The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-04-27

THE LADIES' FRIEND.
ON PRUDENCE AND DECORUM

ON PRUDENCE AND DECORUM
Though woman before her marriage
may be admired tor her gaiety. her dancing,
dress, painting, singing &c. yet after it, we
expect her to display something more SUB
sfantiak. To d man who must spend all his
days in her company, these little superficial
decorations would speedily become insipid
and unisnportant. Love can be preserved
only BY the qualities of the heart, and esteem
secured by the domestic virtues.
"a man does not want to be dazzlcd in his
matrimonial connection. or to possess part
ner who seeks the admiration of coxcombs
OF beaux. He wants person who will
kindly divide and alleviate his cares, and
prudentlv ARRANGE his household. He seeks
not coquette, fashionist, a flirt; but a COM
Portable assistant. companion and friend.
"On the dav Of her marriage" says an
admired writer" woman's tour of gaiety
should end" In one Of the Gentoo countries
during the we,lding-tlay, a large fire is made,
and the bride enters with a little basket in
her hand, containing all her ornaments, rude
and simple as they are-shells, beads, &c.
and fings them into it; intilnitating her inten-
tion of assuming for the future the dress as
we'll as character of a matron-O! that our
British matrons would take Il hint from these
How indecorous, offensive and sinful. is it
to see woman exercising authority over
her husband, and saying, 81 qpiN have it so.
1t shall be done as l like" But should
hope the number of these who adopt this
unbecoming and disgraceful manner is so
small as to render it unnecessary for me to
enlarge on the subject
| Never join in any jest or laugh against
your husband. He may be plain and insig-
nifcant, even q ridiculous man: be it SO; why
did you marry him, You should have known
| all those defects before mariage. 1t is now
too late: and as a wife, self (not to say a
word Of duty) calls OH you to hide his faults;
and, whenever you possibly can. to bring
him forward and make him of importance.
Assiduously conceal his faults, and speak
only of his merit. In the married life, con-
! fidants are by no means desirable. You may
be listened to with sympathy and Interest,"
but will this redress your grievance? BY no
means. Therefore never complain of him.
In the first place, you violate a sacred duty
by exposing yonr husbands faults; and in
the next, even certain degree of female
dignity should combine with better motives
to prevent it,
/ would also strongly recommend con-
cealment from others of any little discord or
|
peated with additions and aggravations, it only
gives food to the busy whisper of sle malev-
olent, and, as the witty Richardson says, sis
sure to be remembered long after the honest
people have quite forgotten it themselves" +"
Besides, on those occasions, rely on it, the
world is much more inclined to be your hls-
bands advocate than yours.
In my opinion there can hardly be more
despicable object than married woman re-
ceiving the particular attentions of any man
but her husband.
A flirting girl is indeed bad enor.-h; but a
flirting married woman should be AN object OF
contempt where ever she appears.
Perhaps your husband may be plain man,
or an old man; and though possessing both
sence, merit, and feeling, neither cultivated
nor captivating. Let this circum stance
make you peculiarly circumspect in your
conduct. The eye of the world is on you;
and though your husband may scorn to be-
tray even by a look, any expression of jeal-
ousy, believe me it gives him no pleasure &c
see you dancing and chatting away with
every young man who approaches you; Tor,
at the moment perhaps when his good sense
and in manly pride make him smile, and join
! in the laugh and chat around, his heart may
be exceedingly vexed and fretted at what he
is ashamed to acknowledge even to himself
To say the truth, never met with any hus-
band, handsome, ugly, young, or old, who
was pleased at seeing his wife's conversation
and attraction much engrossed by other men,
Be you ever 80 conscious Of a superiority
of judgement or of talent, never let it appear
to your husband. "A wife rules best by seem.
ing to obey" And man cannot endure
the idea of inferiority in intellectual endow-
ments. The very idea of being reflected on
makes him infinitely more obstinate, and
r more welded to his own opinion, when per-
haps little management and good sense
, would bring him at once into your plans and
wishes