gallery in
certain popular place Of amusement
soon, ALAS, to be closed forever which
is down Westminster way" and her
sweetheart that was and husband that
IS used TO drop in OF an evening TO
practice. He became so expert after
awhile that he could place the shots
where he liked to within traction OF
an inch, and he frequently used his
skill when no inconvenient onlooh,ers
were around in the manner Indicated.
Needless to say that as soon as he had
snished the little perforated squares
Of cartridge paper were carefully re-
moved and preserved By her for whom
alone the messages so curiously writ
ten thereon were intended.
The most farfamed feature Of the
beautiful Yosemite valley, in Califor-
MIA, is the Bridal Ven fall It descends
from the plateau, nearly 5000 feet
above, in a single ribbon of slyery
water iimned luminously against the
dark vertical face Of the precipice.
Perhaps it was its romantic name
which suggested to Charles Evelyn,
Yong and wealthy San franciscan, to
utilize the falling sreamlet IN an alto
gether novel fashion. AnyhoW he spent
several thousand dollars IL, construct
at the summit Of the cliff, just
where the water gathers itself together
for IFS final terrific leap into the abyss
below, sort Of vertically sliding
sluice door which worked so smoothly
and so perfectly that it could be low
cred and raised several times in the
course Of single minute.
Then when his preparations were
complete he brought to the valley from
her far eastern home the young lacy TO
whom he was engaged and by alter
iaFsiy s5isiag aFsd ss'EeEssssas s!gass
gates above Tor longer or shorter inter-
yals, as the case might be, he caused
the cascade to tell her in spurts and
lets. corresponding to the dots and
dashcs of the Morse alphabet, OF the
loyc he bore her. Whether tie lady ex-
actIy approved Of this blazoning abroad
Of what should have been message
sacred to her eyes alone is not record
ed. but she has, at all events, the su-
preme satisfaction Of rejecting that
she is the only woman in the world TO
whom lore letter has been indited by
a harnessed waterfall
Love letters spelled out in fireworks
are Of course common. One such writ
Ten aIoft in particoIored globes Of fame
and addressed by Magyar noble to
his amaneed bride at Herrmannstadt
is said TO have cost ESoo.
@ In u Sussex garden a ioyelorn but
i bashfui swain sowed in mustard and
cress marriage proposal to the daugh-
ter of his next door neighbor, and the
fair one, not to be outdone, answered.
Yes in radishes They were mar
ried without delay. and both the pro
posal and the answer were served and
eaten at the wedding breakfast
After all, however. it is doubtful
whether the modern lover has, on the
whole. progressed very Ear in the mat
ter OF inyenfing novelties. either in
marriage proposals or lore letters.
Nearly 1900 years ago proposal for
the hand Of an Egyptian princess was
Inscribed elaborately on a block OF
solid stone and can be seen to this
day by any one curious in such mat
tiers in the British museum. Machares,
an old time king Of Colchis, wooed his
wife BY sending her presents Of young
and beautiful child slaves. each OF
whom had some tender and loving
message tattooed on the skin Of the
back. while. coming down to more
recent times. it is recorded Of the
Prince de Cont that he sent to eer-
tain great lady proposal indited on
q golden plaque. exquisitely engraved,
the letters Of the words Of the epistle
being formed Of diamonds. rubies and
emeraIds set in the metal
The iady's answer was, however, IN
the negative. whereupon the prince re-
~,& CD 10