A Delicate Subject.

Hastings Standard, Issue 78, 27 July 1896, Page 4

A Delicate Subject.

« TELL ME MARY HOW TO WOO THEE." The bashful bachelor who is unable to screw up enough courage to pop the question to the lady of his heart may find solace in the fact that 4000 New York belles have recently contributed to the New York Herald their ideas as to " How far may a woman go to encourage a man to propose marriage'?" The question was suggested by the Herald, which offered a prize of SIOO for the best answer. It was gained by Mrs James Gilmour, of Brooklyn, who thought that a woman might encourage an adorer whose intentions were serious, to the following extent il Select a man on whom you intend to bestow the privileges of your attention. In your after companionship with him never compromise yourself by any indecorousness. Seek his society in such a manner that he is not cognisant of being sought after, be bright and cheerful in his presence, sympathise with him in his troubles, stimulate him to best efforts in his business affairs. Dress becomingly for him, but never gaudily. When he is absent from you write him a few interesting chatty letters. Above all, prove yourself a good listener. Do not always agree with him, it is sometimes wiser to disagree. Draw the line at miscuous osculation. You might vouchsafe him just one kiss—some night at parting. But if he attempts to return it do not permit it. If you have a spark of wit in your nature, you ought by this time to have made yourself so necessary to his existence that he will miss you sadly when absent.'' Someone has apparently been ungallant enough to suggest that Mrs Gilmour must have helped her own husband over the difficulties of the proposal, but the lady vigorously resents the impeachment, and vows that she was wooed and won in the orthodox fashion. The woman of the period who contemplates matrimony would perhaps consider the foregoing metjhod somewhat tame, while her more sensitive sisters would think lightly of the man who could not do his wooing unassisted.