Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1803-07-01

from being an inconvenience, that the
connubial Fate is good for nothing with
out them: AS perfons of this delcription
make love but an inferior concern 10 the
choice of partner, it is known TO them,
by experience, that nothing but the foft
murnurs Of the fire fde controversy, can
give any toiersble interef to domeaic life,
and prevent its fixing into rerfetf inf
pidiy. On the lubjea of wit, Damon
mall Zee how few plain queitions will
pul him down. Pray, what is Wit good
for, if it be not ufsd to put balhful merit
our of countenance, or TO aAiA in The de-
f1rueaion of rival characters? How can
people in high life ftp their tea to any
good purpoie, without tcandal and how
dull an affair is feandal, without the aid
of farcahn and ridicule? In word, what
more glorious ambition can Gre a lady's
bofom, than to be the terror Of every COM
pany Che enters, and Especially of al! who
prefume TO vie with her in the efimation
of the world.
As / write 10 great earnea, am anxi-
Gus that my obfervations may nor be milf
applied. This defence is defgned for the
ftrvice Of the worthy alore: to them
| dedicate it, and from them only !
hope for thanks. They have TOO much
dilcernment 70 forfeit the profound conf
deration of jealous friend by paying any
refpea TO the whims of fuch yiGonary
as Damon.
We ale nos yer done with bis fancies.
He next introduces a female friend, on
whom be layifhes high COMMUNICATION.
But what fantaitical portrait does his
defcription of Euphrsfa exhibit! She has
refined manners, though padibly ihe is a
arauger to the dancing fchool !; good
fenfe, though perhaps fhe never read half
dozen novels in her life, and would be
at a lois to tell the difference between pit,
box, and gallery. Then ihe has fueh
meek, gentle ipirit. quite ignorant OF the
rights of woman. And TO hnifh the &C.
count, he feeks and finds infruttion as
we'll as pleafure in her conversation. All
this is manifeaIy in the fyle of down
right common fepfe, than which nothing
can be more vulgar. One is tempted TO
think Damon difciple Of a certain old
author, Whole writings, tho till efesmed
by few out Of The way people, are well
nigh exploded from the rigions OF fafhion.
Let women, fays he, aiorn themielves in
modeft apparel, with fhame-facednels and
fobriety, not with broidered hair or gold,
or pearls, or cofly array; bur with
now what thinks the reader (? with good
works. There is fyfem of education
for you ladies What an, odd thing mutt
woman formed on this fanatic plan be:
juR fuch thing as Eophrafa. Il is fome
fa.isfatiion that the world is not troubles
with very many Of thefe tame indgnlhcant
who care little about filming
any where but al home. / reign them as
butts of ridicule to the Delia's, and eipe-
cially to the Clos OF the age.
The greatea abfurdisy of all, however,
is ye, 70 come. The writer at latf name
the Object of lbs foft PATTON, his Julia.
But inltcad ofgivlng Us any rational &C.
count ofthe matter, he fudden'y turns
corner, and puts US off with the antiquated
jargon Of captivating love, and the obio-
iete je ne seal gaoi of iemale perfection as
the csufe of il. Sueh fimple notions might
PATS current in days Of yore: and be-
Iieve they are fill found now and then
amonga people of low breediug. But to
the yotaries of fainion they appear per-
tetfly ridiculous. Every ieniible lady
knows how to compute, with toierabie
accuracy, how much Che is worth. And
before any prudent gentleman CHOICES 10
be in love, he takes care TO know, within
a few pieces, the value Of his Amanda's
charms. Here is nothing myiterlous, no.