Q Dear Miss Abigail: I was introduced to this gorgeous Vietnamese girl by a friend of mine. While she was here for a training course, we went out a lot and had a really good time. We had a few very passionate times together, especially on her last day in my country. We still keep […]
Tag: marriage
Dangers of Elopement
Q Dear Miss Abigail: My boyfriend and I are considering eloping. What advice can you find for us? Signed, Desperately Wanting A Dear Desperately Wanting: While I’m all for running off to the Tunnel of Love in Las Vegas, my advice is not really what we’re here for. In case you have forgotten, this is the […]
What is the Proper Age for Marriage?
Q Dear Miss Abigail: What do you consider a proper age for a woman to get married? Signed, Considering A Dear Considering: So, my dear, you are thinking about taking the jump into eternal bliss. This is a very important decision for you to make, whatever age you are, so I’ve dug carefully through the […]
Etiquette for Engaged People
I’m just bursting with joy! My baby sister Jennifer Grotke and her wonderful guy Tony Perez announced their engagement this week, so of course I had to check out some advice for the recently engaged. This is from Lillian Eichler’s Etiquette in Public, first published in 1924. Congrats to the happy couple! 1924: Etiquette for Engaged […]
The Wedding-Day
This selection goes out to my dear friends Sarah Carter and Iain McPhie, who have a little event planned this weekend. The invite said something about “marriage,” so I decided to do a bit of research on the topic. I stumbled across this advice from J. R. Miller’s The Wedded Life regarding the much-anticipated wedding day, […]
“Can I, um, like, Marry Your Daughter?”
Q Dear Miss Abigail: What are the various older traditions (Victorian Era, for instance) for how to go about proposing? In particular, how and when to ask the bride-to-be’s father for her hand? Signed, Traditionalist A Dear Traditionalist: Ah, the 1880s. A time of proper manners and traditions. Who could ask for anything more? I […]
Brandon and Brittney Sittin’ in a Tree
Q Dear Miss Abigail: Will Brandon Boston and Brittney Chisolm get married and live happily ever after? Signed, Brittney A Dear Brittney: Yes! Oh wait, I changed my mind. No! Ah, shucks, I don’t know. Maybe you can decide for yourself, with a little help from Sex Behavior in Marriage, published by Charles A. Clinton in […]
Love is a Species of Drunkenness
This time I bring you an excerpt from the anonymously written book (I eventually found out the author was none other than composer Cyril Scott) titled The Art of Making a Perfect Husband. Cause if love is just a lottery, we still have a chance! A one in a million chance, but that counts, doesn’t it? 1929: […]
Cupidiana
I originally posted this one back in the dawn of the year 2000. At that time, I thought it would be fun to bring in the new year with advice from the turning of the last century. Unfortunately I don’t seem to have have any books from 1900, but Her Royal Highness Woman and His Majesty Cupid […]
His Culture is Coming Between Our Courtship
Q Dear Miss Abigail: Oh, Miss Abigail, I need your help! How can I get my foreign man to see: “When in America do as the Americans?” His culture is coming between our courtship! Help! Signed, Plenty of Couscous and Confusi A Dear Couscous: Though you have not stated what the particular problems are, I […]