LOVE SCENES IN OLD NOVEL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1651, 18 January 1913, Page 9

LOVE SCENES IN OLD NOVEL.

"In modern .novels proposals of marriage are rather out of date," writes Dorothy Lane Poole in the "Contemporary Keview." "Writers aro now more and raoro' inclined to marry off their characters early in the story, so that such vicissitudes as may be in store for them befall .t'ltjm' 'alter, .rather than before, their ■•union;'.'the book.of tho.present day, in fact, 'has: a tendency.!to deal witli the problems of married life. .But it is not so in the novel of. yesterday. There the end rather than the'beginning-is set to the ■ tune" of wedding-bells, and tho scene in' which tho Hero Of. a' romance asks tho : heroine to "bo his wife, generally tho culminating :point' of' the tale, must .necessarily'be'of some importance. This denouement is how'so old-fashioned that it is worth while to recall a few instances of.it.'. '■'.■,. • "Perhaps there are men in real life, as weil as in novels, .who think out carefully what they aro to say, and prepare a well-worded speech: but it is doubtful whether the neatly-turned : phrases and happy expressions do not. vanish • when wanted, .'and leave their author tostaminer just what comes.into, his head. In all probability the lady does not quirrel with his choice of words: she likes 'spontaneity. • :, :'.'■ •--' "One case is on record of • the gentleman actually asking'advice. Mr. Peter Magnus, distrusting the effect on the middle-aged lady? of- -his- now olothes and his native eloquence, entreated Mr. Pickwick to give hint the fruit of his meditations .bn.th'e subject' Mr.'Pickw'ick.'-miich flattered, was of,opinion :that ho" should begin with a. reference, to; tho lady's beauty. '~.•' '.. "'I should then expatiate ■ on the warmth of my love, nnd the depth of my doyotion. Perhaps I then be tempted to seize her hand. "'Yes, I see,' said Mr. Magnus; that would be a very great point.' "'I should then, sir,',continued . • Mr. Pickwick/growing warmer as the subject presented itself in more glowing colours before him;''l should then,'sir, come lo : the plain and siniolo question, "iV'-11l you have me?" I think I am justified in assuming that, upon this .she would .turn away her head.'' -...•■ "'You ■ think'that may be taken: for granted?' said. Mr. Magnus; -because, jf .she did not do that at right place, it would bo .. • ."'I think sho would,' said Mr. .Pick-, wick.' 'Upon this, sir, I should squeeze her hnnd, (ind.l think—l think,Mr.Magnus— that, after I had done 'that, suppos : ing there was no. refusal, I,should gently, draw aivay the handkerchief,.'which,-my, slight knowledge of .human, nature .leads me to suppose the lady would be applying to her eyes at. the moment, and steal a respectful kiss. I think I should kiss her, Mr. Hasniis'; and at this particular point I am decidedly of opinion, that, if the lady were going to take me at all, sne would murmur into my; ears n bashful acceptance.' ■!,,;, : .'Evidently the advice was good, for Mr. •Magnus followed .it to .the letter, and. was accepted 'by il;he>mid,dlsineed;h\fJy J jPJ .coiirse, it is i>ossible_ that '.she ; was ..previously disposed.in'his/ifaicbuiOii i/.tU m "There is sbmctbinu entirely satisfactory, nboiit ;the old ending, iii which .'they were married,and lived happily ever after;' '-'Perhaps .soin'e: day .we may,, come back to it, and; a.future novelist ;may, be facea with .'tho old qubstion-.of hnw bpSl to conduct his great, scene. .Ho will hiVo no lack of examnles. and;,thero-is still room for:originality." •' ...'