Posted over 150 years ago, this straightforward marriage ad from an 18-year-old farmer in Maine, USA, captivated the internet when it resurfaced in 2017. Unearthed by Oxford researcher Max Roser, it highlights timeless pragmatism amid today's swipe-right dating culture. Here's the ad in full.
"I'm 18, I have good teeth, I believe in Andy Johnson, our country's stars and stripes and the 4th of July. I bought land from the state, cleared 18 hectares last year and planted over 10. My buckwheat is first class, oats and potatoes are good too. I have nine sheep, a two-year-old bull and two heifers, as well as a house and a barn. I want to get married. I want to buy butter and bread, ruffled dresses and a fountain for a woman, for life. That's what matters to me. But I don't know how to get there." Writes 18-year-old John Morris from Maine.
Shared on Reddit, the ad drew enthusiastic responses. "I think I would marry him. He's doing well for an 18-year-old guy. He knows where he's going," said Chanaleh. "Does he have good teeth? I'm fine!" added Gigimck. "I'm 39, and I don't even have a single sheep," quipped rcinmd.
