Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-04-09
from the Western Monthly RerieW ]
GOOD SOCIETY

have their followers. But 10 the ciies. 'o"hs
and places, where civilized msn congregate, no
suesiion Of such absorbing interest Is started
as, who belong 10 The good society! we ap-
prehend, that no point arouses SO much soiiel-
t.de. ,ealousy, envy, ire, aro heart burning, as
this. IL is the peculiar pro.ince OF the hall,
and the better half Of the whole species,-ihe
half, 100, that leaving the trouble Of the 2hysi-
cal drudgcry OF governing the would 10 men,
really exrr,s .he efficient moral influence them.
selves. Excluded from the arena OF male am
hilton. the settling Ibis invisible empire Of OPT
MON belongs almost exclusively to this portion
of The race OF course, their deep thoughts
and earnest feelings, concentrated IN this single
direction, flow IN II with strong current aud
high power The gentle bell, VINO seems
compound Of loveliness and meekuess, and rea-
dv toexhale in fragrant essences, hears the point
Of good suciely discussed; aud instantly her
bosom warns, and sometimes with ung"pne
fires, upon the bearing Of the SUBJECT l "e
mid mother, caressing her lovely babe, lays
dawn the precious burden, 10 discuss the I'M
porla NJ question Of good society, and who oe-
long 10 IL. The lad, recently Converted, return
ing from the relation Of her experiences, and
The tears Of penitence and sorrow, she'd over
the LAYING down The pomp aud pride OF the
world, hears th,s question agitated, and you IN
stan,ly discover. that the humble heart sill
retains lis Corni-< fires, smothered under the
rshes; aud that man and woman remain SO TO
the very end r:he chapter.
What constitutes his empire Of opinion!--
Who ATE tie members? What are the qualih-
calionsl In other words, wha, constitutes good
society? Letus treat the subjec', as ministers
say, positively and negatively; and firstly OF the
second, as the green islander would say A
h,rn l,dp ma a
good society, merely by POSSESSING hns .hessss.
SNOW, music, sumptuous dinners, rich wines;
and all the details of expenditure and display
They are all very pleasant appendages to the
condition of a lady; and the great mistake OF
the million relating 20 this point is, that the
multitude imagine these the sole requisites, the
thing itself. instead Of being pleasant appendix
ges OF Ne thing. Hence, one Of the krenes in
citements TO ava7ice undoubtedly is, this gene.
ral persuasion, that the fortuna e possessor
riv,s al the Snyied point of os longing 10 good
society, as d matter OF course. We have often
enough seen all the cil cumstances, enumerated
above, united in the posse ssor, without al all
making him a part of good society. SO far
from it, the splendor, the glare, The e;nblozon-
ing, ONLY serve rIoit tonspicuUus.y 20 show the
want Of the eSsrn6al qualifications. II is Of
great importance, that this very trte truth
should be fully fit. If people well unders' ood,
wha, were he realShd Indispensable requisites,
to qualify FIR this Arns, Instead OF bending all
Their powers IN the wrong direction, part Of
their efforts would be turned into the pracrica>
bic chonnel, for Obtaining these Indispensable
qualifications.
Scholarship is no, necessary for l.; though
certain amount Of reading, practical good sense,
and, more than all, that kind OF sixth sense,
that we Gail :ac', are Indispensable. But mere
science, attainment, learning, unless the pos
SCISSOR have good portion Of common s'nse,
and strong perception Of the native hateiul>
ness ofGisplay, ih every disguise, and IN every
FORM 10 regulate them, are positive de Iriments.
Next 20 the unplcasantness of the parry Of
gentleman and lady ignorant, arrogant, and as
Stunning, simply on account OF their wealth, rank,
family, or any adyenririous possession, is The
disaereeableness OF the party of pedant and
blue stock king. We mean the possessors of
mere lumber learning; for they, who have real
Knowledge and genuine learning, always show
themselves agreeable, in an exact ratio 10 their
a,,ainmens. A mere psdarr, male or female,
persons, who make Orations aud use great
swelling 4words OF vani,y,' in common discourse,
are insult; raole every where, and particularly
SO 10 society. But, we affirm, tha, real learn
ing never brings this result. Genuine know
lege always leads TO amiaoihty lady has the
reputation Of being learned. The gentlemen.
.conseio us of their own inadequate furnishing
OF their upper story, fy from her, as though
they expected TO see folio fan from her lips,
every time she uttered a sentence. IL is only
the weak and u6thlnking, that fall into this err
ror. Every one knows, that the use Of learning
TO dance, is to unlearn the awkwsrdness OF al
fec,auon, and 10 return 10 the ease and grace of
na'urc, IN motion. Children swim, when ;hey
are infants. The more clumsy moveme nts of
Alteration and terror In more advanced periods
drown them. They earn once more 10 swim,
and are again brought back ,e the simple and
obvious movements OF the Teaching OF nature.
ST. OF real attainment. A poor head, stuffed
with learning, makes an insu6erahle pedan,-a
blue stoe king, from whom mep are WISE, in Hy-
ing for avoidance. But real kowledge, genuine
attainment, have vesy different tendency