The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-05-16
.aso I11lA N go
2 From fhe Ladies. Eatioaal Adgoxine.
z II WO > e. Il n rs
IN THE LIFE OF A CITY BELLE.
aY T. 2. ARTHUR,
SCENE FIRST.

SCENE FIRST.
s.Isn't she a glorious creature! said my
young friend Merwfn, giancing as he
spoke to yafis bsiutiful gifl nlm.i Flo
rins vi M.lcolm, the daughter of merchant
reputed TO be rich. We were AT a party.
ani The object Of rem ifk sal or rather re-
clined near Us on a sofa, with graceful
abandon, or rather, indulence, i'll her whole
air aud attitude that Indicated one porn and
raised i'll idleness and luxury.
..Sl,e is fine looking girl, certainly,
replied.
Fine lookingl" said my enthusiastic
you-g friend. in surprise half inclined to
be offended at the GOODNESS with which |
expressed my self. Zine looking. indeed!
Shes perfect Hebe; very impersona-
tioii of youth and beauty"
"No one can deny that she is very
lovely and beautiful girl, said |, TO this,
"Bui site lacks animation"
"Whal YOU speak OF as a fault. l con-
slider her greatest charm. never met
any one SO free from all vulgar hurry and
excitement. An exquisite ease dist.n5 n5uish-
es all her actions, and she reminds yon, III
nearly every thing, OF those courtly ladies
who give such charm 10 foreign arlslo-
cratic society. Csfiainly, have not met,
In this country, with any one who has SO
perfectly the air OF a high-bred lady as
Florine Malcolm" . r
To understand this perfectly, the reader
must be told that Merwyn had recently re-
turned from TOUR through Europe, whith-
er he had been permitted To go by u veal
thy father, and where he had discovered.
like most OF our young men who venture
abroad that IN our form OF social lnler-
course, and in all that gisSs fashionable
society ills true excellence and .ailrac'i'e-
ness. we are sadly deficient. i"relgn
manners, habits. and dress were brDGSht
home and rslainedby The young man, WHO
as natural consequence, became favor
tie among the ladies'. and was thus encour-
aged in-his silly limitations of things anti
American. and therefore III America rldic-
uious.l In the eyes of sober-mlnded. SEN
sible people, who did not know him well
enough To see that there was more
substantial ground work In his character
than all this would lead a casual o5ser-
yer infer. Merwyn was viewed as a
mere fop, whose; brains had grown out
upon his upper lip in the shape OF q NOUS
tlcae. -- .rs.l .C.a q. 5sgssGe-
Such man was my friend Henry Mer-
wyn. knew his better qualities and es-
ieelned them, al the same time that SD W
his weakness, and bore with Ihem for the
sake of the good that was i'll him. Hehad
been raised IN slckly atmosphere, and bis
mind had taken an unhealthy tone; but he
was honorable. and rigidly just i'll all his
actions towards others. a. ...
AS for the young lady he so warmly ad-
IL
know her as we know those into whose
society we are but occasionally thrown.
She was a fine. snowy girl. with face of
more than ordinary beauty; but to one of
my tastes. uninteresting for the very req
son that she proved so charming to Mer-
wyn. This genteel langour. this elegant
Incidence, this Distinguishing repose,
never much suited my fancy; | like 10 see
the soul flow into the bodily organism, and
thrill its every nerve and sentiment. |
like to see the eye lurn. the lips Quiver,
and the whole face glow with anlmating
thought. This makes beauty tenfold more
beautiful, and, gives to even piainness a
charm. -Ha t saa.
"By high-bred lady," l replied TO Mer-
wyn's particular praise of Miss Malcolm.
''yeu mean, presume, woman who is
entirely artificial" z1z
'No," he quickly answered, "you put
construction on my words that do not
acknowledge to be fair. BY high bred
lady, mean one tha, possesses that pecu-
liar ease and grace. that exquisite repose
and that charming elegance OF manner tha,
comes from refined taste and long asso-
citation with those who move in the highest
rank in society. In fact, it is hard to fl
IN words all that goes to make up well
bred isdy; but. when you meet her, you
know her a, glance 9a
.'And you say Miss Malcolm comes nea-
rer to the high bred cour,ly lady, than any
woman it has been your fortune TO mce,
on this side of the the Atlantic!'
nShe does. In Paris or London she
would find herself at home in the first cir /
eles of fashion. Now just look at Miss
Watson, who sits near her, bol. upright.
as stiff as post; and then observe how
gracefully Florine reclines on those cush-
ions like a very queen. There you have !
the exact difference between a mere vulgar ,
girl and true lady. J