CURIOSITIES OF WOOING.

Waikato Times, Volume 459, Issue VIII, 27 April 1875, Page 3

CURIOSITIES OF WOOING.

In olden times it was the fashion for a suitor to go down on his knees to a lady, which, with very stout gentlemen, was an uncomfortable proceeding. The way in which Daniel Webster proposed to Miss Fletcher was more modern, being at the same time neat and poetic. Like many other lovers, he was caught holding a skein of thread or wool which the lady had been unravelling. " Grade," said be, "we have been untying knots. Let us see if we cannot tie one which will not untie in a lifetime." With a piece of tape he fashioned half a true lover's knot, Miss Fletcher perfected it, and a kiss put the seal to the symbolical bargain. Most men when they "pop" by writing are mere straightforward and matter-of-fact. Richard Stee&e wrote to the lady of his heart : —^* Dear Mrs Scurlock (there were no misses in those days), I amtired of calling you by that name, therefore Say x a dlfc when you will take that of madam. Your devoted, humble servant, Richard Steele." She fixed the day, accordingly, and Steeled her name instead of her heart to the suitor. The celebrated preacher, Whitefield, proposed marriage to a young lady in a very cool manner — as though Whitefield meant a field of ice. He addressed a letter to her parents without consulting the maiden, in which he said that they need not be at all afraid of offending him by a refusal, as, he thanked God, he was quite free from the passion called love. Of course the lady did not conclude that this field, however white, was' the field for her. The well-known brothers, Jacob and William Grimm, were exceedingly attached to each other, and had no desire to be married. But it was thought proper by their friends that one of them should become a husband, and Jacob being the elder, it was agreed that he should be the one to enter the bonds of matrimony. A suitable lady was found, but Jacob declined to do the courting, requesting William to act as his agent. William consented, but soon found he was in love, and wanted the lady himself. He could not think, however, of depriving his brother of such a treasure, and knew not how to act. An aunt l^hdly delivered him of his difficulty by telling Jacob, who willingly resigned the damsel to his brother, and went out of the way until she had belfa made Mrs William Grimm. A Scotch beadle was the one who popped the question in the grimmest manner. He took his sweetheart into the graveyard, and, showing her a dayt corner, said, " Mary, my folks lie there. Would you like to lie there, Mary ? " Mary was a sensible lassie, and expressed her willingness to obtain the right to be buried near the beadle's relations by uniting herself to him in wedlock. A similar unromantic view of the subject was taken by another maiden. Upon her lover remarking, " 1 think I'll marry the,«tJean,*Wshe replied, " Man Jock : I would be muckle obleeged to you if ye would."