The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-08-28
lFor the Massachusetts spy.l
STAND E R.-A DREAM.
TGoo,.L.,JJ
IConcluded.1

OOHGtuueu.
looked around to see if there was no place
so sacred that it was not permitted to enter,
no section of our country where it was not
found, and no class of society which did not
cherish this pest, and at the same time suffer
from its effects. But alas! none could be
found. | saw il admitted as well into the
proud abode of wealth, as the humble cottage,
infesting alike the town and the country, and
familiar TO every class of people. Some, how
ever, seemed to notice il with but little salts
faction, and by a sort OF constraint, in COM
pliance to their friends and companions,
while others appeared strongly attached to it.
! But my regret and astonishment, though great
before, were much increased when perceiv-
ed that part of society, whose highest praise Is
innocence and neatness, particularly CONVEX
SAINT or amused with this unlovely creature
! | thought ! saw at least one in the train of
every female, from her who sweeps along with
her silks, or shakes the publick way with her
coach and attendants, down to the simple
country lass. So intimate and so much de-
lighted with it did they appear, that it seemed
. TO afford them, even at their tea-groups, their
chief amusement, and was almost the only
topick of conversation. In short, it appeared
to be, in general, their sole object 10 visiting,
to rehcarse the tales which they had heard
fron one and another, concerning this disgust
full fave urite, and add something themselves 10
their number already inuumerable. But why,
cried !, should beauty, whose high preroga-
tive it is, by the magick of its charms, to
mould, almost at will, the minds of men, be
peculiarly devoted to the promotion OF this
| worst OF evils? Can that countenance, where
| nature seems to have lovished all that can
10 Jol. II
of uncommon malignity3 No: the quick
starting, sympathetick tear, the bursting sigh,
at the tale or sight of wo, forbid even the
suspicion. There must be another cause
And this is the naughty, overweening arro-
gance Of man. Unwilling TO share the palm
of intellectual glory with her, whose slave, in
spite of his boasted, pretended superiority, he
is, he affects to disbelieve that she possesses
equal powers of mind with himself, and on
this proud pretence, deprives her of those ex-
tensive means of education and Improvement
which he enjoys-thus cramping that genius
which we're else his rival, and combining it to
mere TRIES, and 6ften useless pursuits In
this, then, since they are in manner forced
TO resort to it, in order to relieve that dull uni
iormity Of which their lives but too often con-
, sist, thought the fair found some extenuation
of their otherwise objectionable fault. But
though was disposed to palliate their con-
duct, | could by no means entirely acquit
them Of guilt. And, in spite of all my par
tlality to them, (and it is certainly greaO
could not observe the practice without feel
ings Of disapprobation and disgust, nor behold
an individual of the sex, however great her
beauty, and whatever might be her other ac-
compartments or pretensons, peculiarly de-
voted to this disgraceful vice, but what she
just in that proportion sunk in my admiration
and esteem. | was here so deeply affected
by the many unpleasant circumstances of my
dream, that my emotions awoke me. And
though it was only dream, yet the reflection,
that, divesting it of its capricious representa-
tons, it bore but too true resemblance to
realityi rather increased than diminished my
uneasiness. While thus meditating upon the
prevalence Of the vice of Islander or the CEN
serious representation of the conduct of others,
which fancy had pictured in my sleep as
noisome, voracious bird, by which circum-
stance my impressions of its base and crimi-
nal nature being made considerably deeper,
was ON this account induced to relate my
dream, though | must confess rather from
wish than an expectation that il would tend
to expose IFS odiousness, and check its mis-
chieyous progress in society.
JUVENIs.