Southern planter., 1832-11-03
From de Illinois Monihly Maga.iac
FAMILIARITY, OR THE WIDOWS WIG
This distance lends enehaniment to the yiew'
Campbell
Why is it that familiarity breeds conte,np,R


There was an old man in our town known by the
name Of Frank Riddle; his real pltorna appclla.
ton was Sincoe; aud whether he was called Rid.
die because being an old bachelor every thing went
through him, or because no one could comprehend
him, is more than | can say. Ills motto through
life had been this one, as 10 familiarity; but like
great part Of the world although he said but one
thing, 10 wit, that there was no created being which
could stand examination, yet he praciiccd upon ano
her ground, which was, that perfection was plainly
possible; and he had been his whole lifelong trying
TO find something which upon familiar terms, would
retain the beauty Il wore aiar of. Il was chnsinr
rainbow. One by one, he dropped the coilaic.
rails of hls pursuit, and fixed his whole attention
to one point, the finding Of perfect woman Tn.
that he stated all and II was PLAN, that If he did
not find one, he was lost man.
When bachelor Of spirit makes up his mind de.
cidedly TO do any thing, more especially if women
be concerned, II Is bard case f he does not sue
coed; TO be sure, the finding of perfect woman
would be rather original aud unique, bnt Frank
was determined man, and verging to forty five
For ten long years had our friend aud his horse
been upon the track Of this Yankee dulcinea Of
his, and for ten long years had she escaped him.
/ In slhQmer when the sun had began 10 grow an.
CRY, and people collected ia force al Saratoga, and
elsewhere to resist him, would Riddle mount his
pony; his coat newly turned, his boots patched
his whlskers shaved away an inch or two, aud begin
his yearly Jog IN chase Of perfection. He loved
his horse, and his horse him; aud sobcry and stead
/ lily did the twain sauntCr on thro tho many green
and beautiful valleys Of New England; camping
under the broad and grave elm 10 cat his homel,
meal of brown bread aud pickles, or stopping al
some quiet cottage, black and weather beaten with
out, but enliyened by good nature and welcum,
within; aud there while he patted head after head
Of the white haired crop Of children, would he
dream sweet dreams over bt of cheese and a mur
of biting cider. He was known aud respected
through the whole country; one day playing th,
part of Don QulXote, ~ the next, that Of a How
ard; sometimes curing sick man, sometimes lee
turing tipsy one; his hat weather beaten, his Goa
rusty, his panialoons thread bare, his purse in on,
hand for the needy, and hls heart IN the other fol
the highest bidder,-my hero iournoyed on, led b,
this moral ack-o-lanthem. iut still II fed liz
had asked Il, II was sald half dozen ladies' 10 70
ccye this Grant heart Of his, but they proicster
they were unworthy of the honor and oul of lhe
own month, he proved them imperfect rcnycars
| said he had been upon his voyage, 'and still u,
1 land" lie began almost TO despair Some sal,
he was growing peeyish and norose, and certain /
was, that he had lost bis love of nature; the flow
ers and the clouds, and The blue sky he began Il
think puerile; he talked politics, went to Dime
parties, and thought Of buying a house and set
{ ling in llc he purchased two, bottles Of cologne
aud a whisper wentro round the village, that he own
r ed bottle of macassar oil; bat whether il had an
connection with the little spot Of cleared grOun,
upon the top Of his head, scandal knew not.
was this winter, the eleventh winter Of his search
: that NJ. Riddles grand cllmactoric began; m