American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-10-02
SOCIAL INTERCOURSE.
BY MRS. CHILD.


There is Il false necessity with which we in
dustrouSly surround ourselves; a circle that ne
yer expands, whose iron never changes to due
tile gold. This is the presence of public opin-
ion, the intOlerable restraint OF conventional
form. Under this despotic influence, men and
women check their best impulses, suppress
their noblest feelings, and conceal their highest
thoughts. Each longs for full communion with
other souls, but dares not give utterance to its
warnings. What hlnders? The fear of what
Mrs. Smith or Mrs. Clark will say; or the frown
of some sect; or the anathema of some synod;
or the fashion of some clique; or the laugh OF
some club; or the misrepresentation of some po-
litlcal party. Thou art afraid of thy nelghbOr,
and knowest thou not that he is equally afraid
of thee. He has bound thy hand, aud thou
hast ietered his feet. 1t were wiser for both
to snap the imaginary bonds, and walk OH
ward unshackled. lfthc heart yoarns for love,
be loving; if thou wouldst free mankind, be
frank to him.
But what will people say;
Why does it concern thee what they say?-
Thy life is not in their hands. They can give
thee nothing Of real value, nor take from thee
nothing that is worth having. Satan may pro-
mise thee all the kingdoms Of the earth, but he
has not an acre Of it to give. He may offer
much as the price of his worship, but there is
flaw in all his title-deeds Eternal and sure is
the promise, "BleSsed are the meek for they
shall inherit the earth "
But shall be misunderstood -misreprescnt
cd.
What if thou art? They who throw stones
at what's above them, receive the missiles back
again by the law of gravity; and lucky are
they who bruse not their own faces. Would
that could persuade all who read this to be
truthful and free; to say what they think, and
act what they feel; to cast from them, like
ropes Of sand, all fear of sect and parties, OF
clans and classes.
What is there of Joyful freedom in over So
cial intercourse? We meet to see each other
and not peep do we get under the thick, stl-
fling veil which each carries about him. We
visit to enjoy ourselves, and our host takes
away all our freedom, while we destroy his
own. If the host wishes to work or ride, he
dare not, lest it seem impolite to the guest; if
the guest wishes to read, he dare not, lest it
seem impolite to the host; so they remain slaves,
and find it Il relief to part company. few
individuals, mostly in foreign lands, arrange
this matter with wiser freedom. If Il vister
arrive they say: 81 am very busy to-day; if you
wish to ride, there are the horses and saddles
in the stable; if you wish TO read, there are
books in the parlor; if you want to W ork, the
men are rakng hay in the fields; if you want
to romp, the children are at play in the court;
;fyou want to talk tome, can be with you at
such an hour. Go where you please, and
while you stay, do what you please
At some houses in Florence large parties
meet without invitation and without the slight
est preparation. 1t is understood that On
particular evening IN the week, a lady or
gentamln always receives their friends. In
one room are books and flowers in another
books and engravings; in third music. Cou-
Piles are ensConced III some shade alclovG, or
groups dotted about the room, in mrthtul, or
serious conversation. No one is required to
speak to his host, either entering or departing.
Lemonade and baskets of fruit stand here and
there, on the side tables that all may take who
like; but eating which constitutes so large at
part of all American entertainment, is a Sigh
and almost unnoticed incident in these festi-
walls of intellect and taste. Wouldst thou like
to see such social freedom introduced here?-
Then do it. But the first must be complete
indifference to Mrs. Smiths assertion that you
were mean enough to offer only one kind of
cake to your COMPANY, and to put less shorten
ing in the under-crust of your pies than the up
per. Let Mrs. Smith talk according to her
gifts, be thou assured all lining souls love free
dom better than cake or than under-crust.
THE BALTIMORE MARKET. A correspond
ent writing from this city to the Norfolk Cou-
rier, says:
| saw gentleman, last evening" from North
Carolina, who has, for mary years, been en-
gagged in mercantile pursuits, who told me he
had visited the three cities, Baltimore, Phila-
delphia and New York, in succession, with a
view Of ascertaining in which he could lay in
his Fall supply to the best advantage. He
said that, after a careful examination of all the
circumstances connected with the business--he
had come to the conclusion, that he could sup
NV himself to a much better advantage in
Baltimore than in either Of the other cities
For this reason, he had returned from New
York to Baltimore, and designed, hereafter, to
make his principal trade with this city. This
gentleman is no ordinary character, either for
intelligence, or for his acquaintance with the
business operations of the county Baltimore
surely possesses advantages, for Southern and
Western trade, that are enjoyed by no other
city.
RECEIPTS OF FAIR The receipts by the
State Agricultural Society, on account of the
recent Fair at Utica, N. E, were over $i,300
exceeding those Of any former Fair by some
$500. The number of visitors on the second
day was estimated at from thirty TO forty thou
sand.
MONUMENT CT LEAD. monument of leac
is to be erected by the miners of Galena, ILL.,
in honor of Caleb Gushing, for his services
while in China, for the promotion of their in
teresis,