How Men Propose. By Agnes Stevens. (T. Fisher Unwin.)— Miss
Stevens has collected more than a hundred " love-scenes from popular works of fiction," laying under contribution nearly as many authors. It would have been possible to divide the "proposal" into the two classes of " successful " and "unsuccess- ful ; " but Miss Stevens has preferred to make more classes, though these have the disadvantage of being somewhat of a cross- division. The "pompous proposal," for instance, runs very often into the " unsuccessful," might, in fact, be considered as a, sub-species ; so might also the "youthful." On the other hand, the " renewed" is almost a variety of the " successful." The "vicarious," on the contrary, is distinct; indeed, it leads some- times to results which it would be difficult to class. When a man proposes to a lady on behalf of another, and draws out a con- fession of love for himself, it is not easy to say whether it should be reckoned a success or a failure. This is a most entertaining book. But is it quite hopeless that some lady of varied experi- perience—say, a great beauty—will put on paper the story of offers from real life ? Probably they would show a certain want of finish as compared with these very artistic declarations. It is only in the " proposal by letter," a class which does not appear in the " contents " of this volume, that literature can give any help to the lover. Men do not remember their own compositions, when the time comes to deliver them ; much less will they re- member those of others.
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