Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-05-15
For TIE Southern Standard.


walls among our citizens. A listless langoar
dreamy lassitude. seems to hang over and tavel
ope the place with whitening Influence which has
often tempted US TO apply to 1t, the cognomrn of
It's immortal prototype, renowned Sleepy Hollow.
We know not indeed, if like that romantic SPOT, it
may not still be resting Observation-Disclosures thrown
upon itby the wandering spirit of some old Indian
Chief, IN revenge for ancient wrongs treasured up
through by-gone years. against the daring and
chvaIrc De Soto and his COMPREHENSIVE are
said to have rayersed this region about The year
1541. Be that as IL may, there Is surely some
thins--whether spell OF malicious wizard, OF wand
of the Genius of Incidence, which hangs over US
and asserts It's mysterious power on body, soul
and mind There are occasionally, spasmodic at
ttmpts al something like life andsgayety. but they
generally their existence TO some conner,
young couple just ventured on The voyage OF do
nestle life, who soon settle down into tie stagnant
habits OF the place, deferred from like essay
by the cold and sckly success of their effort In
deed, verify believe, it not for The few
bellious spirits amongst US nothing could save the
town trtn gradually, but surely, taking the sleep of
Rip Van Wnkle, only to be awakened by the tramp
and mighty voice OF some giant steamking, and
then, but to learn and suffer the doom of compare
tive annihilation.
This spirit, or rather this want of spirit mingles
with, and governs, and represses every effort at
social intercourse. The great improvements in eV-
cry department OF human learning and ingenuity
from which the world has derived SO many bles
sings are but partially known to US, and We lnger
ON in our dull, dark supneneSs, without one COM
planning, longing wish for hi cher or better things
1t is SO with the young. Instead of the hearty
genuine biarty-the frank, cordial friendships
and frequent meetings for pleasure or improve
ment prevailing among the young people in most
towns of this size here, We and mingle with
each other for years, without advancing a step be-
yond the acquaintance OF the first hour; party OF
pleasure is a rare occurrence and the young grow
old and lose forever the proper season OF en-
Ijoyment, experiencing few it any, Of the delg hts
peculiar to it, What is more beautiful to behold
ers, or delightful or refreshing to the parties
themselves, than canter on horseback on bright
afternoons, when wavin plumeS and flowing robes
and bright chances, and silyery laugh-curvetting
steeds and knighly cavaliers, transport in fan
cy to the roman JIG days of ancient chivalry What
more innocent, useful and pleasant, than frequent
unceremonious evening promenades But what
more unusual than such scenes in our communi-
Ity Spring. lovely Spring, is again amongst us
with her beautiful vesture OF verdure and flowers,
and all nature calls forth with glad song to en-
Joy while We may, the gifts SO pro1usey scattered
abroaa-but it is NOT il the green field or by river
SIDE on hilltop or SHELTERED valley that The list
less eye OF our Town maiden rests upon tor that
its ''perfumed gale fans her cheek. Often, when
taking our accustomed sunrise stroll-with every
sense revelling iii the beauty around us, have we
remembered with ply, those who were content to
barter it ALL for "a little folding of the hands
to sleep, little more slumber."
/ To one not accustomed to early rising, all the
delightful sensations usually attributed 10 such a
walk appear extravagant and enthusiastic, and she
cannot understand or appreciate them. She can
not see how it is, that to an ardent admrcr of Ma
ture, she then appears in her loseliest garb. The
delicate TENTS of the heecy clouds, the fresh free
breeze with its wealth of dewy fragance the
emeraldhued coming of the felds--.he varied
and glowing beauties of the gardens and the Glow
waving bou9hs'' of the forest-all glittering in
the early sunig h make up The joys OF ':the cool,
/ the silent and the fragrant hour that we would
not exchange for a lifetime of morning maps
We then enjoy Nature with the zest of "A lover,
whose night OF dependency is just lighted up by
the day dawn of his fair ones smile-or of one,
for whom she all her softest signs, pc
culiarly our own, is the f esh loneliness of the
morning. We have often walked distance at
this hour, and on return wondered to note the
almost universal signs which betokened the good
people still wandering in dream-land.
But lndolent habits characteristic of the
South. And here may be found, the true cause OF
the general illhealth of our ladies' and the preva-
/ lence among them of wan complexions and Fragile
forms. The Northern ladies excel us greatly in
this respect, but do not equal the English, whose
blooming beauty at time when We are far paSSe,
has become proverb. Indeed, it is said there
is no country in Europe, vince the ladies take so
little exercise in thus. The English dame with
stout boots and shortened robe will walk miles
through mud and snow, when an American lady
shudders at an open door The Germans meet in
parties daily n the coolest weather for skating
the French live on the Boulevards or the gardens
of the Palas ROYAL. and the Italians are noted for
their love of their glowing skies and golden atmos-
phere.
I Daily exercise, Is as much part of Education
in the English and German female schools as the
Alphabet-and by the way, they differ from US
greatly, in the period OF combining their children to
books At time when their youth are learning
from nature and strengthening the constitution for
demned to long tasks OF Latin or Greek or some
abstruse Silence. And this premature develop
2ment this hot-house culture, is carried out in ev-
cry phase of after life The crude, ignorant, un-
formed girl ushered into the society and the
of life, totally united for either and unhappy
homes and early decay is the mournful and inev-
table consequence.
Poets and grey boards may rave as they please,
of the grace, and beauty, and innocence OF ''sweet
SIXTEEN" but men of true taste and judgment, seek
for it only in the ripened elegance of later years
Generally until a lady reaches mature age there
is SO much of sickly sentiment and flivoity-so
much OF iickeness and vanity-so little of the fru
iton of mind and heart that distinguishes woman
ofinteliigence and worth after that period that we
wonder the hesitation OF the most short-sIg hted
observer of human nature. We think the toUe