Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1849-04-11

ously regard their particular behaviour
10 themselves as the result of d genera
moodiness and reserve -
IDEA OF A PERFECT WIFE.
Burke, the great English statesman
used repeatedly to declare that every
care vanished the moment he entered
his own house. He wrote tho following
beautiful descriptive prose paper, THE
Idea ola Perfect Wife, which lie pre-
sented 10 Mrs. b. one morning, on the
anniversary of their marriage, delica,ely
heading the paper as below, leaving her
10 I'LL oul the blank:
THE CHARACTER OF MRS. -
4 mean TO give YOU my idea Of wo-
man. lift at all answers an original, !
shall be pleased, for if such a person as
| would describe really exists, she mus,
be fir superior 10 my description, and
such as | must love too well 10 be able
70 paint; as I ought.
.'She is handsome; bur it is beauty not
arising ffom features, from complexion
toI from shape; she has all three in high
degree, but it is not from these she lou
chcs tie heart; it is all dat swoetnos, of
temper, bcnevolence, innocence and
sensibili,y Which face cannot express,
that forms her beauty.
'She las face that just raises your
attention at first sight; it grows Oh you
every moment, and you wonder it did
no moro than raise your attention at first.
'lIel eyes have mild light, but they
awe you when she phases; they com
aand, like good man ou, of Office, not
by authority, Gul by viItuc.
'Her features are MT exactly regular;
that sort of exactncss is more to be
praised than 10 be loved; for it is never
animated.
'IIer stature is not tall; she is made
to be the admiration Of everybody, bul
The happiness of one.
'She has all the flmness that does
not exclude delicacy; she has all the
sofiness that does no, imply weakness.
'There is often more of the coduetle
shown in, an affected pliinness than in
tawdry fnery. She is always clean
! without preciseness or alfectatlon. He1
gravity is gentle thong ughlfulness thai
soltens the features without discomposins
Them. She is usually grave.
Her smiles are inexprcssible.
'Her voice is a low soft music, no
formed 10 rule ia public assemblies, bu
10 charm those who can distinguish a
company crowd; it has this advantage;
you must COME close to hear il. :.
ITO describe her body, describes he,
mind, one is the transcript Of the other
Her understanding is not shown in the
variety of matters it exerts itself on, bu
in the goodness Of the choice she makes
She does not display il so much in say
ing or doing striking things as in avoid
ing sucl, as she ought not TO say or do
She discovers the right or wrong o
things not by reasoning but sagacily
most women and MANY good ones, have
closeness and something selfish in hei
dispositions; SHE has true generosity
oftemper; the most extravagant canno
be more unbounded in their Fiberalily
the most Cautions in the distribution:
mo person Of few years can know
the world better; no person was eyc
less corrupted by that knowledge.
Her polileness seems rather TO flow
hom natural disposition TO otlige thar
from any rules on tha, subject, ant
therefore never fails to strike those wllt
understand good breading and thosj
WHO do not.
'Shc does not run with girlish eager
ness into new friendships, which, as the.
have no Foundation in reason, serve onl,
to multiply and enlbilter disputes; it i
long before she chooses, but then it i
fixed forever, and the hours of romanli
friendship are not warmer than her
after the lapse of years.
AS she never disgraccs her good ma
ture by severe reflection on anybody, S
she never degrades her judgment b
immodera,e or III praises, Tor every thin
violent is contrary to her gen,leness Q
disposition, and the evenncss Of he
virtue.