Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1851-12-05
6 O t1g 1st tQt1tCa Gtou -.
FOR the LewisloUn Gazette
RANDOM sKETC HE'S,
BY A RESIDENT OF IpLERsvlLLE.
No. H..

house one afternoon last week, and as they
all knew me and my bachelor habits like
a book, conversation was carried on III that
free and uni eserved manner which marks
an assemblage of intimate friends. In tins
case | was more of a listener than a par
iicipant, and It struck ne fOgcbly that tne
main topics Of conversation introduced
among bevy of young girls are almost
invariably DRESS and MARRIAGE. For all
| know, similar conversation may have
been advanced in my presence hundred
times before without lmPressing itself upon
nv mind, but in this case it threw me into
brown study respecting matters and
things in general concerning the fair sex as
the loye-sick youth delights TO term them,
the better half as more mature years
prove them, or the 'old woman a vile
title bestowed bv the unthinking. rs fifty
years wrinkle a pleasant face and viii
ten the raven hair, though seldom soaring
the heart. In my estimation a kind Old
lady is one Of the most agreeable beings
on earth. Whatever she does, is done IN
such a soft and pleasing way that 1t cannot
fail 10 impress itself upon the mind; her
tone of voice, too, is tempered into that
sweet blending between love and affection
which is never heard save when the gen
lie breezes Of summer rustic the oyerhang-
ing leaf into motion that steals DER the
heart like distant music; and withal, she
is so neat and tidy, SO benevolent in feel
ing, so ready TO do good, and so willing to
comfort where the arrow of affection has
made It's mark-that | have often wonder
ed there is not a more universal feeling of
respect and esteem for this class, and that
they are not more generally held up as
bright examples of what human beings
ought to be. An We who have relatives
verging on the number of days allotted to
them on earth, have a care how in thought
OF action YOU shun their cOunsels. They
have seen life as il is, have perhaps been
bent by its storms, and learned wisdom
from the past. and il they check your
course, have naught at heart but your fu-
ture good-no motive but your welfare and
happiness.
But lam getting astray. To return then
10 the subject on which | set out, remark
ed that the leading features exhibited by
young ladies are dress and marriage-the
former being evidently looked 10 as the
means for attaining the latter, which is no
doubt considered the acme of their amhi-
tion, the haven of rest, and the Ultima
Thule of their hopes. And yet how few
who, in this frame Of mind, succeed in
pledging themselves TO "love, honor and
obey" one whois perhaps actuated by
similar motive, do not find cause to regret
that the step was not more maturely
weighed ere taken, and that too frequently
before brief year has marked them as
man and wife. The former soon discovers
that much of the lastidiousness, neaness
and care in dress he had so much admired
in his dulcinea, was more Of bait to catch
him than the result Of regular habits, and
though she may still like 10 flourish on the
streets or in company, her appearance be-
fore her husband is but a secondary consl-
deration. She too ere long finds that her
beau-ideal of man has habits he had ia
ken good care to conceal in the halcyOn
DAYS Of courtship-such as now and then
ripping out an oath, fondness for brandy
and water, sociable game of cards, and
other foibes that might have changed the
current Of her feelings had they been
known before the happy day" which
transferred her from the anxious bench of
single life to the duties of wife. But
this knowledge comes too late, and unless
forgiyiDg disposition is inculcated in time.
heartburnings, elimination and recrinina-
tion, moroseness, and a long train Of other
domestic evils intrude, and what ought TO
be peace and harmony IS turned into con-
fusion and turmoil.
To rehearse the conversation that passed
in our house dnring the afternoon is unne-
cessary, because similar strain can be
heard wherever half dozen are gathered
together. The dress and appearance Of
all the young ladies in the neighborhood
were first scrutinized, analyzed, and COM
mented on; neXtthe goods, wares and mer-
chandize to be found in the several stores
were duly discussed, and lastly came the
alI-absorbing question Of beaux. - If |
was married" )" SAID one, - | would set down
and take life al ease--work when | saw
iit and DO as | pleased We shall see
about that, my lady, thought |; if you get
the chap on whom you are occasionally
casting a sleeps eye, my word for 1t you'll
sing another song. ~ would like to see
the man that would prevent me from get
ting what wanted said another. No
one will catch me washing dishes or scrub
bng floors, like Mrs. - already does,
when | am married,' said a third. 81
wouldn't care 10 work some," said fourth,
but | should dearly love to have a horse
and carriage" And thus it went round :
each had a reservation Of some kind and
not one alluded to the foundation of happi-
ness in married life, namely, disposition
to accommodate themselves 10 the means
their husbands might nnssess. a deNnLinn