Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-01-28
Social Intercourse.
ny MRS. CHILD.


There is a false necessity with which we indus.
trousy surround ourselves; circle that never
expands whose iron never changes to ductlle
gold This is the presence Of public opinion the
-intolerable restraint Of conventional FORM Under
this despotc influence, men and women check
their best impulses, suppress their highest thoughts
Each longs for full communion with other souls,
but dares not give uuerance to It's yearnngs.--
What binders! 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 political party. Thou
art afraid OF thy neghbor, and knowest not that he
is equally afraid Of thee He has bound thy hands
and thou hast fettered his feet. 1t were wiser for
both TO snap the imaginary bond, and walk onward
unshacked.
IL thy heart yearns for love, be loving; il thou
woudst free mankind, be free; il thou wouldst
have brother frank to thee, be frank with him.
But what will people sayf
What does il concern thee what they say ?-thy
life is not in their hands. They can give thee
nothing Of real value, take from thee any thing
that is worth having. Satan may promise thee all
the kingdoms of the EARTH but he has not one acre
Of il 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 praise Blessed are the
meek for they shall inherit the EARTH
But shall be ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
And what ifthou art They who throw stones
at what is above them, receive missiles back again
by the law of gravity; and lucky are they who
bruise not their own faces. Would that could
persuade all who read this to be truthful and free !;
10 say what they think, and act what they feel to
cast from them like ropes Of sand all fear Of sects
and parties and clans and classes What is there
ofjoyful freedom in our social intercourse We
meet TO see each other and not peep do we get
under the thick, sitting veil which each carries a.
bout him. We visit TO enjoy ourselves, and host
takes away all our freedom while we destroy his
own. IL the host wishes to work or ride, he dares
not, lest il seem mpoliie % the guest SO they re-
main slaves, and feel il relief TO part company
A few individuals mostly in foreign lands, arrange
this matter with wiser freedom. If visitor arrive
they say, (" am very bnsy to-day if you wish TO
ride, there horses and saddles in the stables il
you wish TO read there are books in the parlor il
you want TO work, the men are rakng hay in the
fields If you want TO romp, the children are at
play in the court il you want TO talk to me, can
be with you at such an hour. Go where you please
and while you are here, do as you please"
I At some houses in Florence, large parties meet
without the slightest preparation. II is understood
that on some particular evening Of the week, lady
or gentleman always receive their friends II
one room are books and flowers in another pic
lures and engrayings; in another music, Couples
are ensconced in some shaded aIcoye, or groups
dotted about the room, in mirthful or serious con
versaton. No one is required TO speak to his hos
either entering or departing. Lemonade and bask
els Of fruit, stand here and there on the side table