ECCENTRIC WOOERS' FANTASTIC MARRIAGE PROPOSALS.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 11980, 31 January 1903, Page 3 (Supplement)

ECCENTRIC WOOERS' FANTASTIC MARRIAGE PROPOSALS.

{Tit-Bits.) Charles Kruger's proposal in mid-air is, perhaps, unique. He was a trapeze performer, and his act with the lady to whose hand he aspired was nightly vociferously applauded by the good folk of St Louis, U.S.A. One night, while he held the fair artiste swinging above a sea of upturned faces, after she had made her flying leap, he whispered a hurried offer of marriage. This the lady accepted, and they finished their performance an engaged couple. Very novel was the method employed b--a young Australian of making known his aspirations to the girl of his choice, whom he had met on a visit to the Old Country. On his return to the Antipodes he procured a parrot which, having been thoroughly coached in its role, was despatched as a. present to the young lady. "Will you marry Dick?" asked Polly, insinuatingly; "will you marry Dick?" Its fair owner wired but one word to the ingenious donor —"Yes."

The Rev J. M. Mather, of Manchester, tells an amusing- story of an undertaker who, falling in love with a lady whose husband he had buried, proposed to her after a decent interval, only to find that he had been forestalled by a luckier man. In due course, however, he buried husband No. 2, and this time, having allowed but a week to elapse, again made an offer of his hand and heart. Alas! he was once *°° la *e; but, not cast down, he bided his time, and, when capricious fate deprived the lady of her third mate, made his position sure by proposing immediatelv after the funeral.

.Not alone m comic opera has a proposal been made from the Bench. Strongly reminiscent of the judge in "Trial by Jury " was the Arkansas functionary who not long since presided over a Court of Justice where a man was being, tried for assault. The prosecutrix, a lady of considerable personal charms, detailed her woes, and concluded by saying that she went in bodily fear of the prisoner, who was her brother. Wbereupon the Judge remarked that he would, if she would accept him, afford her such protection as a. husband might. The lady thanked him, and gladly closed with his offer.