Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1844-01-16
JUDGING rom APPEARANCES.
BY CHARLES BEAUMONT.

JUDGING FROM APPEARANCES. |
BY'cHkRLEs BEAUMONT.
Those whose aim it is in their wEi-
tinqs, to copy nature faithfully, to paint
Viriue and vice, TO depict the manners Of
the daJ and the follies of society, are gen
eFally found TO be taciturn and retiring in
their disposition. They only mix with
the world III order to take notes and ga
ther nIa,eFiuls TOT heir work, they dread
every interruption which. dsturbs them
from their engrossing pursuits and would
wish il II were possible, to render them
selves invisible to all mankind.
Such was the case Of Madame Cotton,
the we'll known autberess of'I'he EXlles
OfSiberia, and maLy Other works OF E.
qual merit. She was remarkable for The
utmost sensibilty, the clearest intellect
and the most sincere modesty. Though
gentle and indulgeut to others, she was
severe in her judgment of herself, and
the greatest pleasure was 10 hear lrer
works criticized, when she herself was
unknown 10 the speakers. The most Sc
we're censure was not displeasing to her,
as she derived hints for improvement, but
unqualified praise was so dsiasteful, that
she neglected no precaution to avoid bea'
ring il. She consequently appeared but
rarely in society, 10 spite OF the numer-
0us solicitations she received, and onno
account Of her personal merit. Being
childless, she interested herself in the
three daughters of o friend, who had losl
her husband and fortune in the civil trol,
bles in France. Each moment which
she could spare from her literary avoca- :
tiOns. was devoted 10 the education Of
these young girls. TO combine amuse'
ment with instruction, to guide them IN
their entrace into life, ITO fortify them a.
Rainst its dangers hy her experience TO
enrich their minds with all the treasurers
of her own, was her lavorite Occupatlen
Of this affectionale and generous Wom-
en-. .......g...
In order TO economic time and troub'
Ie, Madame Cotton had adopted an ex-
,remely simple atyle ofdress, from which
she never varied. II consisted OF dress
hiph in the neck, Of dalk silk,a a large
elk bonnet, which cOnseaed her beau'I'
full li0ht hair and shaded her blue eyes,
Ahose expression was full of finle lIect and
swsetness. An additional advantage
which she derived from the assumption
Ofthis costume, was that il allowed her
the pleasure Of giving her adopted daugh'
tern the dresses and ornaments with when
she loyod 70 see them adorned. 1t l'
even said that her atachmenl to these
orDhans was 40 strong, that though en-
loving aa income offrom twelve 10 nlteeI
thousand francs, she only spent on her
self what was absolutely necessary lo
her moderate wants, the rest was all de
voted 10 the family Of friend.
The simplicity Of Madame Cot'oI
vas 80 great that sho WIS so Ofien MIS-
uken for an important individual, all;
her silence and modest carriage was al
,Ribhted TO ignorance OF the usages 0
society. want of talent for conversation
81 The fear Of expressing herself lne'e
ran,Iy, These frequent mistakes wer
q constant source Of amusement 10 I'M
ealsbrateE woman, the recital oi sucn ln
cidentS was at times, the only means
draw her from tue PIOiounu -.
which she was plunged by her il!ersI
O,iYsuits: those ldborS which brought nc
"a the grave in the prime OF l'te' an
whIch have transmitted her name 10 pos
teTity. sf eas r a"re
On one occasiOn, the three sisters,
whom she vas tsnderly attached' were Il
yitsd 10 magnificent enle'iAlnment;;- !; :
Madame Cotton herself suPerlE'enoe
their toilets aud adorned them with .
ASt own jewels, Butiust as they We =,
about 10 step, inio The carriage Their q, r
theE was suddenly summoned 10 It'e. .
to amatter Of business, winch cOu.u Il =
Be postponed, and was consequently y
able to accompany them.
osE1ow pro0okipge said the yoahgei
atO be obliged 70 stay al home "heH
hSvs such bsaulif0l dresses
fYss,' said dbsr sisler, when Mads'
Cotton bss taken such. pains with our
peaTanee. odea Lat gat Is
.laaOh! ifshe were not SO averse to 81
ely cTiSd The oldssi.swe should entT
her 10 take as 10 tbs ball.