Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-01-14
" COURTING" VERSUS ATTENTION,

This subject, which is always important, is
daily becoming peculiarly so, and we design
TO call the attention of the young people to il
occasionally, in the hope of arresting the pro-
gress of an alarming and destructive evil
Young ladies' are bound to fall in love as
soon as possible; and be bound for partner
for life, as soon as the necessary preliminares
can be made-such as getting lover, fascina-
ting him thoroughly, being courted, having
the question popped, getting the wedding gar
ments in array, and inviting friends to see
them prettiiy married. The young man is
bound to be gallant and polite. and to admire,
without stint, all the pretty girls known and
unknown-to dof the beaver, offer the arm,
invite to the rid i the theatre, and the pleasant
Saunter-in short, 10 do all the sundries need
ed to show his devotion and gallantry towards
the sex, until some enchantress throws her
spells around him, and he sinks subdued, into
a common place, Indifferent, careless Benedict
Now, out of these things grow difficulties
A young man admires pretty girl, and must
manifest it he can't help doing so for the life
of him. The young lady has tender heart,
reaching out like vine tendrls for something
to cling to she sees admiration, is fatered,
begins soon to love, expects some tender a.
vowal, and gets so far as to decide she will
choose white satin under a thin gauze, Sc,
at the very moment the gallant she loves is
popping the question 10 another damsel ten
miles off. Now the difficulty lies in not pre-
cisely understanding the difference between
polite attention and the manifestations of sigh
ing love. Admitting beautiful girl, and wish
ing to make wife of her, are not the same
thing, and therefore it is necessary that dam
sci should be on the alert to discover to which
class the attentions paid by handsome and
fashionable gentlemen belong. 1t is hard 10
draw the exact line of separation between po-
lite attention and downright counting, but our
great age and extensive experience has ena-
bled US TO observe enough to aid the young
and artless maiden in deciding upon the mat
ter.
First, then-if a young fellow greets you
in a loud, free, and hearty tone-if he knows
precisely where to put his hat or hands-if he
stares you straight in the eye, with his own
wide open-f he turns his back to you TO
speak to another-if he tells you who made
his coat-if he squeezes your hand-if lie eats
heartily i'll your presence-if he fails TO talk
kindly to your mother-if he sneeZes when
you are singing. crlticises your curls, or fails
to be very foolish in fifty ways every hour,
tI1eI uOu Id!f III love WIKI MIN IOE Inc "Oilu,
he only asmires you, let him do or say what
else he may. But if he be merry with every
one else, but quiet win you-if he be anxious
to see that your tea is sufficiently sweetencd
and your dear person wei! wrapped up when
you go out into the cOld--if he talks very low
an never looks YOU steadfastIy in the eye
if his cheeks are red--or if he be pale and his
nose blush, it is enough if he romps with your
sister, signs ike pair of old bellows, looks
solemn when you are addressed by another
gentleman, and in fact is the most still, awk-
ward, stupid, yet anxious OF all your male
friends, you may go ahead and invoke the
shafts of Cupid with perfect safety, and make
the poor fellow too happy for his skin 10 hold
him.
There are also thousand other minor par
ticulars which lady's Wit needs no prompt
ing upon, but the foregoing are sure and safe
tests. There is so much trouble made in the
world for want of understanding this, that we
kindly volunteered our advice in the matter
all which we respectfully submit, with the ad.
mention to ladies to keep their hearts in a
case OF good leather, or other tough substance
until the light one" is found, beyond doubt
after which they can go on and love
court. be married and happy, without the Least
trouble.-ErehGnge paper.