{"id":2647,"date":"2012-12-01T07:19:04","date_gmt":"2012-12-01T14:19:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/susannaives.com\/wordpress\/?p=2647"},"modified":"2021-04-21T11:18:53","modified_gmt":"2021-04-21T15:18:53","slug":"victorian-window-signaling-hat-flirtations-love-letters-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/susannaives.com\/wordpress\/2012\/12\/victorian-window-signaling-hat-flirtations-love-letters-and-more\/","title":{"rendered":"Victorian Window Signaling, Hat Flirtations, Love Letters and More"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gentle readers, oh horror! I’ve\u00a0run out of passages that I want to excerpt from\u00a0The Mystery of Love, Courtship and Marriage Explained<\/em><\/a> by Henry J Wehman, published in 1890! I adore this book, so I\u2019m feeling a bit sad. *Sniffs and dabs eyes with lacy handkerchief *<\/em><\/p>\n

Once again, I\u2019m overzealous with images from Cassell\u2019s Family Magazine<\/a>\u00a0from 1890. But I don\u2019t care. When I see these illustrations, my inner Susanna child gets excited like she did over the Tasha Tudor illustrations in her Frances Hodgson Burnett books.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

Susanna’s note: And, of course, some of Wehman’s passion drenched love letters. How I will miss them!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

To Miss Charlotte Vonk.<\/p>\n

Dear Charlotte:\u2014 My feelings have reached a point which demands expression, and I must tell you something which I hope may not seem to you unwelcome. I have felt for weeks that life meant nothing for me unless you passed through it by my side, as my precious little wife. I love you as ardently as ever a man loved a woman, and all that there is in me of good, whatever powers of mind or body, I will deem it the highest bliss to devote to you. Dear one, you must have felt something of this. When I have touched your hand it has seemed to me that the electric sensation which pervaded my whole being must have affected you. I put the matter to the touch to win or lose, because I can endure this agony of suspense no longer. I pray you by all that is holy in love to think deeply on my words, that I love you from my very soul.\u00a0Will you make life a heaven for me by saying “Yes?”<\/p>\n

Most respectfully yours,<\/p>\n

Paul Preston<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

To Miss Hannah Palmer.<\/p>\n

Dear Hannah: \u2014 \u201cWhen there is love in the heart there are rainbows in the eyes.” Dearest, you have thrown a sweet enchantment around me, and I am only happy when near you. By day your worth and beauty haunt me wherever I go, and at night your teasing blue eyes dance thro’ all my dreams\u2014 my life, I love you!<\/p>\n

\u201cBy all the token flowers that tell
\nWhat words can never speak so well;
\nBy love’s alternate joy and woe\u2014
\nZoe mou sas agapo\u201d<\/p>\n

Sweetheart, will you be my wife? I have plenty to make us happy. Our love will draw down the angels! Be my sun by day darling, and my moon by night. My halls are lonely. Eventide is dreary!<\/p>\n

“Oh, then is the time when most I miss you,
\nAnd I swear by the stars and my soul and say
\nThat I will have you, and hold you, and kiss you,
\nThough the whole world stand in the way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Be the bright angel of my existence, sweet, and I will love you!<\/p>\n

“Till the sun grows cold,
\nAnd the stars are old,
\nAnd the leaves of the Judgement Book unfold!”<\/p>\n

I remain, yours truly,<\/p>\n

George Atridge<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Susanna\u2019s Note: No, no dear Hannah and Charlotte! Don\u2019t accept these men! \u00a0I beg you. Not until you have read Wehman\u2019s commandments for husbands and wives.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Husband’s Commandments<\/p>\n