The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-03-12


a. step from another-an attitude from a
Ithird--i gesture from iourtn--a mincIng
pronunciation from hfth--a yorite phrase
from sixth-a tone and meditation OF
voice from seventh &c. &c. and are thus the
tpoor creatures OF borrowed shretls and patch
les. The artless simplicity and innocence of
nature are gone Every thing now is pre-
concert and design Our killing attitudes
have all the guilt of reconciliation. Our looks
ct delight, and even of distress, are studied
Our airs of state exhibit the strutting os :
en'ation OF a German baron, ST Fl with gold,
and haugh iness. instead of the enchanting
ease and grace of genuine dignity. Our vi
vacity is all precipitation and unthnking flut-
ter instead Of that native gaiety of heart
which Charms so much when sporting in its
natural gait and escorted by the mind. Our
wit is continually under the spur, and seeks
and even forces the occasion, Instead Of wait
ing for and rising naturally out of il, We
are perpetualiy striving to appear to feel
what we do not, and to seem to be what we
are not. With this view we practise ten
thousand antics and grimaces, of look and
gesture. by which we mutually disgust while
we are trying to cheat each other. WHY
has Musidora, whether she is holding CIR
Gle OF beaux in chat Y warbling to her pia-
no, so much of that tortuous and excessively
graceful action OF the head, arms and body
One censorious bye-standei will whisper,
that II is all necessary to keep her awake
or at least from relapsing into her constitu
donai torpor and lethargy another will
say, that 1t is to give the enkindlng idea OF
Iirrei1 re ,sible animation and Overlooking eX-
tasy. In truth, Musidora is objectionable
! tor putting this force upon herself: can,
indeed, forgive her excessive desire TO
please; TOR understanding that there is
something OF a selfish scheme OF conquest in
the case, there is at leas,, an implied COM
plip.ent to The gentlemen which Is obliging:
but She does herself grea injustice IN suppos
ing 1t necessary 10 her views strain he
spirits 10 an unusual or unnatural Pitch
Were she TO obey only the impulse of natnre,
| her sensiblity would display itself in much
more touching manner by The trembling
tones OF her voice, thu alternate rose and
lily on her cheek, the smile and tt ar in her
eye, and Sc gentle movements of the fig
ure which her heart would prrmpt, and
which me- one would mistake Without e.-
tort, MusIdora has life and feeling enough 70
warm even he winter of age. Under all the
Idisadranta ges OF an affected mann-r, she is
sill sweet girl : and were she under the
guidance of Nature, only, she would be ir-
res,stible.
Look now at the smiling animation of
Sir Fopling Fiutter: Look at the sparkinglus
tire If hi FINE dark eve & then their lsngus h-
irg oil and 'tu, ing dy ng iall!" How distres,
| ing II is to the retiring modesty of his DISPOSE
ton, 10 be forced to take so conspicuous
stand, where the eyes OF all tbs bellies mi all
the assembly are, of necessity, cast upon
him every twenty minutes How gr acefu ly
Negligent his attitudes and the management
lot his gold headed rata1t See again with
what quick and electric vivacity he looks 20
wards the music, and what sudden CLEAN
OF silly rapture overspreads MS fine face -
To be sure there was no hing in that par
! ticular passage to excite such a feeling: n
ruth. twas rather fiat than otherwise and
even IL 1t had been ever So fine, Sir POPPING
has no mure ear than Satyr. But we ace
supposed not ~ know all this and his n De
I IS that we shall give him credit for Eoli IN
nerves, and all the taste as well as the grace
and beauty OF Apollo.
How do those ridiculous and odious afFec-
tations defeat their own purpose, and offend
and disgust, instead of pleasing us! Men
and women OF sense despise lhem. They
ksow that a natural manner is, III society,
what naivete Is IN literary composition. -
| hat 1t gives the finest scope for suUerior
parts exhibits them to the very best adj
vantage, and commands he respect While
1t conciiates the love of the beholder. Who
for instance, would exchange tie sweet SIM
piicity and ease of M ntaigne or Ste ne, Tor
the stiff afiectaton and elaborate pomD of
O'oiSSoOuiS vi huO HOulu ehCnaIPe- the
vital grace and sweet enchantment OF nv
Rosalie's natural manner, for all the arts
and ambuscades OF the most practised CO.
quette is there not rs much difference
oet"e cen Their, as there Is between thai IN
changing and unmeaning blush. hich ls
DO rowed from art, and that
- b uty truly blent whose red and
A white,
Naure'' own sweet and cunning hand laid on -
Besides uness we abandon these fashi-
onabit dffecta ions and imi atiuns, and return
to MT ure, We shall lose all that Charming
variety Character which natul c has so ha y
ply design Why should we ,hus contin-
u 10 Sfioff Natures zuorks 2 Would we, if
we Could bio, out the fnti deversifiedldn :
scape comp sed OF Lills nj Wales and Fl dis
and woods and water ana substitu IN their,
place, the ila' monotony of a bowling green.
howe'ei fire rolled or richly turled Aud
II not, why should we spoil the stu more
enchanting varieties of the animated
world
Let us return 10 the wake of pure and
simple Nature. That benignant DIVINITY
: will give fair and stable basis on which
we may safely erect the graudest moral 81
literary structures Under ner tute lage no
!, virtuOus and Intelligent character vet
failed TO pleaee--and that not Tor day no,
: a year, IKE the transient empire of atFec-
tation no trick :-BU FOR LIFE.