The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1853-04-26
Sketches. Of Character.
NO. TX.
T H E MAL.EFLI RT.

Young ladies Of this character abound in
society. They are the gaudy colored butter
nies OF balls and parties, but of no value to
either, except to make up in variety, that
which party must lose in responsibility
when the fiirt is admitted. BY fiirt we beg
to be unde stood as not meaning those young
ladies who, gifted and accomplished, choose
not to confne the brilliancy OF their converse
nonal or personal charms to the exclusive
pleasure OF some favorite, fora true and deli
cate lady should and will dispense her favors
10 all with whom she NAV come in contact in
the social circle. But she knows when to
stop She does not seek deeply to interest
the feelings Of two or three gentlemen. She
uses her powers with view to please-not
to entrsp. The fiirt we mean has no such
deicacy or refinement. She strives to raise
hopes she has no design shall be realized
affects seriousness and sincerity in her fir
tatlons only to win declaration to mock the
feelings of those weak enough to be caught
with the mere chaff Of expensive dry goods and
personal beauty. There is no integrity in
characterized life is continued lie. The
sentiment of love is one of the most refining,
elevating and noble the heart of man can
feel. An honest love subdues the passions,
purlhes the grosser feelings Of our nature and
Is the noblest imrulse of lofty ambition. The
fiIrt has neither head nor heart enough to un
derstand it, and yet the constant aim of her
lie is to invoke this sentiment from others
only to betray and mock il. Rivalry among
ladies, we are aware, often makes flirts Of
those not naturally disposed to SO disingenu-
Gus course of conduct. The desire to at.
r TT md To- IN nd - l-sI
and proper, but We have ever seen the most
valuable and lasting respect and regard the
reward of that retiring modesty 90 admirable
and lovely in woman. Besides all this, there
is in the character of the fiirt an ingredient
we cannot dwell upon-it is only the laws Of
society which prevent her from marrying just
as many men as she has beaux.
There are always, in every circle, empty
headed young men enough, who love to dan
gle at the skirts of lively pretty girls; but il
is no indication of the value of a young lady
or the force of her intellect, that she can sue.
coed in attracting crowd of these creations
Of the tailor for their admiration is for the most
part won by qualities which manly heart
most thoroughly despises. The obligations
of woman's life are peculiar, and upon their
proper discharge depends the welfare and in
tegrity Of society. A girl whose whole life
is spent in the mere adornment of her pretty
person, and whose highest ambition is to at
tract the notice of puppies-whc, if struck
with an idea would be klled--is but poorly
fitted to discharge single obligation of her
life. She lets her mind iun to waste, so tina,
in after life, when her short-l'ved beauty has
vanished, and she is no longer courted and
observed, there is no green spot on which her
memory can rest with satisfaction, for the re.
membrance of what she was only embitters
the reality of what she is. The firt should
remember that it is very ephemeral pleas.
ure which arises from the flattery and atteu.
ton of crowd of admirers and that, in
view of the very end and aim of her being
the only solid happiness-the only lasting
bliss which she can orjoy-is in securing tn,
sustaining power and love Of an honest ant
pure heartily. O. Delta.