The southern press., 1851-08-05
Summer Sketehes. Ne. ..
BY MARY J. WINDLE.

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Summer Sketshes.-Ne. q.
BY MARY j. wINDLE.
SHANNoNDALE SPRINGS, Va, July 3O
sketch for the " Southern Press! O, la.
dies do something ridiculous, or pathetic, or su-
blime, and furnish US with materials for u sketch
DO take compassion on poor author, and i've
the rens to whim and wonder!
We have the misfortune to be surrounded by
at least half dozen lovely girls-girls that a
gentleman might be proud to meet on winters
morning on the avenue, or summers evening
at the Springs-bright-ey damsels, with merry
smiles and silken tresses, and--but, really to
portray 80 many at once, is thing this every
day gOose-quil can never accomplish, we are
certain, and suffice 1t TO say that their charms
are making sad havoc here.
"I.isten to me-" said one of them, in answer
to our pathetic adjuration, "write sketch on
love and Cupid's doings here"
SWELL, then, leave off talking, and, for once,
ait quietly and patiently without interuptng US;
and pray don't laugh and set every one else
laughing, just when we have become senti-
mental. Do you hear us Z"
"Yes, we do and we will be good"
swell, then, Begin
Cupid is 1uttering his wings here, and the
whole atmosphere is in motion. We do not
mean to say that any thing 80 vulgar, so un-
speakably common place as proposals are ac-
cepted, or even made. ANY thing 80 everyday
would be quite out of place here--but flirtations
abound
1t appears that Love, proverbially touchy zoe
knOp, has taken high offence ut his friends in
town and finding his temper too warm upon the
occasion, has sought the cooling influence of
rural shudes at Shannondale, and is here anus
ing himself, and forgetting his pettish enmity.
in sending sportive arrows among the groups OF
visiters, who fall victims before they are con-
scious of the sweet venom which is spreading
through their veins. He is such saucy urchin,
too, that he never stops for reflection, but seems
actually to enjoy the sport, and laughs beneath
his wings ut the frOwns of obdurate papas, and
the grave lectures Of prudent mothers.
Among the victims We may number party
from --, of dashing, whiskered, moustached,
corsair- looking beaux, whom all the ladies pet,
and all the gentlemen patronze; but with them
we presume, it is only a smifation, as Webster
or some one else hath it-a side thrust of Cupid
which will prove only scratch. But there are
others here with more susceptible hearts; every
bright eve shoots an arrow which pierces it, and
every lovely face leaves its impress there, as
surely as if that heart had been formed of wax
rather than of real flesh and blood.
Some very sensible, we-intormed writers
have seriously questioned the sagacity of gentle
man-seekers, who visit the Springs, or other
public resorts to look for life.companion; but
we think the plan very sensible and judicious
There are times that try the souls of the daugh.
ters of Eve, as well as the ruder sex; and these
6 occur quite rs frequently at public places as
within the domestic circle Nay, the excite.
ments are much greater, and the sins more be-
: setting. It is there that human vanity is most
: successfully assailed; that envy and jealousy
, find their constant sphere of exercise, well as
their ksenest stmulants; and she who can best
Withstand their instigations is the lady for a
; bachelor to select When he meets with one
who speaks low from modest difiidence when
he sees her admired without effort neglected
without i'll nature; outshone without envy--let
him cast himself, his equipage, and his millions
ut her feet But if, on the other hand, he finds
a beautiful girl, who is inpatient of admiration,
and splenetic at being overlooked, and who can
not represent wall flower without feeling envy,
or submit to abdcate the throne when claimed
by n rival beauty-when he shall encounter
such an one, he may report himself bankrupt,
and if that don't save him, he is foredoomed
We are happy to announce to our readers, that
we have thus far escaped the infection from
which so many here are suffering; indeed, if
truth must be told, we have become, by slow
degrees, very unimportant parsonage, slipping
about quietly, and for the most part unobserved;
now filling up embarrassing pause in conver
saton; now absen,ing ourselves at critical
moment when our woman's wit teaches we
are de trop; sometimes making third-though
at a respectful dstqnce-on walk always
blind, deaf, and dumb when these qualities
seem TO be desirable. II is no difficult part
however, as far as execution is concerned, for
lovers are not very sharp-sighted to others &C
tons. But there are ome half dozen curious,
quizzing, mischievous children, belonging to our
establishment, who not quite so considerate,
and they have had the honor of getting up sew
eral embarrassing scenes.
Our giddy companions have departed, weary
of the restraint we imposed upon them, and the !
decay of our candle warns us to stop, or con-
tinue in the dark and as what we have written
is not sufficiently luminous to enable US to do
this conveniently, we must abruptly close.
WEST PoHT AcADEMY.-The total number
of graduates from the Military Academy at
West Point from the commencement of the in
stitution in March 1902 to January lst 1851, |
was ,449. There remains now in service in the |
army of marine corDe 81 died in tho qervce |