Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1836-10-14
M A N AN ID w O NJ A N.
BY WASHINGTON IRVING.

stories, and to treat the tales of romantic
passion us mere 6c,ons of novelists and
poets. My observations on human nature
nave induced me to think otherwise. They
| face of the character may be chilled and
! frozen bv the cares Of the world, or cult
waited INTO tnere.smllcs by the art of sucle-
", sill there ore dormant fires lurking in
the breast of the coolest BOSOM, which.
when once cnkndled, become impetnnus.
and are sometimes desolulng III their
eff cts. Indeed, ! am n true believer IN
the hnd drity and 90 to the fall extent OF
his doctrines. Shall confess il ? ! believe
! M brnkcn trattS, aud the possibility al dy
lng of Disappointed love. | do not, bowev-
cr consider 1t malady often fatal to my
own sex; bnl firmly believe that it with.
crS down nuny lovely woman into an
early grave.
| Man j. the creature Of interest and am
b,lon. HIS nature leads him forth inlo
the struggle and hustle Of the world Love
| is but the cmbeli,hment of his early hfn.
or song p'ped in the interval of acts. He
seeks for fame. for fortune. for space in The
wor d thought and dominion over his EEL.
low men but q woman's whole lIf, is n
history of affections. The heart is her
wrrld-it is here her ambition strives for
rnplre--it is here avaricc seeks for hidden
treasures. She sends forth her sympa HOS
on adventure. She embarks her whole
| soul IN the traffic of affection, and if ship
wrecked, her case is hopeless, for it Is
bankruptcy Of the heart.
To ii man, The dtsappoinl men, Of love
may occasion some bitter pnngs; il wounds
ome feelings of tenderness /, blasts some
proSprc's of felicity; but he is an active
bring--he may dissipate his thoughts in
h" wh'rI of varied occupations, or may
| plunge into The tide of pleasure or if The
he scenes of his DISAPPOINTMENT be ton
full of painful associations he can shift ms
abode at will But wonan's is compara
lively secluded and mcdtaiIve HE She
Is more he companion other own thoughts
and feelings: and if they are turned to
| minister's of sorrow. where shall she look
for consolation If unhappy in her love,
her heart is ike some fortress that ha-
been captured. and sacked. ard abanGnnpd
| With hcr the desire Of the heart has failed
the charm of existence Is ot al end
She ncglccts all cheerinlness which glad,
d"ns the tide &C life IN beautiful currents
through the veins. Her rest is broken
The sweet rcfreshm"nt of sleep is poisoned
BY mpInncholIv deans, until her eulecblr
frame sinks under the slightest external
injury. Look for her after a little while.
and yon find friendship weeping over her
unrinelv grave. and wondering that one
who but lately glnwcd with health and
beauty. should 50 speedily be brought down
to darkness aud the wnrm.' You will be
! told of some win'rv chill, some casual IN
disposition. that laid her low ; bnr few
know ofthe mental malady hat previously
.npped her strength aud made her 81 easy
prev to the spoller. Ilnw many brig 1t
ewes grow DIM ! how many soft cheeks
grow pale! how many lovely forms fade
away into he tomb victims Of blasted hopes
and wnhrrrd JOYS!
Woman is like some tender trec-the
pride and beauty Of he grove graceful IN
Us form bright IN lis foliage bnt with III"
worm proving nj irs heart. We find it
first suddenly whitening when il should be
mos, fresh aud luxnrlnut. We see II droop
inp its branches to the enrrh. and shedding
leaves, even in the stiffness of the forest ;
aud as we muse over the beautiful rum, we
strive IN va,nto recolcct the tlas' or ihGn
derbot that could have sm,tlen 1t with de
cav.
have seen mahy instances Of woman
rhns disappearing gradually from The earth,
aud lave repeatedly iancIed that ! could
trace their death through the varinus de-
clrnsonS of Consumption, cold debility,
lanenor AID fundamentally, until ] reached
the first symptom of Disappointed love-
The canker w"rm of grlrf prcys slowly,
but alas too surely. upon The heart OF
is devoted victim. lis ravag"s are IN
NOTICED by the casual observer but the
keen discerning eye Of the human mind -
that mos, mysterious emanation from the
: creative power the Almighty. discovers
in The half checked sigh, the oft starting
tear. the heavy cloud of sorrow casting
lis shadows upon the brow. the occasional
; lapse into melancholiy. aud anon the for
crd and unnatural bursts of apparently
high spirits, cure tokens of ttat mcn al
consumption which buds defiance to the
. lItr revlvrng powers of medlcne. to the
utmost care and skill of the ahlcst phy>i-
can. Wo then, be to that man who tri-
files with the human heart, as it were a
thug of hight lmport-.who having sought
TIL II" obained The 'unanswerng look Of
, love from womans eye that undeniable
pronf of the return of his affection,
casts aside as valueess the heart he
then knows to be his own No word
OF rcpronch from the injured one may as
sail his ear, aud this absence of reprooi
from without may lull the accusations of
his inward monitor, but he NAV rest assu-
> red. that III the eye of God he is regarded
! as a murder er HIS strict tables of Justice
e admit not of the palliaions that man will
{ conjure up to clear HIM in his own eyes
and This he will feel when reason rs.
/ serts ner sway over the passions, convince:
him Of The cruelty and injustice of his con
I duct. But his rcmorse is now vain io
n her whom death has already secured as hls
p. prize no earthly power can reanmate TIT
d heart now cold IN The grave; and the con
vlcton hat she, through his neglect, i
| nlaccd fotever beYnnd The reach of repar