Year: 1875

his pocket, and vow that If she did not
promise solemnly to marry him within a
month he would throw himself off the
parapet before her eyes, key and ALL OF
course he gained his point for he fright
ened her into tears, and then had things
J all his own way.


More than one proposal has been made
by underscoring the lines in the marriage
service, "Wilt thou have this man to
be thy welded husband and passing
| the book and pencil during the sermon to
the adored one 1t sometimes comes back
with faint but still visible stroke under
"Iw will" 1t is curious how at least the
semblance of religious feelings is apt to
get mixed up with loye-making; not of
course to the absurd point of asking a
blessing before each kiss, and returning
thanks afterward, but case of breach of
promise scarcely ever comes to be tried
that, when the letters of the defendant are
read, they are not found crammed with
prayers and texts. The piety was prob
ably as real as the love, and both were
genuine for the time being, and took wing
together. A sort Of revivalist religion
seems somehow mysteriously allied to the
tender passion, although truth-telling,
which is supposed to be a Christian vir-
tue, is rare accompaniment. A great
many recording angels could be kept fully
employed in booking the fabrications,
conscious or unconscious, with which a
large proportion of proposals are embel-
lished. But we will not try to bring a
blush to the cheeks of those who remem,
ber their misdeeds in this direction. 1t
is often we'll even to act a little romance,
if it gives pleasure and can be kept up.


Although circumstances will not pre-
vent IA man who is earnest, and who has
every reason to expect favorable reply,
from trying his luck, still circumstances
are the cause Of many PROPOSAL. Upon
some trivial event, scarcely noticed at the
time, has often turned the happiness or
misery of many more people than the pair
Immediately concerned. An elderly man
who is ridiculously fond of children has,
for some reason, been prevented from mar
rying. He travels, by chance, with a
charming little boy and girl, and thinks
what he would not give to be able to carry
them home with him. He looks at the
mother of the children, whom he has
scarcely before noticed she has myste-
rious little white cap inside her bonnet,
which proclaims that she is widow, but
not a very recent one. He brightens up
it is like fairy tale; they find they have
mutual friends" he proposes as soon
as he decently can, but is wise enough TO
say nothing about the children, except
that he hopes to make good parent. He
VOWS, like everyone else, that this is the
first time he was ever really in love, and
that he fell victim the moment he looked
at her.


A gentleman once conhdcd to an old
friend, who asked him to tell " all about
his marriage" that the wife of his bosom
had attained that enviable position Sim
ply by choosing at supper-table blanc.
mango instead Of whipped cream. He
had paid the girl such marked attention
on several occasions that he felt she was
warranted in expecting him to- ask her to
marry him. He had no desire TO have her
for wife, but he resolved, while dancing
with her at ball, that she should become
the unconscious arbitcr of her own fate
in fact that he would toss with her in
dishes instead of half-crowns. If she had
said whipped cream, he would have with
drawn from her acquaintance with peace
full conscience, and never have thought OF
her again, except to congratulate himself
on his escape.


If an old bachelor has been staying at a
country house where there is very pretty
governcss to whom he has been courteous
and kind-if, having said good-by to her
in her lonely schoolroOm, he should dis
cover when he got down stairs that he had
left his gloves on her table, and, hurrying
back for them, find her in confused mass
amongst the sofa-cushions, sobbing con
vulsively-he must in common decency
ask her what is the matter, even insist on
knowing. If she replies that her tears
flow because she has no home, what alter
native has he but to try to comfort her
lose his train and ask her to share his
home, even if that be only lodgings
Everyone knows numberlcss instances
where a broken bone or even sick head
/ To-, 10
wrecks and railway accidents are some.
times excellent match makers.


1t is said that during the London sea.
son this year there were singularly te"
proposals. Perhaps it was the prevalence
of east wind. Perhaps it was that the
gentlemen were so hurried about from
pigeon matches to Lords, and from
Princes to Richmond, that they had no
time to think of such things. However
the average seems to have been made W
according to natural laws afterward, il
one may judge by the number OF fashion


able marriages which have taken place
during the autumn, and there are sevcra
! still to come off. A newspaper with ex
ceeding bad taste takes upon itself to as
sert what number of proposals one o.
these brides elect has received. We neet
not ask if the old etiquette that lady
does not publish her reflections has, witt
other good things, gone out OF fashion


for of course it was only the penny-a
liners inventive impertinence. e.-Londo'