A young man desiring to marry a young girl does not, in polite
society, “pop the question” to her by mail, unless she happens,
at the time, to be out of the city or otherwise unable to
“receive.” It is often advisable, however, after she has said
“yes,” to write a letter to her father instead of calling on him
to ask for his permission to the match, as a personal interview
is often apt to result unsatisfactorily. In writing these letters
to prospective fathers-in-law, the cardinal point is, of course,
the creation by the young man of a good impression in the mind of
the father, and for this purpose he should study to make his
letter one which will appeal irresistibly to the older
gentleman’s habits and tastes.
Thus, in writing to a father who is above everything else a
“business man,” the following form is suggested:
A Correct Letter to a Prospective Father-in-Law Who Is a Business
Man
My letter, 10-6-22 Your letter, In
reply please refer to: ————
File—Love—personal— N. Y.—1922 No. G,
16 19 Mr. Harrison Williams, Vice-Pres.
Kinnear-Williams Mfg. Co., Buffalo, N.
Y.
DEAR SIR:
Confirming verbal message of even date re: being in love with your
daughter, this is to advise that I am in love with your daughter. Any
favorable action which you would care to take in this matter would be
greatly appreciated. Yours truly, EDWARD FISH. Copy to your Daughter
per E. F. “ “ “ Wife EF/F
Or, should the girl’s father be prominent in the advertising
business, the following would probably create a favorable
impression, especially if printed on a blotter or other useful
article:
A Correct Letter to a Prospective Father-in-Law Who Is in the
Advertising Business
JUST A MOMENT!
Have you ever stopped to consider the problem of grandchildren?
Do you know, for example, that ONLY 58% of the fathers in America are
GRANDFATHERS?
Did it ever occur to you that only 39% of the grandfathers in America
EVER HAVE GRANDCHILDREN?
Honestly, now, don’t there come moments, after the day’s work is done
and you are sitting in your slippers before the fire, when you would
give any thing in the world for a soft little voice to call you
GRANDPA?
_Be fair to your daughter Give her a College educated husband!_
COMPLIMENTS OF EDWARD FISH
Perhaps, if the old gentleman is employed in the Credit
Department of Brooks Brothers, Frank Brothers, or any one of the
better class stores, the following might prove effective:
A Correct Letter to a Prospective Father-in-Law Who Is Employed
in a Credit Department
MY DEAR MR. ROBERTS: 10-6-22
I am writing you in regard to a little matter of matrimony which no
doubt you have overlooked in the press of business elsewhere. This is
not to be considered as a “dun” but merely as a gentle reminder of
the fact that it would be extremely agreeable if you could see fit to
let me marry your daughter before the first of next month. I feel
sure that you will give this matter your immediate attention. Yours
truly, ED. FISH.
11-2-22 DEAR MR. ROBERTS:
As you have not as yet replied to my communication of 10-6-22
regarding marriage to your daughter, I presume that you were not at
the time disposed to take care of the matter to which I referred. I
feel sure that upon consideration you will agree that my terms are
exceedingly liberal and I must therefore request that you let me have
some word from you before the first of next month. Yours truly,
EDWARD FISH.
(Registered Mail) 12-2-22 DEAR SIR:
You have not as yet replied to my communication of 10-6-22 and
11-2-22. I should regret exceedingly being forced to place this
matter in the hands of my attorneys, Messrs. Goldstein and
Nusselmann, 41 City Nat’l Bank Bldg. E. FISH.
Of course, it would never do to carry this series to its
conclusion and if no reply is received to this last letter it
might be well to call on the gentleman in his place of
business—or, possibly, it might even be better to call off the
engagement. “None but the brave deserve the fair”—but there is
also a line in one of Byron’s poems which goes, I believe, “Here
sleep the brave.”