The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1849-06-01
EDITH MAURICE.
BY T. =. ARTHUR.

How many beautiful, lovely minded
women do we meet in society. who are
united by marriage contract, with men
whose tastes, habits and characters, can
not but be every way uncongenal. And
on the other hand, how often do we find
the finest specimens of men unequally
joined to women who seem to have no
true appreciation of what is really excel
lent in morals or social life. The reason
for such inequality is very apparent to
all who observe with any intelligence.
The afiinities which govern among those
who enter life's dazzling arena are in
most cases, external instead of internal.
Accomplishment. personal appearance,
and family connections, are more consid-
cred than qualities ofthe heart Beauty,
wit, station aud wealth. are the standards
of value, while real merit is not thought
of, or fondly believed to exist as a natural
correspondent of the external attractions
SO pleasant to behold. In this false and
superficial mode of estimating character,
lies the bane Of domestic happiness. De.
ceived by the merest externals, young
persons come together and enter into the
holiest relation of life, to discover, alas!
in few years, that there exists no con.
geniality of taste, no mutual appreciation
of what is excellent or desirable in life,
and, worse than all, no mutual affection,
based upon clearly seen qualities of the
mind. Unhappiness always follows this
sad discovery, and were it not for the
love of children which has come in to
save them, hundreds and thousands, who,
in the eyes of the world, appear to live
happily together, would be driven angri
ly assunder.
Aunt Esther, whose own experience
in life, confirmed by much observation,
made the evil here indicated as clear as
MONDAY to her perceptions, saw the err.
ror other beautiful niece. Edith, in court.
ing rather than stunning observation
while in society
"You wrong yourself, dear" she would
often say, "by this over carefulness about
external appearance. You attract those
who see but little below the surface
while the really excellent and truly in.
telligent avoid instead of seeking you,
society"
Would you have me careless abou,
my appearance, auntl" Edith would Of
ten say, in reply to these suggestions.
"By no MEANS" Aunt Esther would
reply. "A just regard to what is appro
pirate in externals, marks the woman o.
true taste and right feelings. But you
go beyond this"
"Then violate the principles of taste
in dressing"
III would not say that you do very
broadly.-Most persons would affirm tha
you display fine tlste and in using the
word display would express my objection
think that a woman infringes goot
taste, when she arrays herself SO as to at
tract attention to her dress"
"As dog
eyes, Edith, as you do. If you dis
guise from yourself the fact that you boti
love and seek admiration for your person
al appearance, you do not do so from 9th
ers-at least not from me-"
Aunt Esther did not wrong her niece
by thisjudgment. 1t was Edith's weak
ness to love and seek admiratioE; ano
what we love we naturally seek With
out actually infringing the laws of taste
and harmony, she yet managed to dress
in style that always attracted the eye
and set off her really fine person in the
most imposing manner The conse
quence was that she had many admirers
some of whom we're elegant and atlrac
tive young men. But none oflhese were
drawn to the side of Edith from love o
her moral beauty. 1t was the beauty o
her person, the fascination of her man
ners, and the sparkle other wit, that made
her an object of admiration.
Edith had friend whom she dearly
loved; sweet, gentle, true.hearted girl
named Mary Graham. Those who were
dazzled by an imposing appearance
passed Mary with Indifference; but the
few who could perceive the vioet's odo
by the wayside, as they moved along
through life, sought her company, auc
found, in the heart of loving woman
more of beauty and delight than she eve
gives as creature of show and admira
tion.
Different as they were, in many re
spects, Edith and Mary were alike in tn,
possession of deep affections. Both low
ed what was pure and good; but while
one had an instructive power of looking
beneath the gitterins surface the othe
was deceived by appearance. While
one shrunk from observation, the otheI
courted attentions. The consequence
was, that Edith had hosts of admirers
while only the discriminating few linger
ed near the retiring Mary. The one wa
admired for what she appeared to be, th'
other was loved for what she was.
Two young men, entirely dissimilar il
character, yet thrown together as friends
by circumstances, met one evening. wheI
one of them whose name was Ashton
said to the other
"Erskine! met glorious creatur
last night; perfect Hebe!"
"Ah! who is shel"
"Her name is Edith Maurice"
"She's a snowy girl, certainly"
"Showy! She's a magnificent woman
Erskine. And so you've met herl"
IA few times" ..,s
"Where you not enchan,cdl"
No. Your GLORIOUS creatures neve
tarnmy BRAIN" M .r