Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-04-10
Taking off the Men.

#sF*@* AuAsu8 VA WY Seeus
A lady writer in the Springfield, Mass,
Republican writes letter TO the editor,
III which she exposes the sen.eless twad-
die Of the men at parties, &c. We extract
the following:- .-
But one meets most frequently sin So
ciety," gentlemen who belong 10 the class
first mentioned, who have very few ideas
beyond horses, politics and the weather.
! once attended party in your beautiful
town, and thinking j. improbable that in
the course of the evening should become
sufficiently acquainted with anyone, 10 de-
rive any benefit, from any interchange Of
ideas, | resolved TO amu>e myselfby play
ing the taciturn young lady, instead of
talking twice as fast as the gentlemen, as
| usually dc, and note what the Lords of
Creation would have 10 say for them
selves. Que otthem was brough, up, and
introduced TO nae. He looked at me for
a moment. and looked at him. Then he
mumbled something about .the pleasure
of the next dance"-l bowed assent A.
gain our eyes met. After an awful pause
! the gentleman remarked, Beautiful eve
ning!" "Yes, very fine." "What un-
! pleasant weather we've been having late
ly!" very unpleasant indeed" ''Have
you ever been in Springfield before?"-
Several times" ''lt's u beautiful town."
"Very beautiful" A long pause. Poor
man! His small talk was exhausted! He
looked a, me, but | would not help him
out, and he remained silent ,vacanily start
ing ronnd the room, till the quadrille was
formed. Gentleman number two was
brought up and introduced. "Is this your
/ first visit TO Springfield" s'No-I've
been here number Of times" "Pretty
| place!" "Very." "How bright the moon
is Tonight !" "Yes-we've had dark eve
nings SO long, that it's quite delightful to
welcome pale Cynthia back again" No.
two siorted-opened his eyes ,cide-star-
ed at me moment, and sidled off. Good
ness thought l-.-what have said TO as
tonish the man 50? Well, my communi-
cation shall be Yea, Yea, in future. Gen
! tleman number three introduced. "How
long have you been in town, Miss Mp
NEARLY week" 'Ah, so long-Spring-
fields beautiful place" ut is indeed"
"What very cold weather we've had for a
! day or two?" very cold for the season."
"Bnt i's very fine evening" ''It is so."
And here he.p"or man,wa. obliged 10 stop,
for want of something else TO say, and al
ter ve:y awkward pause, he, Too, walk
ed of. Introduced to number four. Num-
Der four did not belong in Springfield, but
happened 10 know where he did belong;
we soon discovered mutual acqnaintances,
and without any alln>ion 10 the weather,
or the beauties of the town, were the best
OF friends in half an hour.
took a sleigh-ride on the Ice with
hopeful youth, Who owned a 'fast horse
a short time since, and he entertained me
during the whole Dive by talking horse
He explained 10 me the difference in the
gait 0. norses-,r racking tro,ting --pac-
ing; gave me long history of how he
broke his oolt-sai! lie went "now in three
minutes" but was only three years old,
and with proper training in another year,
'he'd 60 in 2,40!," tried 10 change the
conversation, and took advantage Of y pause
10 ask the gentleman if he'd read david
C"pprrfield?" "Ye<," was the answer,
Give glanced over it--think Dickens ra-
ther IA bore-just look at that horse com
ing! See how he lifts his feet! Look
Do you see?" This was rather discour-
aging, certainly, but l resolved to try a.
gain. made some allusion 10 young
lady, with whom I'd heard he was carry
ing on quite Irritation. "Yes- Pretty
girl! Ism, she? Splendid action in The
Polka" Need say. Mr. Editor, that af-
ter such reply | resigned myself TO my
fate.
But "returning 10 our mutton" as the
Yankees say what is the occasion Of this
pauciiy OF ideas? Do these gentlemen new
er read? Do they care Tor nothing but dol
lars aud cen,s during business hours? And
the indulsences OF mere animal pleasures
eating drinking and smoking. when
they should be recreatiug the mind as well
as the body? lfso, we d" not wonder that
they grow rusty and stupid, originate no
new ideas,or sparkling wii'icisms, but are
as the ladies say, good for nnthing but to
rands." What, l wonder, would be the
answer Of one of them, if this question
wa. propounded to him-Doss not the
mind require food and care as we'll as the
bodyl But how serious I'm getting on the
subject, when began this letter. merely
"ior fun as the boys say-to while away
an idle hour; though joking apart cant
something be done to remedy this deplo-
rable state of affairs? Perhaps Beta will
suggest to Mr. Brown to lay down a course
of miscellaneous reading for young gem
tlemen; and furnish them with topics Of
conversation, as well as introduce them
into society, procure them invitations TO
| parties, instruct them in what dances 10
exercise their slight fantasies" and at
what hour TO leave s'the gay and festive
| scene." GAMMA.
| Taking off the Women. ...-...s s
| As an offset to the above the same pa
per has the following from gentleman.
Both articles may no, be without their use
in this latitude.
Among many scenes which occur to my
memeorv, let me mention one or two, to
illustrate what would conveyto the mind.
Like 'Gamma,'l found myself one pleas