Peeps Into Paradise.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 4419, 12 July 1884, Page 3

Peeps Into Paradise.

If a long engagement is apt to end badly

for the betrothed, it i.s, while it lasts, an

unmitigated nuisance to tlioiv relatives

and friends. Of course, a moil us vicendi is arranged when the young couple are not to bo married for years. Life could not bo carnied on were everybody to be made as uncomfortablo as they are when the course of true lovo runs smoothly and the wadding day is fixed for an early date. Then, indeed, the patience of thoso dwelling in the house with the bride-elect is severely taxed. There is nota sitting-room available, and one can never be suro of not interrupting the billing and cooing of tho afiianced pair. While they occupy tho library, there is a lawyor with the settlements in the diningroom, and the drawing-room is held in readiness for an anticipated visit from the future bridegroom's rich aunt. When to this is added the incessant and nerve-

destroying oncounters with Messrs Matehwbll and Swellgrove's young man in the hall, and the frequent meetings upon the stairs • with an obsequious French lady in black silk, presumably the dressmaker, it is not to bo wondered at if we draw a sigh of relief when such a state of things is over. No doubt it is pleasant for thoso who have had their own day to renew their youth in contemplating the happiness of tho lovers, but to others whose time is yet to come—or at all ovents has not come—the spectacle of so much rapture, while they are left out in tho cold, is somowhat trying to the temper. Even when it is only a friend and not a relation who is engaged to bo married, it is difficult to shako off tho depression arising from the consciousness that a wedding present is expected of us. But if tho interval preceding the marriage is a period of trial to outsiders, it i.s not one of unmixed felicity to tho principal parties concerned. They are now bronght face to face with an infinity of harassing cares, to say nothing of the hard work of answering innumerable letters, receiving congratulation, and making acquaintance with a strange and perhaps hostile family. There are few engagements in the course of which somebody, on one sido or the other, does not make himself or herself unpleasant, or does not, at all events, require exceedingly careful management. It must be admitted that under these circumstances, as with most affairs in this world, the man has the best of it. Ho can keep out of the way, and let tho relations fight it out together; he has no irotittean to get, and not many presents to receive. He is not kissed on both cheeks by cousins unto the fourth and fifth generation, and tho martyrdom of " trying on, " and becoming a living block for milliners to experiment upon, isunknown to him. All these advantage?, however, are atoned for by the treatment which he receives upon tho wedding-day. It is not suflicient that he is obliged to get up at an unearthly hour in the morning, that he feels it his duty to put on abnormally tight boots, and that he has had his hair cut for the ccciision. He is absolutely of no consequence whatever ; nobody ciie3 about him, his careful toilet is unnoticed, and the best man, far from supporting him at this juncture, is thinking over the speech which he is about to make at the breakfast, when ho returns thanks for tho bridesmaids.

There arc no sympathetic murmers from tlw crowd wlien he appears, but, on the contrary, any Blight personal defect is freely commented upon, '"c's too short for'or," and " My, aint 'is collar tight I" these are the words which greet him as, pule but outwardly composed, he enters the churcn.

