The Savannah morning news., 1903-10-04
NOVEL WAY OF GETTING A WIFE
Engnshman's Romantic Quest-Se-
lected IL Out of 5000 Letters.

From the London Express.
This is a great time for the neglected
spinster A nice young man, with a
blameless if somewhat variegated rec
ord, is running about England in
search of a wife.
His age is "a. A lady novelist would
describe him as tall, 1.-the and genteel,
with gentle blue eyes, and a smile of
irradiating fascination. He is un-
shackled. and, like poor Jack Point of
pathetic memory, he signs for the love
of lady.
In his audacious youth he became at
tached to the staff of Pearson's Week
ly. So extreme was his devotion to the
service that he adopted it's very name,
but with the periphrastic habits of a
journalist he transformed it into Mr.
?. Doubleyou.
He went far afield in the sacred quest
for copy" He f1oated a limited liza
bility company, and he took a threatri-
cal company on tour.
He wrote his impressions of Paris and
the Netherlands. He went to America
as a steerag passenger, and success
fully persuaded the officials of New
York that he was not an undesirable
alien. ~a
He had a Russian bath. he took a
dose of haschisch, he tried to lose things
and to find them, he became Don
Quixote, and tilted at the uncivil wind
mills of everyday life in London.
An whatever he did he wrote a faith
full account of his adventures, and one
up. w" printed it, and the other p
w" became the intimate, If unknown,
friend of countless hundreds of read
ers.
Then Mr.. P. Doubleyou felt the in
evitable yearnings for a wife TO write
him a. nightly letter when he was out
on his adventures and to console MIN
n &c Of at
home.
So the editor of Pearson's Weekly
undertook to find one for him.
He invited all spinsters and widows
of a like mind to compete for the
prize. They were to send IN their
photographs and particulars of eligl-
bilitv. They were even allowed to
state the amount of their dowries.
though this was not insisted upon.
But a confession of age was compul-
Mr.. p. Doubleyou had more admirers
than he thought over 1900 ladies Of
fered their hearts, their photographs
and their fortunes at his feet. They
wrote from all kinds OF addresses
humble and well-to-do.
Some of the applicants from good
houses were lady's maids or domestics
therein, and some were members OF
the family. No large fortunes were
mentioned, but several applicants had
large expectations. But as Mr.. f.
Doubleyou desired loving heart more
than riches. this matter had little in
fuence upon him IN making ms seIec-
ton.
He cut down the applications to
about a Dozen Leaving himself plenty
of room for choice. he selected blondes
and brunettes ladies of classic beauty,
and ladies of piquant prettiness, ladies
indeed, of all kinds of varied charms.
Then he wrote asking If they would
care to meet him, making it perfectly
clear that the interview was non-com-
initial on both sides. If the lady liked
him enough to marry him, and If he
liked her enough to marry her, mar
red they would be. Otherwise, If the
lady would accept it. a monetary sola-
tum from the editor.
Mr.. p. Doubleyou is now going
round the country to interview his
prospective brides. He went to Bir-
mingham, and, by appointment, met
lady in the art gallery She drove
up in a carriage with her mother.
Then he went to Liverpool and called
upon another competitive. lady at her
fathers house. The next interview
will take place at Leicester, and Mr..
p. Doubleyou will then proceed to
Leeds. Newcastle and other
places.
How do you like it as far as you've
got?" asked Artemus Ward of Brig
ham Young on a.. certain historic oc-
casion.
In the same way, How do you like
1t as far as you've got?" Mr. P. Dou-
bleyou was asked.
What do you mean?' was the in
nocent reply.
well, the lady you have just left.
Is she to be one of your future wives?'
That is a very inaccurate way OF
putting it," was the reply. The de-
tails of my matrimonial negotiations
are strictly confidential. and have
nothing to say about them.
This 1 may mention. however. MY
search is of perfectly genuine nature
| am bachelor. heart-whole and fan
cy free. Supposing that when have
selected one of these ladies as the
prize-winner, we find we are mutu-
ally inclined to improve the acquaint-
ance, there is no reason why we
should not marry.
"If, after some further acquaintance,
however, we find we are disinclined to
set the wedding bells a-ringing on our
Joint account, the lady will be award
ed a soIarium. Her name will not be
published without her consent"
whereupon, like another fairy
prince, Mr.. P. Doubleyou went away
upon his romantic mission.