Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1843-04-22

which we live is one of vcissitudes and
misery. The fancy and the pen Of the
novelist have flung charm about the cot
tage. and rapture into the humber walks
Of life, which never was realized by the
poor man toiling for the support of his
family.
The credulous girl, as she reads the glow
ing description of humble life, imagines
that nothing is requisite to consummate her
earthly bliss but to be welded to some ide0l
being, and domesticated in vine clad cot
tage, embossed among wide spreading oaks,
and surrounded by romantic scenery.
where she can while away her enchanted
moments in the enjoyment of delights the
most refined and fascinating to unrenewed
minds.
Stern reality dissi pates the illusion. In
stead of the joys SO fondly anticipated, she
finds her husband mere man, full of i'm.
PROJECTIONS and infrmities, and she now
learns that it is impossible to live on poetry
and flowers. Contrary to her expectations
her children are not angels, neither are
they fed with mama from the Skies
Her family are subject to affections, and
must be supported by toll. The exagger-
ated representations of the novelist are
forgotten.
Her heart sinks within her under its
weight of disappointment. How much
happier would have been the domestic cir
Gle had the girl been taught in the nursery
to look upon life as no fairy dream; but
rather to regard it as scene of conflict,
with adverse powers, which nothing but
personal virtues and judicious associations
can rob of its sternness, and now and then
rear flower in its pathway.
When young persons are favored with
a good education, and are taught to form
their opinions of life from careful observa-
ton, they will rarely enter into unfortunate
matrimonial connections, or be dsappoint-
ed in their expectations with regard to con-
nubial bliss. Their estimate of life de-
ponds upon the only basis that can be re-
lied on with safety, and hence no improper
expectations INDUCED, and, as conse-
quence, no disappointing follows. Such
persons are not to be deluded by the glare
of beauty, style, or fashion. Their hearts
are not to be bought or sold with few
graceful bows and sunny smiles. They are
not to be deceived by fippant speeches and
tinsel accomplishments. They penetrate
beneath the surface, and detect the naked
ness of the hearts under the mock bland
ness of affected smiles. Guided by an
enlightened discretion, they select COM
panion in life from that class of persons
whose knowledge of the world is derived
from passing events, and who have studied
human nature in their own hearts, and not
in novels and romances.
1t is the firm belief of the writer that
where young lady discovers in gentle
man fondness for novel reading, it should
provoke in her mind an invincible objec-
ton to matrimonial union with him. He
has probably formed his opinion of the lady
of his choice from the overdrawn sketches
of female character in some novel. He
will expect too much from her. His stand
ard of female excellence is poeticaI; and
although she may be one of the best of her
sex, she can never meet his unwarranted
expectations. She must be something more
than an angel or he will be dappointed.
The same remark may apply to the young
man. Should he select such partner in
life from among those whose chief delight
is found in the perusal of such works, and
who form their opinions of the gentleman's
character from these sources, he mnsi Lc
Wallace or an Ivanhoe or the lady 10
whom he is united will not realize her ex-
pectations.
8. Another evil resulting from the prac-
tice which we reprobate is, that 1t has q
tendency to l0eaken the barriers of uirtue,
and blunt tie refined sensibilitieS Of our na-
ture.
That many novels have a demoralizing
tendency will not be disputed. Thousands
of volumes are of this character; and the
extent to which they have blunted moral
feeling, and broken down the guards Of
virtue, will never be known until revealed
by the lights of eternity. "But it is not to
be presumed" says the objector, "that
w orks of this character will be extensively