Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-05-17
NJ is C ELL A N Y.
SOCIAL INTERCOURSE.
By MRS. CHILD.

There is false necessity with which we indus
trlously surround ourselves circle that never ex-
pands; whose iron never changes 10 ductile gold
This is the presence of public opiEion the intolera
BILE restraint of conventional form. Under this d.
plomatlc Influence, men and women check their
best impulses, suppress their highest thoughts
Each longs for full communion with the other souls
but dares not give utterance to its earnings
What hinders2
The fear of what Mr.. Smith, or Miss Clark will
say or the frown of sect OF the anathema of some
synod; or the fashion of some clique; or the auoh
OF some club; or the Misrepresentation Of some po-
litical party.
Thou art afraid of thy neghbor, and knowest
thou 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 unshackled If thy heart yearns
for love, be loving if thou would'st have brother
frank to thee, be frank to him.
But what will people say2
What does 1t concern thee what they saw 2-thy
life is not in their hands. They can give thee no
thing of real value, take from thee ANYTHING of
real value. Satan may promise thee all the king
doms on earth, but he has not one acre of it to
give.
lie may offer much as TO the price of his wor-
ship, but there is flaw in all his title deeds. E.
ternal and sure Is the promise: '.Blessed are the
meek, for they shall inherit the earth''
But shall be misunderstood misrepresented
And what If thou art? They who throw stones
at what Is above them, receive the missiles back
again by the law of gravity; and lucky are thew
who do not bruse their own faces Would that I
could persuade all who read 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 sects
and parties, of clans and classes.
What is there of joyful freedom in our social in
tercouIse? We meet to see each other, and not a
peep do we get under the veil which each carries
about him. We Visit to enjoy ourselves, and the
host takes away our freedom, while we destroy his
own. 1.-THE host wishes 10 walk or wride he d,res
not, lest it should be impoe to the great; so thew
remain slaves, and feel it relief to part company
few individuals, mostly in foreign lands, arranpe
ihlS matter with wiser freedom If a visitor arrive
they say: "Pm busy to-day; if you wish to ride,
there are horses and saddles in the stable if Won
wish to read, there are books in the paror; if YOU
want to romp, the children at play in the court i;
1t 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"
| AT some houses in Florence large parties meet
without the slightest preparation 1t is understood
that on some particular evening Of the week, a la
dy or gentleman always receives his friends. In
one room books and flowers; in another pic
| lures and engravlngs; and third music Cou
pies are ensconced In some shady alcove, or groves
about the room, in mirthful or serious conversation
No one is required to speak to his host, either en-
tering departing. Lemonade and baskets of fruit
stand here, and they may take who like, bat eat
| ing, which constitutes so large part of American
entertainments, is slight and almost unnoticed in
cident in these festivals of intellect and TASTE
Would st thou like to see such social freedom in
troduced here2 Then do it,
But the first step must be complete indifference
to Mrs. Smiths assertion that you were mean e.
nough to offer only one kind of cake to your com
pany, and TO put less shortening in the under crus,
of your pies than the upper. Let Mrs. Smith talk
according to her griefs; be thou assured that all
lining souls love freedom better than cakes and un
der crust.