The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-12-25 00:00:00

IS MAN A FREE AGENT ?

WRITING as I do, hastily, with my bonnet on,
I have no idea of entering into such a metaphy-
sical inquiry, as, with reference either to my sub-
ject or my reader, will be productive of exhaus-
tion. My present object is merely to discuss
man's free agency in connection with his greatest
temporal blessing—the married state.
Man is by nature timid, and prone to solitude.
Prompted by his normal impulses, he hides him-
self in dens and caves, from whence he is drawn
forth by the gentle voice of woman. She pats
him softly on the cheek—she puts a pair of
French clogs in his hand ; and docile as Una's
lion, she makes him fetch and carry at her own
sweet will. To win her approving smile, he de-
fies danger—ascending mountains (Mont Blanc,
for example) at a vast expense—performing on
the corde elastique, or running on a rolling tub—
making heroic speeches in parliament, and dying
on the floor of the house, like a country actor,
with immense applause.
Such is a man—a being singularly dependent,
and whose inability to repair his own hose must
ever excite our liveliest commiseration.

This for preface. "Is man a free Agent ?"
That, as Hamlet says, is the question ; and to
show how serious a question it is, permit me to
relate, as' Mrs. Inchbald did, a "simple story."
Last summer, accompanied by papa, and taking

MECEAMER 25)_1!;

advantage of the Midsummer vacation' o jel
tablishment for young ladies at Tootifitgert'
barked on board a boat—the Little Tres
Ramsgate. There were many gentleoleL`ttreotic
gers, but one particularly arrested myigtracell
He was a tall, well-made, commercial 't
looking-man, with blue eyes and sandY tee
and as he sat next to me, we natursqceiel
into conversation. Amongst other lit'
ties he mentioned Pope, and as the
of mankind is man, he recommended
learn it by heart. From Pope we p
easy transition, to Puseyism and t!
Kittens, under whom he was gratifies
myself and papa had sat for some y
reference to matters of fashion, his 01
strictly orthodox, and, like all men
ideas, he admired long dresses ; and
bonnets, he confessed that he pitied
sighted persons who cannot see mite
One thing certainly did surprise I
timate, nay, profound acquaintance
most intricate details of fashionable
How he had mastered what to
even of powerful intellect, are insi
difficulties, I could only understand, b,
that he lived with his accomplished see
just about giving utterance to this
when my parasol was snatched awl
invisible Arid, and descending uPot
waves, which leaped with responsive
laughter, was soon, as Byron says,
sea !" Penetrated with sympathy
my kind and generous neighbour,
pleasantry, hastened to repair it, and
me for this purpose his unfurled alpft(
he softly squeezed (or I fancied so)
little finger, but its companion of
where, had I worn a ring, of course he
felt it. Up to this moment my inlPr'
been that he was a bachelor, or free
is, free to pay delicate attentions when
he might think proper ; and sheltf
alpaca umbrella, which he gracefully
me, I looked upon him with minglf
and respect. Judge then of my
astonishment, when, on arriving
gate-pier, he stepped ashore, and
children, rudely embracing his legs, I
by the ridiculous name of—Papa!
This is only a solitary instance of
derstandings which persons like myself
fall into from there being no certaii
distinguishing whether a man is or is
agent. The only criterion at preset
men of family are always more
atte]
often more truly gallant, than those NVII
arrived at that honourable distinct,
should there not be some outward and vi
some tangible insignia which would
from wasting our sweetness upon thof
make us no adequate return ? Supp,'
" united brother" was compelled by 11
when travelling, a sort of badge—sal
the tea-caddy round his neck—a plan wJnot be attended with any inconveniel,,
man of correct feeling ever thinks of tft
sure abroad, while circumstances net,
lady remaining at home.—Punch's Poc''

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