Love Proposal From A Gentleman Through and Through – 1914
Love Proposal From Gentleman Through and Through
Getchel Receives Regular Love Letter
City Has Opportunity To Open Matrimonial Bureau If It Will
Not long ago the month-old city administration announced the inauguration of a free employment agency.
Now it has a chance to branch into the matrimonial bureau field if it wishes.
Yesterday Mayor Getchell received an offer of marriage from the far-off Philippines. Not that anyone offered to marry the mayor. No, the letter merely asked Mr. Getchell to place the case of a lonesome young man before the voteless half of the community.
Sergeant Rethoret of the United States army, soon to be an ordinary citizen, wants to get married when he returns to this country and has wisely directed his efforts toward Missoula. Any young lady will do, but a farmer’s daughter would be preferred.
As to Sergeant Rethoret and his qualifications the letter received by the mayor yesterday explains itself. Mr. Getchell did not know of any likely candidate and thought that newspaper space would best give Mr. Rethoret the audience he desires. The letter follows:
The Letter.
“Dear Sir – Please excuse this unusual letter addressed to you from the far-away Philippine Islands.
“I am a sergeant in Battery F, Second field artillery (mountain battery) stationed in Camp Stotsenburg, Pampanga, Philippine Islands. As I have no personal acquaintances in the United States, being born in Alsace Lorraine, Germany, and having enlisted in the service of the United States immediately after my arrival in the United States in order to become an American citizen after the expiration of my three-year enlistment, I would like to get your kind assistance in the following;
“Could you give my address to a few young ladies of your town or vicinity of good education and manners, who would be willing to marry. I am 24 years old, black hair, blue eyes and am considered a gentleman through and through. I have college education, read, speak and write the German, English and French languages to perfection and am not afraid any kind of work.
“I would not like to live in a big city like New York or Chicago, but prefer a medium-sized western town or farm.
“For this reason I would like to get acquainted specially with farmers’ girls.
“Thanking you in advance for any assistance your will give me, please have correspondence addressed to Sergeant Henry Rethoret, care of Army and Navy Y. M. C. A., San Francisco, Cal., where I will receive all my mail upon my return from the Philippine Islands on or about July 14, this year.
Very respectfully,
HARRY RETHORET,
“Sergeant Battery F, Second Field Artillery.
“Camp Stotsenburg, Pampanga, Philippine Islands, April 26, 1914.”
The above article appeared in The Daily Missoulian on May 24, 1914.
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