The professional world. (Columbia, Mo.) 1901-192?, 1903-04-17
Strange Proposals Of Marriage

eCCeUlTlClIleS Vi lONeTS is huulCiShpy
proved by the old methods in which
many of the worlds great men have
wooed and won their wives.
When %Schumann, the famous COM
poser, fell head over heels in love with
Clara Week, his masters daughter,
his path of courtsbip was by no means
one of roses, for Herr Week had no
wish to see his only daughter the wife
Of a penniless musician, and he for
babe the young lovers to hold any
communication with each other. But
love laughs at parental frowns, and,
as Schumann could not even write to
his lady love, he poured out his soul
to her in a series of Letters to
Clara" printed in a musical journal
Of which he was editor.
When the time was ripe for settling
his destiny he made music the vehicle
of his passion, and actually proposed
to Clara on the piano under the nose
of her father, without a single word
being uttered. and received her joyful
assent through the same medium.
Bdison's method Of wooing was no
less eccentric. One day he strolled
into one of his workrooms and stood
behind the chair of a pretty operator
who was absorbed in her work. When
the girl glanced round and, looking
shyly up at him, said, II knew it was
you, Mr.. Edison. l always know when
you are near" he answered, to her
a~maZement:
1--WE been thinging a great deal
about you lately, and il you are will
ing to marry me ! would like to marry
YOU"
A month later the pretty employee
was promoted to a partnership"
which she has never regretted.
Sphor won his wife with equally
dramatic s~uddenness. After playing
a duet at a court concert with Doret-
te Schneider, a beautiful n gifted
harpist, and while the tumult of ap-
plause was still ringing in their ears,
he said to his companion: Shall we
play together thus through life?" For
answer the lady burst into tears and
sank into his arms"
One day when DR.. Dawson, an elo-
quent preacher of a century ago, call
ed TO see Miss Corbett, a wealthy I'D
mirer of his oratory, fer whom he had
conceived a not altogether platonic
affection, he found her reading the
bible. Stealing up behind her he look
ed we her shoulder to see what she
was reading. when. without showing
any recognition of his presence, the
lady's forefinger rested on the words
of Nathan to David: Thou are the
man." Even a less marked him
would have been sufficient Tor DR..
Dawson, and we cannot wonder that
Miss Corbett soon changed her name.
DR.. Abernethy, the famous physi-
can, was as abrupt in his courtship
as in his treatment of his patients.
When, after a single meeting. he de-
cided that Miss Anna Threlfan would
make a desirable life partner, he
promptly wrote to tell her so in a d.
rect, business like way. He old her
frankly that he was much too busy a
man to have time to spare for love
making" but if she was willing to
, marry him she might let him know in
a week. Miss ThrelfaD did let him
know, and the answer was favorable.
Gainsborough's wooing was made
almost absurdly easy for him. He had
completed a portrait Of Miss Burr, a
} charming young lady OF 16 summers,
when his fair sitter was so vi
with her presentment that she more
2 than limited that while she took the
COPY the artist might claim the orlgi-
| nal. Gainsborough did not decline
! such a tempting offer.
For c~onstancy it would be difficult
10 find a rival for Jeremy Bentham.
in early manhood Jeremy Bentham
Z --o...ol fnr tho hand nf a vOnnY
S lady. who promptly refused him
S Forty wears later he renewed his offer
e with the same result; and, still 10y
s ally cherishing his love in old age, he
proposed again at the age OF 80 in a
y touching letter, in which he wrote:
Since the day when o presented
me with the flower in the lane, not a
y single day has passed in which you
II have not engrossed my thoughts
Bismarck's iron resolution was new
err better demonstrated than in M
G loyemaking. At his first meeting will
the lady who was to share his life 10
0, so many years he proposed to her an
l. was accepted, and on the following
s, day, presenting himself at the hous
II of her parents, who knew him onl
n as a young man of undesirable reputs
e. ton, he demanded the young lady
hand and refused to leave the hous
lie until his suit was granted.
ay Probably no gallant who ever lai
his heart at a fair lady's feet wa
more undecided than Lord Byro
when he wrote the letter which con
zig mitted him to his unhappy marriae
err with Miss Milbanke. He had jul
tn proposed to another lady, and, as h
ge held her letter of refusal in his han
he said to a friend: ut seems that
to is to be Miss Milbanke after all;
IN will write to her" He sat down ar
a wrote the fatal letter." handing 1t
dy his friend for perusal. t1''"
De- "A pretty letter" the friend remar
at ed. after reading it. 1T is a pity tn
10 it shouldn't 60" Then it shall go
us exclaimed Byron, and thus opened on
of the most tragic chapters of h
checkered life story.