It it surprising, considering all things, that tlie young man contemplating matrimony should keep up tueh a light heart as be does. He sometimes evinces a yearning for sympathy which is touching. For instance, his friends receive little notes artlessly announcing that he ia "so happy." If they do not respond with sufticent warmth to hia efforts to make them share his bliss, ho proceeds to inform them that " the cause of his happiness is Miss Mary Smith." This, he considers, should be enough to open their hearts at once. It is to be feared that a great deal of unfeeling chaff is hurled at the heads of those whom Eros has deprived of their armour. How differently do Angelina's companions receive her confidences. Whatever feminine spito her rivalry may have called forth in former days is now buried in oblivion. It seems to be agreed that an engaged girl is to be looked upon with tenderness and even respect. Angelina herself is very much softened by the influence of " love's young dream." Any little asperities of character have disappeared, or remain in abeyance. She holds out promises of future plans of amusement, in which her friends are to join. "lie will do anything I like, of course,"' she remarks with serene contentment. " If I say that you are coming to stay for Bii weeks, that you want to go to all the ... theatres and balk, and to bo on the river every Sunday, he will not dream of making any objection." To those blighted beings who have had a disappointment she is gentle and consolatory ; while to maidens still unsought her manner combines affa- I billty and condescension. The conversation is desultory, but eminently satisfactory ; to the speakers. " His eyes are blue, but the photograph doesn't give a good idea of 1 hv, nose, murmurs Angelina pensively, (razing upon Edwin's portrait. "Verynico, I'm sure," answers her confidant absently; then, with animation, " You will let the M bridesmaids' drosses be pink, dearest, won't ■ you ? Blue is so unbecoming to me, and B hit sisters will look positively frightful in it." "So they will," returns Angelina ~| thoughtfully ; " and ho likes pink,"&o. There is another kind of engaged girl— jjl ghe who is " fickle, coy, and hard to please " I —and who bewilders her friends by being, always about to be married to different H men. It is difficult to keep pace with her I erratic matrimonial intentions. One week I she Informs us that she has bestowed her H hand and heart upon a Colonial Bishop, and I is full of ecl.er.ies of usefulness among the , r benighted natives. The next, she writes to say that she had misunderstood the esteem , 1 in which she held the worthy divine for a M warmer feeling, and that she is now the I promised wifoof her cousin Charles—a fox- I hunting' squire in the north of England. Soon we hear that another admirer has 4'l come upon the scono, of whom Charles is fl furiously jealous. No:- will-out reason, as- 9 Miss Fanny presently announces that B Captain Jdfabcru'crk w the o:ily man whom \ v -i she could ever really love. Unfortunately, :'| this warrior's affections are as unstable as I her own. Ere a month has passed, he has :j| loved and ridden away, leaving poor Fanny vf t« lament the rupture of her third and last : ■ betrothal. For never again, although she trio 6 hard, doos she succeed in "hooking" §9 an eligible young man. In the days of Sg spinsterhood to come, she will often dilato SB upon her past triumphs, and it will give I horacertain position among the ancient tab- ,-S bies of some quiet watering-place, whensho j j acknowledges that, although she was never I married,shehas been three times "engaged." • -M Among the working-classes tho affianced JS couple ' 'keep company " for years; probably 'j'Q this unsettled state of affairs imparts a ■■« flavour to life which it would otherwise lack. HJ As an omnibus conductor observed with reference to a bottle of cold tea, "It makes summit to look forward to." During the term of probation which precedes mar- ! J rage Chloe assumes a haughty and over- ;jS bearing demeanour, while Sterphon is j -ip hardly allowed to call his soul his own IB When the lovers take their walks abroad, he is silent and pensive; Chloe, on tho other hand, is extremely demonstrative. Her arm-encircles his waist, and even at 1 times hia neck, Should Strephon, however, ■, be more than usually phlegmatic, she ,*■* strives to rouse him to a sense of his duty . by a series of coquettish displays of temper. "You might ask mo to take a glass of port wine, or something; I made a very poor. i}'\ breakfast," reproachfully exclamed a .\ gentle maiden, as sfie guided the footsteps 4 of her wavering swain in the direction of , 4£ Jack Straw's Castle one fine Bank Holiday, M when Hampstead Heath was crowded with ■ pleasure-seekers. And there was a loot <i: in her eye which boded ill for that youngman '£■ had he proved recalcitrant. Further on aj!j:l| i bashful and timid youtlP was making himself agreeable after his manner t) two girl?, the elder of whom evidently corsidored him j : as her property. After some brilliant...* ■ witticism on his part, the younger^ sister ' i playfully remarked, "You keep him in ,1 order, Maria, for I can't." With this sao''i| '■■ instance of the subjection of man, tho veil j which has deen raised for a few minute 3 drops again, and we stand, like tho far- ~ famed Peri, without the gates of Parodies. :} —"Standard."

"ROUGH ON RATS."-ciß.n tntnla.adcjMM ttwanU, tad-bugs, ixc-tlc... inserts fk,:i;ks. jackiabbitJ, miimHl™ gl^l Kempth9re«,fios«t4Co.,A««»ti l^dil»i|