The daily republic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1853-1853, 1853-08-03
THE REPU BLIC.
SUMMER SKETCHES-No. 9.
ny MARY J.. WINDLE.

what we should write about The sameness of Q
watering place life by no means affords many Incl
dents. Amusements are exhausted, invented
changed, varied, and again exhausted. Every
thing upon which the attention fixes itself, vainly
wooing something novel, soon becomes insipid
Chess, backgammon, letter writing, eating, drink
ing, and sleeping, cease to contribute to the dis
comfture of old Time, who walks here shoe
with leaden sandals.
1t wasnoon. The Whole place lay torpid in thu
sun. The hum of voices below came up with
drowsy, muffled sound. The thunders of the
bowling alley had died away. The gurgling rat
tie of broken ice sherry cobblers were made
grew less and less. 1t was as dreamy as mid
night.
We we were sitting in meditative mood
thinking of the Republic that is, wondering what
in all the world we could find to say that its read
ers would care to hear, Ca desperate mood for one
to be in,) when our medtations were disturbed by
a legion of laughing girls, who suddenly invaded
our territories. Never did mortal before hear
such rush of sound as burst upon u.s. fla paint
ing could affect the sense of hearing as well as
that of sight, this bevy of fair beings would have
afforded the artist an inimitable original for the
representation upon his canvas of the Confusion
of tongues"
sob, ladies, leave off talking, and go some
thing ridiculous, or pathetic, or sublime, and fur
nish us material for 'sketch!' Do take compass
sion on poor author, and give the reins to whim
and wonder ~
'Listen to me" said an Oriental-ooking South
Carolnan with Siddons lip and glance of fire,
in answer to our pathetic adjuration; "write a
sketch on northern and southern beauty, and give
us the distinctive difference
"Oh, yes, do. said brght-lipped Hebe frona
New York, moving her head like Juno
eyes do, do, do" came the echo from lip af-
darling little Mary c., who makes us tell
her fairy tales, and win sit sometimes for hours
on q little cushion at our feet, motionless almost
breathless with delight.
''Wcll, just take your seats around us, and sit
quietly and patiently without interrupting us; do
you hear ~
eyes, we do, and we will be still;' and, suit
ing the action to the word, the metropolitan belle
quietly adjusted her ruby bracelet, while the ro-
mantle southerner dropped her classic head upon
her hand, and closed her eyes (she has lovely long
lashes) in the most picturesque attitude.
swell, then, we begin. .
n II
Aware of the nature of the ground upon which
am about to venture, trust that | shall ap-
proach this subject subject upon which the
North and South are naturally SO sensitive, in
volving as it does theme so sacred as that of the
beauty of their ladies-without those prejudces
with which we may be supposed free.
The general traits of southern and northern
beauty differ materially At the North almost
every young lady appears pretty, with her rosy
cheeks and animated face. The style of beauty
at the South is of more passive kind, and ex-
element is requisite to make it speak to the eye;
but when the possessor is animated, then the
whole face, which but few moments before was
passonless and quiet, becomes radiant and illumi-
mated with fire and intelligence, and the indolent
repose of the features becomes broken by fascinat
ing smiles and brilliant flashes from fine dark
eyes. Till this change is produced, the face of
the southern lady appears unattractive, and would
be pronounced decidedly wanting in beauty; but
approach and enter into conversation, and you
will be delighted and surprised at the magical
A Psyche-lke fascination slum-
bers in their dark, eloquent eyes, whose richly
their brilliance.
1t is certain that beauty of features and form is
more general in the North, though in grace and
expression the South has the superiority. The
difference is usually attributable to climate; but
this never has been demonstrated, and the cause
is still inexplicable. Beauty at the North, though
longer in coming to maturity, and less perfect, is
more permanent.
In "raanner' the southern ladies have what we
call grace and ease and that lovely languor which
is expressed in the negligence, and sometimes even
of their dress, impartng an adora
bic 'Je ne sails quoi' of STYLE They possess, too,
, cordial freshness, with that geniality of manner
which, without being in the least degree familiar,
s coniding and frendly-a manner which to a
reserved and suspicious northern beau appears
he evidence of the complete triumph he has
achieved, until he that it is general and not
particular manner
The northern lady possesses more of what we
,all ssair, with the elaborate tsaag troid" of ee
rant manners. For ourselves, we rather shrink
rom the glaring polish of ice which these fine
manners present, though the living stream may
.un-and we doubt not does-quick below
A northern lady is irreproachable in "tounure, "
with an extreme neatness in dress which some
times degenerates into stiffness.
On the conclusion of the foregoing paragraph,
we handed our unfinished sketch to the sectional
committee who were clustered round us, with
their delicate fingers clasped together, patiently
waiting 1t was read aloud. Never did mortal
before hear such rush of sound as burst upon us
AZ q
were all aroused A perfect flood of make-believe
abuse gushed from the polished throat of the
stately Carolinian-not softly, not musically, but
in shrieking tone, as though bent on voclierous
disputaton; while distinct and dignihed denial OF