Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-09-19
For the Gaxette.
A CHAPTER ON FLATTERY.

lationI That smooth, sltyery torgue IS,
to the fair, 'lke angel yisits'--it is their
brightes. dream, their holy shrine, their
sacred temple ia which the pnresi feelings
Of their hearts are offered up 10 this, their
Goo and their Idol.
No amount of labor--no self sacrafce
is thought too much TO win this golden
prize--all the arts, the wilds and even
the caprices Of their nature are pledged
TO effect this happy end.
If they read, il is to see themselves
personiied in some lovely character
through the long details Of some charm
ing romance-if they think, it is, to pic
ture to themselves some bold, daring out
law, who has dehed both the laws of God
and man, bowling with grace and gallant.
ry, whispering the soft sweet words Of
aduation-the tender tones of flattery.
Nor does IT matter from whence it
comes; whether from the gay deceiver,
in al. the lightness and frlyolity Of his
soulless mind and feelings, or from the
more truthful and reliable source, nor is
it OF much consequence whether it is
spoken in the soft cadence of tender mo.
dulation or IN tones of harsh, rough and
discordant strains-nor is intelligence or
ignorance regarded-the coarse vulgar
applause of ignorance with all lis shock.
ing deformity, is as eagerly sought after
as the smooth, bland politeness ofintel-
ligence, in fact, the medium is consacrat.
ed by the object loved--hence the most
degraded, depraved and desperate char
acters are made TO appear lovely and de-
sirable--objects that should shock the fine
feelings OF female delicacy are turned in.
to the noble and the daring--creatures
that make prudence stare and shudder
become the fondlings Of their hearts
the wretch that would strike down the
holy and sacred temple Of all the virtues
is received with smiles and caressed in
all the glow of wild enthusiasm"
The foregoing was pronounced in a
tone of confidence and firm decision
with bearing Of consciousness that at
once addressed itself both to the mind and
ieelings--by one, on whose brow maturi-
ty had fixed its impress--it was address.
ed to one who appeared TO realize its full
force and truth--fxing his eye on The
face of his friend, he looked with strange
surprise aud bitterness as if the myste.i-
business Of his whole nature had been re-
vealed.
"Yes Harry" continued his friend in
more emphatic tone, 81 have uttered sem
uments that may not accord with ideas
of what some may choose to call gallant
ry, but have uttered what may not es.
cape the mind that observes human nature
as il is.
/ said there was difference between
the sexes, as to their fondness Tor adula.
ton. The difference is this-msn loves
flatterv more for the source from whence
it comes, than he does the object itself or
in other words unless the source from
which it springs is marked by high res.
pectablity it is looked upon as the off
spring Of hastiness or design-but woman
Il may not say ally too frequently as al
ready intimated grasps the gilded bait
with greedlness, without the enquiry, who
it is that presents the charm. Here then
is the difference-it is a mere appendage
to man, to feed his vanity awhlle-but
with woman, she loves fattery SO much
that she stakes her destiny on it. Thus
it becomes part Of her being.
With a strange eagerness in his eye,
the listener just referred to-grasped the
hand Of his companion and with voice
of gloom and sadness exclaimed: "Why
did you start the very theme that has SO
often aroused every feeling of my heart
A theme which brings to memory scene
in my early history, that has torn every
cord Of this once confiding heart--some
one has told you of my triumph and my
fall or you never could have spoken the
language just used, nor have advanced
the views just xpressed--they fell on my
ear like some voice from the dead--they
have awakened thousand emotions that
| vanly thought long since buried
they have brought resurrection of the
past-and as by the touch Of magic am
again Involved in all the wilds of specu-
Iation-wiih every feeling of my heart
keenly alive 10 hours that were too bright
to last. Though had determined to
let it rest in oblivion, and had even charg-
ed my dreams to disturb it IT. had
almost vowed never 10 breathe it TO friend
or foe-ns i, seemed too sacred to repeat
as something too painful TO tell.
1t however illustrates the views you
have just expressed so pointedly-that the
temptation is too great to forbear.
1t was in the winter Of IS-while on
visit to one of the southern cities, that
| became acquainted with being, in
whom saw displayed every charm that
the richest fancy could picture, virtue,
truth, beauty, excellence-with ell their
attendants fully harmonzing in her char
acter, with grace, added to each and eve.
ry trait-which gave to them a most
thrilling influence.
So brilliant did she appear TO my view
that it seemed almost sacrilege TO con-
verse with her on the common topics of
the day--at last when that privilege was
granted, her voice added new force to all
this cluster of beauty's combination.
Iwooed, won her, how--it is now
useless to enquire, we exchanged VOWS
and if rapture belongs to earth-it was
then felt-it was then enjoyed; if trans
port is a feeling or may be feeling of
a