TROUBLES OF AN "ENGAGED" YOUNG MAN.

West Coast Times, Issue 1494, 12 July 1870, Page 2

TROUBLES OF AN "ENGAGED" YOUNG MAN.

" Mercutio," in a letter to the Pall Mall Gazette, gays he is what is called an "engaged man," and he refers to the vexatious and annoyances which belong to that condition. He says: -"Poets and novelists have written so much about the season of

courtship that it would be strange if a knowledge of its pleasures were not generally diffused. I was as happy as it was possible for a young gentleman of our day to be in making love. I found the pastime not alone delicious, but economical. My respect as well as my affection kept me from several amusements mid extravagances in which bachelors indulge without much reflection on the score of propriety. An evening at YVestbournia, with music and small talk, vas better spent than in the stalls of a theatre, or in dropping shillings at pool in the club billiard-room. At this time I had not declared. I was, therefore, constautly an object of interesting s c.ulation. L has two sisters, who were then in short dresses, but their mother \va9 only waiting upon my temper to lengthen out their skirts to womanly dimensions. These youn r Mi«ses, I suppose with a view to the sort of promotion I refer to, were never in the when L or I wished them out of it. So things went on evenly and smoothly. I might have continued a welcome iruest at all times at that Westbmrniau villa. In an evil hour I listened to the advice of a friend. He pointed out to nn- that my conduct was unfair to the girl (so he put it); that it was cowardly to piny with her i'eelings ; in short, he said so much that I had it out with L , was formally accepted by her and the family — a though her father looked more g;rim than gracious when I informed him that I could not well marry his daughter before a twelve-month. The friend who promoted me to the s'ep was, I learned, ' engaged' himself*. As I presumed lie was acquainted with the courtesies of the situation, I applied to him' for information on that head. * You must make her a lot of present*, you know, to start with,' su^ested he ; '1 had to doit. If your a£air breaks off, they art? sure to I send you back your trinkets ; and if it j doesn't, what's your wife's will be yours ' This wa3 unsentimental, even co rsc. However, I paid a visit to Bond-strcef. and, after being made to feel despicably poor by the splendour of the articles flung down on the counter (or my inspection, i purchased a bracelet. It scans mean to dwell on the topic ; so I hasten at once to say that my visits to Bond-street have been of late more frequent than I can afford, nnd that the products of them arp worn after a fashion which I cannot ;idmire. Sir, I am in the secret, and I can tell you that engaged girls play g.imes of bra-z in presence of each other wi:h the tributes of their respected lover>. The warfare is carried on at evening partits under cover of the most cordial smiles aid greeting. Now this sort of th ng wouly le, I should imagine, bad enough in a wife, but in a girl, it is both prematu\e and suirtling. If it be done in the greenwood, wht shall be done in the dry ? A few month-* ago, I experienced no sense of obli atim in \isiting that house at Westb mrnia. The very fact «f not being bound to go there, save by the instigation of v tender sentiment, gave a zest to The journey. Now I am- expected never to be long absent, and I do not count for much tin my arrival. I noted a gradual, deterioration in the refreshments of which I partook. At the Sunday dinners, to which I always came, it ustd to be soup, fish, joint, and sweets, with champagne and hone t claret t> drink. The very firs: Sunday of my engagement the soup was cut off, aud sin:-e then the dinners have been getting worse and worse. The only exceptional times are when a young man is invited who is to M or E what I was to L . In short, I am supposed to be complimented by being regarded in the light of one of the family. To sp ak the truth this is not so pleasant as being regarded out of the family. The girls dress carelessly in my presence ; my future mother-in-law thinks potato sherry good enough for me, and will even venture to give me a quiet admonition on occasions."