The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1902-12-05
UNIQUE PROPOSALS.
SOME RATHER CURIOUS METHODS
or POPPING THE QUESTION.

Miss Annie Oakley, the champion
rife shot, was practicing in a London
shooting gallery one day, firing at the
regulation cardboard target, when a
stranger happened along and, picking
up a spare rife, fired 100 shots thereat,
the whole spelling out the following
message: "Will you marry mer
The lady was naturally somewhat
surprised; but, not to be outdone she
promptly replied after similar fashion
with her own match rife, Certainly
not"
This Is probably unique as an offer
Of marriage, but 1t Is a fact that a
young matron living In south London
suburb has In her possession Mt this
present moment several rifle written
love letters.
The lady I'm question was formerly
an attendant at a shooting gallery In
a 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 80 expert after
awhile that he could place the shots
where he liked TO within n fraction or
an inch, and he frequently used his
skill when no inconvenlent onlookers
were around In the manner Indicated.
Needless TO say that as soon as he had
finished the little perforated squares
OF cartridge paper were carefully re-
moved and preserved by her for whom
alone the messages so curiously WIFI
ten thereon were intended.
The most farfamed feature OF the
beautiful Yosemite valley, In Califor-
MIA, IL the Bridal Veil fall. 1t descends
from the plateau, nearly 5000 feet
above, I'm single ribbon OF sllvery
water lImned luminously against the
dark vertical face OF the precipice.
Perhaps Il was It's romantic name
which suggested TO Charles Evelyn. n
young and wealthy San Franciscan, to
utilize the falling streamlet In nm alto
gether novel fashion. Anyhow he spent
several thousand dollars In construct
ing ut the summit OF the cliff, Just
where the water gathers Itself together
for It's final terrific leap into the abyss
below, sort OF vertically sliding
sluice door which worked 80 smoothly
and so perfectly that II could be low
cred and raised several times In the
course of n single minute.
Then when his preparations were
complete he brought To the valley from
her far eastern home the young lady To
whom he was engaged. and by alter
nately raising and lowering the sluice
gates above for longer or shorter inter
vals, as the case might be, he caused
the cascade to tell her In spurts and
lets, corresponding to the dots and
dashes OF the Morse alphabet, OF the
| love he bore her. Whether the lady ex-
actly approved OF this blazoning abroad
OF what should have been n message
sacred TO her eyes alone Is not record
ed, but she has, Mt all events. the su-
preme satisfaction OF rejecting that
she IL the only woman In the world to
whom love letter has been indited by
harnessed waterfall.
Love letters spelled out In fireworks
are of course common. One such writ
ten aloft I'm partlcolored globes of flame
and addressed 10y a Magyar noble to
his atiianced bride ut Herrmannstadt
IL said To have cost $500.
In Sussex garden a lovelorn but
bashful swain sowed I'm mustard and
cress marriage proposal to the daugh-
ter OF his next door nelghbor. and the
fair one, not to be outdone, answered,
YES" In radishes. They were mar
red without delay. and both the pro-
posal and the answer were served and
eaten at the wedding breakfast.
After all, however, IL Is doubtful
whether the modern lover has, on the
whole. progressed very far In the mat
ter OF inventlng novelties, either In
marriage proposals or love letters.
Nearly 1900 years ago proposal for
the hand OF an Egyptian princess was
inscribed elaborately on n block or
solid stone aud can be seen TO this
day by any one curious In such mat
ters In the British museum. Macharcs,
nn 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. II is recorded OF the
Prince dc Cont that he sent 10 ccr-
tain great lady n proposal inditcd ON
golden plaque. exquisltcly engraved,
the letters OF the words of the cpistle
being formed OF diamonds. rubies and
emeralds set in the metal.
The lady's answer was, however. IN
the negative whereupon the prince re
questcd that she would at least dc
him the honor OF accepting ring con
tanning n miniature Of himself. TIC
this she assented, but stipulated that
the ring should be destitute OF Jewels
The tiny portrait was accordingly SET
In n simple rim OF gold. but to cover
the painting large diamond, cut
very thin. served as glass. The lady
promptly returned the jewel, where
upon the prince had II ground to pow
der. which he used 10 dry the ink o
the note he wrote TO her on the sub
ject.-London Tit.Bits.