Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-01-02
. FASHIONABLE VIRTUES


When see fashionable belle in censpi-
cuous part of the Theatre. weeping at the
fancied distress of victim of seduction, or
at the cruel oppression Iof obscure and hum
bic merit, while at the same time she has, per-
haps, next door to her, poor relation or
friend, who, in reality, is an object of COM
passion, and never moment thinks of her
! tears, or her wants-this is what I call ia
siderable humanity.
When behold an elegant woman. in form,
rivalling the Venus of Praxiteles, IN manners
the winning accomplishments of an Aspasia,
whose mind is enriched bytashiona6ie science,
in the fashionable mode of acquisition, rnanag
ing her hundred beaux with such prudence
and nicely, that she makes every one believe
that she reciprocates his tender affection-this
is what call fashionable virtue.
When behold husband (no, I beg his
pardon) married man, dashing from the
turf" with his curricle and pair, to the
/" sans souci" tc6lr, or Faro Bank, while his
wife is rolling her voiture from the Theatre
to {" hcu soute,' acting as a kind of &C.
cisbuo to hundred young lovers, for the
sake of being thought young, never meeting
her spouse, unless sometimes at dinner, on
stormy Sunday-this is fashionable domestic
hathiness
When I see whimsical henpecked old
dotard bestowing, with ostenta;ious pride, his
thousands On the building of churches and nos
pital, and On his rich relations, while he nj
oualp permits his poor ones to remain desti-
tute even of the common neccssaries Of life
this is. fashionable charity.
When see man talking loudly, and bold
y, at town-meetng, of the services he has
rendered his country-of his stern integrity
| and mauiiness Of action, while at the Saline
time he sells MS vote and conscience for the
Datry boon Of an Office, or shifts his sides as
otter as c.mclion his colors-this is what
| call fashionuble Patriotism.
When seca wise and prudent father, care
fully keeping lis daughter on hand, TIL ne can
seIl her to stock holding husband, teaching
her the importance of ready cash, in all shecn-
| lati9ns in solid happiness-often telling her
that even an ass, laden with gold, will Ind hls
wav through the gates OF the strongest city
teaching her to disdain an honest heart, how
ever enobled by nature, or guilty ated by edu'
cation, at length bestowing her hand Ut she
does not in the mean time get run away with
by some French dancing master, or stage
player) on one who has nothing but bank STOCK
or his fathers strong box to recommend him
this is fashionable matrimony.
When see spruce young fellow dashlng
away on the credit of consignments, or sud
denly enriched by some of the wild freaks Of
fortune, " with upstart pride and arrogance,
boldly asserting his pretensions to place In
the circles of real worth and established WIS.
dom, who by their long labors and brilliant
talents, richly merit the literary crown they
wear this is truly fashionable modesty.
When I see group OF boys and girls, Of
old women and children, crowded together
in sweating confusion, into petty drawing.
room resembling the builders of another Be.
thel in confusion of tongues, or Bedlam let
loose, in noise, or even convocatlon ct ia
cobins, at feast, where every one feels the
necessity which imperious custom has impos-
ed of making himself agreeable at parties,
where there are so takers to one poor list
ener, where every one has something to bring
and take away from the general bank OF de-
post and circulation" of scandal, bank which
can never fail for want of funds, while tea
drinkers are the stockholders and directors,
where in fine, every species of Jargon and
SANDER, every species of folly, are analysed
and made necessary ingredient in the COM
position of modern politeness--these are the
four cardinal virtues eff the fashionable world,
consolidated and amalgamated into one-thls
is fashionable hospitality.
Lastly, when behold an old man, grown
grey in the service of his country, whose IN
tegrity has passed the turbulent ordeal OF par
ty, and sustained its purity, deserted, In the
wane of life, even by those who have most
experienced his patronage and his favors-
shut out from participation in the Dement'S OF
those institutions which his bounty has help
ed to establish, with no other reward Tor his
unwearied exertions in the Gauss of religion