The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1849-05-18
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From the Western Literary Emporium.
SOCIAL INTERCOURSE.

social intercourse. which. as the season Of
sociality with us is drawing on, may cons
vey some hints worth needing. After
all what size says in relation to the opin.
ions of others, although fair in theory, is
not fully sustained in Practice. We are
the creatures Of circumst Ian ces; persons
reputation is as the community in which
he moves regards him, and his social po.
sition Is assigned him more by others.
thae By s.,i@seM, agg we must tonside,
things as we find them, or strike at the
root of the evil if we would reform them.
While slavisb fear of public sentiment
ity. in some degree, to prevailing Gus.
toms aud practice is somewhat necessary
and desirable, or else we should have but
individuality aud no society. Public sen
timent is as ofisn wrong as righ. in its
condemnations, and we have seen the pur.
est and the best pursued with destruction
and hunted with calumny, arising mostly
from a nonsconformity to prevailing no>
tions Of propristJ--the breaking from
convent onal restraiDts, absurd and ridica
uloss in their exactioIs.
But we give Mrs Child's ideas upon this
subject some of them are well worthy of
consideration, aud many of her suggcs'
tions could be adopted with prof ana i'm
provement:
There is a false necessity with which
we iudustriously surround ourselves, a
circle that never expands; whose iron
never changes to ductls gold. THIS is
the presence of public opinion, the iutol-
cradle restraint of conventional FORMS
women cksck their best impulses, sups
press their highest thoughts. Each longs
for free communion with other souls but
dares not give utterancs to his yearnings.
What binders! The fear Of what Mrs,
Smith or Mrs. Clark will say, or the
(rown Of some sect, or the anathema OF
or The laugh of some club, or the mirep.
rssenation OF some political party. Thou
art afraid OF thy neighbor, and knewsst
not that he is equally afraid of thee
He has bound thy hands and thou hast
Iettered his fact. Ii were wiser for both
to snap the imaginary bond and walk on.
ward unshackled. IL thy heart yearns
for love, be loving; If thon woodst free
mankind, be free, if thou wouldst have
thy brother frank with thee, be frank
with him.
But what will the people say9
What does il concern thee what they
say4 thy life is not in their hands. They
can give nothing Of real value, nor take
from thee anything worth having Satan
may promise thee all the Kingdoms of the
ca rlh, but he has not one acre of it to
give. He may offer much, as much as
the price Of his worship, but there is aaw
in all his title deeds. Eternal and sure
is the promise, Blessed are the meek, for
they shall inherit the EARTH
| But | shall be misund erstood--misrep.
resented.
And what il thou art! They who throw
stones at what is above them, receive
missiles back again, by the law OF gray.
ity, and lucky are they who bruise not
their own faces. Would that could per
suade all who read this, to be truthful
and free to say what they think, and act
what they feel, to cast from them like
robes of sand, all fear of sects and parties
| of clans and classes.
VIVA, is there Of joyful freedom in our
social intercourse? We meet to see each
other and not peep do we get under
the thick, stiAing vsii which each car
ries about him. We visit to enjoy our
! selves, and our host takes away all our
freedom while we destroy his own. II
the host wishes TO walk or ride, he dares
not, lest it seem impolite to his guest; il
the guest wishes to read or sleep; he
dares not lest is seem impoite to the host
so they remain slaves, and feel it relief
to part company. 4 few individuals,
mosuy ID toreign lands, arrange TINS mat
ter with wiser freedom. If visitor ar
rive, they say, 1 am very busy to-day
if ysu wish to ride, there are horses aud
saddles in the stables, if you wish to read
there is a variety of books in the parlor;
if you want to work, the men are raking
hay in the fields; il you want to romp, the
children are at play in the courli ii you |
want TO talk to me, can be with you |
such an hour. Go where you please and |
while you are here do as you please.
At some houses in Florence, large par
ties meet without The slightest preparation
1t is understood that on some evening OF
the week, lady or gentleman always
receives their friends In ene room are
books and flowers, In another are pic