Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-05-27
To THE SUBSCRIBERS To THE WIG
PRUDEs AND CooUETTEs.
From n work recently published entitled
aJssf and Earnssfpl

"Jssf and Edrnesf"l
What different effects does the same cause pro-
duce, That universal desire Of pleasing the oppo-
site which exists amongst young females makes
of one Prude and Of another Coquette; both by
different means, hoping to arrive at the same end;
the one by graceful vivacty-the other by an in.
terestng dfidence the one by SYSTEMATICALLY parad-
ing her eharms-the other by ostentatously yelling
them This is ridiculous enough when something
attractive really exists; but it becomes e1quisitely
30 when there is absolutely nothing worth parading,
and nothing worth vciing.f
Coquette and Pfude commence their ex.
istence at the nge OF ffteen; and if not married.
pass into another state of being about thirty, or
little more, according to temperament. The whole |
interim has been employed in one continual attack |
on that Maynard creature, Man; the Coquettc, like
bold sportsman aiming ut all she considers worthy
oi powder and shot-the Prude, like a wary fow- |
Ter, spreading snare TO entrap the wandering.
But after time hope is generally abandoned; and
wonderful TO behold is the change! The Coquet,e
throws away her weapon and rciircs, with the
most bitter resignation, TO mediate on the fol-
y OF her former pursuits; whilst the Prude in des-
pair OF nobler game, is fam TO put up with any
miserable hedgc-sparrow she may find in her net
In short, TO drop all metaphor there is but one es-
hblished course to pursue--the Coquette turns 70.
gionst, and the Prude marries the best lover Jeff,
1t highly amusing to watch, in ball room the
manruvres OF these two fair enemies Of man. The
Coquette isall anmation-her heart luttering with
the imagined conquest of her partner in the quad.
rifle, who VERY possibly may think Of her till
he sees her again, and who livery PROBABILITY thinks
more of himself than Of her at any time. On the
other hand, the Prude looks icy-winter at a man
who asks II she has the last new opera, seems
astonshed at his daring to hand her glass of le-
monade, and, in fact upon all occasions performs
the part OF the "Cruel Beauty"-the gentleman DC.
ing supposed to enact the "Desparing Lover"
But how unavailins are, often, all these efforts
The male creatures seem endowed with an instinc.
tive ability to escape the most desperate attempts
and the most deeply-lad plans. "Men are all
brutes," II hath been comprehensively remarked:
and, IN good truth, the expression may be allowed
Ia 4 woman who perceives, with Indignation, that
the meritorious endeavors Of those who studied
Fascination as science are frequently defeated by
some perverse girl who protests against their prac.
tices laughs at their laborous attempts, and pleas
os merely because she can't help il This is a crime
against the initiated Of the highest order and il has
often surprised me that some well. organized plan
OF operations has not been projected where alPwoud
be compelled 10 regularly enter themselves accord.
ing To taste, in either OF the two branches which
constitute the system, and those who refused would
on all occasions, be discouraged and placed without
the pale OF communion.
The principal reason, npprehend, why the la
dies have not endeavoured 10 carry out something
of the sort U.s. the jealousy that prevails between
the two great parties into which they are divided
Prude cannot for her life speak veil off Coo uette:
nor has Coquette good word for Prude. Their
ifeeing towards each other greater than iowa
the daring Radical who laughs at them both; and
whilst they should he guarding against the common
enemy they would be quarreling amongst them.
selves
Another reason is, their conviction of the truth
contained within the before mentioned MAXIM
namely, that "men all brutes" Manage as
cleverly as they might, and dreadful might be the
penalties Tor disclosure, the existence of such for
mldabe union could never be kept from the know.
ledge OF the men, who, with their natural obst
and dread of being outwitted, would Immediately
support the cause oGthe macontents, exhibit market
codness TO the allied members, and, at last by
these means, succeed in breaking up the coalition
Thus would matters come again to their present
state, and the dissenters from their doctrine would
act with perfect impunity.
But, though II would be so difficult for the two
great parties TO combine against their opponents
yet the same reasons do not preven, the opponents
from combining against the two great parties and
esdeavoring TO set up their theory us the Universal
Creed As the basis Of the present system is False
mood, inducing the practice OF deceit let those who
agree not with il base their system on Sincerity.
and make the practice Of truth their chief study.
IL would be charming 10 see the race OF Prudes
ana Coqucttes suppianted by confederation of
spirited and sensible girls whose we'd determine
lion was as regards the other sex, affect neither
more nor less than they actually felt. predict that
Their success would be immense and that thew would
demonstrate, by the number Of their conc ucsts the
superiority OF their system that OF their rivals
BESIDES, such good example would have a very
beneficial elect on the "brutes" Of men, and tend
marvellously TO polish their manners. If sincerity
other, and the present cunning and wnrlike mode of
conducting matters would give place to one moro
rational and agreeable The two great classes of
DeceIrers and Believers, which n0io include nearly
all OF the both sexes, would then diminish rapidly
and truth would, TO some extent, exist between man
and woman.
When this great reformation takes place. hope
and suggest that the disciples OF the New Movement
may wear some Distinguishing mark (such as a ne.
culIor combo flower in the har)b which all men of
sense may know them from Prudes and Couuettes
who will surround them The creed should be called
Sincerltarlansm, and the professors known as Sin.
certnranS. committee chosen from the general
body must be formed, to examine into charges of
InsIncerty which may be brought by either sex
against members; and, i! proved, the culprt should
be deprived Of her symbol OF ssterhood and
branded with tho ignomnious name Of Prude or CO.
quette, as the case may be, until by repentance and
amendment, she shall have proved her right TO en-
Joy again the honorable title Of Sinceritarian
There are many scattered believers and prsciiser,
OF this doctrine; but hitherto the prejudces amongst
women IN favour Of either Prudery or Coquetry
have been too strong to allow the few advocates
Oi the New Movement TO form themselves into dis
unct and organized association. The time however
- perhaps not FAR distant when they will be able 10
do so; and IN the meantime drink in this cup OF
cohee-Fo the speedy advent OF Sinceritaranism |