The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-07-24
Who is the True Lady.

Who is the True Lady.
AN INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE STORY.
We once knew ''young lady" who liv.
ed in fine style. Her parlors were elegant.
ly furnished, and her dress was always oi
the latest fashion. She had her piano and
her teacher, and she played Italian music
charmingly. In all the exquisite graces Of
life she was faultless. She had rich vein
OF sentiment, too, and could talk philosophy
or discuss standard authors, at pleasure
OF lcourse she read novcls--n fact, a large
potion of the day was devoted TO that in
teresting and instructive class Of polite lii
erature, she was also somewhat industrious,
for she enthusiastically work elegant en-
hroidery. Withan abundance ofcurls, that
floated over her neck in beautiful profusion.
fine form, hands white and delicate, large
powers Of conversation in the usual draw
iGg-room style, she was followed by young
men of taste. Yet somehow, she never
married. The s'beaux'' fluttered around
her like flies over a pot Of honey, bu, they
were careful not to get caught as those 9th
er insects are apt to do. Their attentions
we're never SO particular as 10 require
.'some friend Of the family" to demand
what were their intentions. This was no
fault Of the young lady. She was in the
market as plainly as though she bad in
scribed on her forehead "a Husband Want
ed; for particulars inquire within" But
the husband never to our knowledge came
and we believe that al this day she is dis
conso!a,e old maid.
What was the trouble? Step with us in
10 tho kitchen. That fat woman with n
red face, is The servant of the house. She
does the cooking, the washing, the chamber
work. From early dawn until late at night
she is a slave. Well that woman is our
charming young lady's mother! She new
er sees the daughters "callers" If by &C.
cident she should drop into the parlor while
visitors were present, she would hasten out
again, with embarrassed manner, looking
as though she had committed an offence,
whileher own child's face would be suffused
with bushes.
Now, take a walk with US. In that work
shop, doyou see that hard working mechan
ic? The wrinkles are hardening upon his
face, and the grey hairs are thinly sprink
led over bis head. He looks anxious, as
though at his heart-sirings tugacd some
deep sorrow and modification. lie is the
father Of our beautiful 'young lady," and
his hard earnings for many years have been
absorbed in The expensive luxnries that her
admirable taste has craved, He, too is ey-
cIudcd from the society of his own daugh-
ter.
She moves in circles above her parents,
and, in short, is ashamed Of them. They
live in the kitchen, she in the parlor. They
drudge-she reaps the fruit. She has no
pulsation Of gratitude for AL this; she des-
pises them, aud, in fashionable gatherings,
she is among the first to curl her pretty lips
al slow mechanics"-provided she can do
il safely.
Is she true lady? No-ten thousand
times no! We object not to her accom-
her taste in dress--to her
manners. We look upon and admire such
just as we do superb statue Of Venus
As work Of art it is beautiful; but, never
theess, it is an insensate marble, having
no soul, being of no use in practical life,
and good for nothing but to look at.
The beauty Of the mind is the true beau.
ty; the affectionate daughter, who nestles
herself lovingly in the hearts Of her paranis
who makes her neither companion and
who not only works with tha,
mother, but takes the heaviest burden up,
on herse'f-is the true lady. She may
never have struck note on the piano, ye,
her house is melodous with harmony such
as angels sing. Her exterior may be hum
ble, but her interior life is clothed in the
vestments of immorta! beauty.
There are many "young ladies" whose
whole character is on the surface. Dress,
manners, accomplishments, all are exter-
nal. They are 'sout-siders." When the
fires of adyersity burn beneath
It's surface there is no protecting wall up
reared within. The whole becomes but q
heap of ashes, though it may contain the
outward resemblance Of humanity.
The true lady cultivates higher nature
She is religious, but not fanatacal-cour-
teous, but not fawning. Reposing serene
" upon the arm OF her Heavenly Father,
and associating with unseen angelic spirits,
she meets the storm with calmness, and ac-
cep,s il as disciplinary mercy. Her
ever pulsates to the cry of sui
fering, and her hand is ever open to relieve.
She is beauttulat home, beautiful at the
bedside Of the sick, beautiful at the hour OF
Der departure into the world Of spirits,
beautiful through life; and transcendantly
md externally beautiful in Heaven.
This is the true lady.