Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-01-26

"A LADI L.
- 90 q 90 ss 90 - s-
For the Gazette.
THE STUDENT, No. II.
On g6sctation Of beauty and insignsfea"ce
effdshions.
eff persons be but young and fair,
They have the gift to know it,
SHAKESPEARE.
When native loveliness appears adorned
by every frightening charm which art and
invention can bestow, when it is endued
with mild and unassuming manners, and to-
;allyfree from any afectation, then it makes
its most durable impression. But the folly
uf appearing vain and affected because en-
iued with some degree of beauty, will be
evident, if we reflect, that it conveys kind
IL tacit acknowledgement, from its being
ser uppermost in our thoughts, it is the
greatest ornament we have to boast OF.
Upon consideration we wilt find that the
greatest advantage attached to beauty IS,
that those W no possess it may by an appa-
rent unconcern, discover it to be combined
with good sense ; manifest that they have
Greatness of soul sufficient to know, that
uleasing and enchanting as beauty is, yet
attaches no real merit to them, since IT wa
not by any attainments or exertlons OF their
own that they were fair nay, am con'ln
ced. SO pow erfully have reasons influenced
NE, that on a mind endued with the least
sonsibiIity, so far from its creating feelings
Of pride and affected airs Of superiority, 1t
would have tendency to produce emotions
dramatically opposite; instead OF haughtl-
ness, gratitude and submission would kindle
fame in the bosom, the JOY of the mind
would be delineated by increased beauty IN
the countenance, on rejecting, that while
so many are doomed to labor under the dis
advantages of defornity and Of an unplea-
sing exterior. nature has heaped upon them
those charms which affect the heart with
feelings of pleasure, and elicit from the lip
of spectator sincere sentiments OF ap-
plause.
Yet il is not unflequently the case that |
observe our men of fashion stalk into COM
pany with proud and supercilious airs, eye
ing every person with contempt, and assn
ming such manners to themselves as would
seem to bespeak the high opinion they en-
tertained of their own Importance; while bye
their looks and their gestures they evinced
that if they had not TIE good fortune to at
tract ne attention of the ladies, the proud
chances they bestowed upon themselves
fully compensated for the gross lnattention.
Tits no. unfrequently observe them in con-
versatioh, arrogating TO themselves learn
inc. when am much mistaken il their be-
tian heads would permit them TO discuss any
thing with accuracy, unless 1t was the me-
ri,s of broadcloth, or the best mode OF sha-
ping coat. While these men plume them
selves ON the 6neness, fashion and variety
of their clothes, while they affect superb
ori;y of personal charms, they are uncon-
scious of discovering great dealof silly
nr;de. aud of attracting laughter and con-
tempt both on their dress and understand
ing.
Rut LET us now turn from these amateurs
of fashion and beauty, TO reflections OF
more pleasing nature. Let US consider, that
while conceit and affectation have taken
.uch strong hold on the minds OF our tine
gentlemen, orr fair sex, in despite OF the IN
fluence of example, and OF natural ten
dency which the mind has to view itself
with complacency, are but slightly tainted
with this despicable passion: they are en-
dowed with that feminine sweetness, thai
sentences and softness of manners which
are truly characteristical OF arehned ana
bishly cultivated understanding, They at
tract admiration by their wit and their
beauty. The native graces of their minds
are accompanied by blushing modesty, a
winning behaviour, and certain something
in all these united, too soft to be expressed,
and which will always command the admi-
ration and attention of every person endued
with the least sense of delicacy or discern
mem. Well may exclaim in the language
Of the poet,
"Thejrs is each soft attraction, theirs the
power. ~
Each finer feeling OF the soul to move;
Their ainis, a garden stor'd with ever,
10 yer,