The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-31

From the Kansas Clly Stdr. "vERYBoDY knows how man was expected to offer himself in = marriage 50 or 100 years ago. Ac- cording to the most approved custom he was supposed to slide gracefully down on one knee, take the young woman's right hand firmly in both fists and murmuru, Amelia, may have the temerity to be- seech you to bestow your hand on my unworthy sef?"
 Manners have changed since those days. Half a dozen new novels were picked up at random from the latest as- sortment sent out by the publishers, with a view to observing modern ways of pro posing-proposing as 1t is done by our most popular modern authorities. Con- slider, if you please, "The Girl In the Other Seat" by Henry Mitchell Webster. It's at the end of frightfully exciting motor race just won by Longstreet. Clar- issa. who has learned to drive, offers to take him home, but she turns off from the direct road.
 ""That's not the way to New York, you know said Longstreet.
 "'shant we explore little, said Clarissa the new world?' His hand went to the wheel and rest ed on hers.
 "Out to the very rim of it. he said"
 That's all. Neatly and quickly done, isn't it? Of course, they lived happy ever after.
 In Marthe Troly-Curtin's "Phrynette r. ter-of-fact form:
 "'Oh, Monty. I am so glad. but do you know. I have not penny?
 "Yes. I don't care. I have quite beastly lot of money myself "'And that I am very fond of pretty clothes and things; in fact, that l am rather expensive?'
 So much the better. I hate dowdy girls
 "'Then you know all my drawbacks and you want to marry me all the same? Monty, adore you. "'Then 1t is "yes? " Certainly not.''' | Just little piquant surprise in the refusal at the end; enough to give va riety. Nobody wants everything mush- mush.' In Dawn OHara," by Edna Ferber the proposal comes as Dawn and Doctor you Gerhard are walking along the lake front on New Years day. The doctor merely takes 1t for granted.
 When I have told you, he said "of my love for you, although already you know it, then you will tell me. Hush. Do not deny this thing. There shall be no more lies between us. After all it is no secret. Three months ago I told Norah. It was not news to her.
 T felt my face to be as white and tense as his own. Norah knows"
 Very business like, you will observe and no words wasted.
 It's rather unconventional bit of pro- posing that is done in Her Highness, |" an anonymously published romance. While the hero is cooking breakfast, rushes in.
 "FIilda.
 Now she was in my hungry arms and was gazing ecstatically into her lovely face. The long, dark lashes yelled her gladdened eyes, her cheeks bloomed like the roses in one of her German gardens wonder. Stay; what was it she was mur- muring?
 I think Jo-Josiah, you will manage b-better if you drop that thing"
 What need of more?
 Out of vast experience in novel writ ing Anthony Hope produces this pro- posal in his latest volume. Mrs. Maxon Protests"
 "They walked in silence for long while. Then she felt her eyes irresist- ibly drawn to him. As she turned her head he held out his hands. Slowly hers came forward to meet them.
 You couldn't send me away now, could you, Winnie?"
 Why foolishly wait for an answer? Oi course, Winnie couldn't. i
 Still, not all of the moderns are SC thoroughly matter of fact. The old fash toned sort of thing appears in Will Lev lington Comforts "She Buildeth Hei House" Mount Pelee is in full flight and the rescued heroine has come to con Sciousness in the hero's arms in the shcl-