The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1853-12-01
s L L L G T L D ).
COurtShipS of Great Men.

If, my young friends, you desire 10
become the husbands Of good wives, do
not stoop to conquer" the maidens.-
Rather be burned by the slow fire of
love concealed than cringe before a
fellow creature. Never fatter That
you declare yourself a woman's lover
is a proof that you believe her TO be
wDrthy of esteem. 1t is both useless
and wrong to talk to a woman of her
virtues-I use the word in It's largest
acceptation-because she knows them
all, and if she does not, such ignorance
is bliss; wrong, because our good quail
ties are attended by destroying devil,
which. if you speak of them, appears
and kills them, and takes the place
which they occupied.
In our times, all women, when in
love, are actresses; they feign coldness
which they do not feel, and often say
what they do not mean. In the days
of the patriarchs, a woman's conduct
was the child of her heart. But let us
tell how courted
William the Conguerer.- William,
surnamed the Conquerer. of England,
loved Matilda. the beautiful daughter
of the Earl of Flanders. wealthy. DO
tent, polite prince. As statesman, he
was desirous for league with the ia
ther: as man, he yearned for union
with the daughter. She was comely
and learned, "a mirror of prudence
and perfection of virtue" She was
sought in marriage by the greatest
sovereign in Europe. William was
handsome man, an able legislator. and
a warrior of renown. But bis addresses
were coolly received for Matilda was
enamored of a young Anglo-Saxon no.
bleman, who treated her as she treated
William. For seven years did he serve
an apprenticeship 10 Cupid at the ex-
piration of which, says Agnes Strick-
land, he, in 1047, waylaid Matilda in
the streets of Bruges, as she. was re-
turning from mass, seized her, rolled
her In the dirt, spoiled her rich array,
and not content with these outrages,
struck her repeatedly, and then rode off
al full speed. This Tueionic method
of courtship brought the affair 10 cri-
sis; for Matilda. convinced either of
the strength of Williams passion by
the violence of his behavior, or afraid
10 venture a second beating, consented
10 become his wife. How he ever pre-
sumed 10 enter her presence again, af-
Ter such a series of enormitieS the
chronicler saith not ), and Strickland
being woman; says she is at loss to
imagine.
The marriage between the royal
cousins took place in 1852, at Williams
own Castle of Agni, in Normandy,
whittier Matilda was with great pomp
conducted by her illust ions parents
and noble company of knights and Ia
dies.
This unfattering mode of sparkling
1, not yet extinct: it exists among the
aboriginal inhabitants of the Austria
iian group, which has been justly styled
the country of contradictions" Their
treatment of the female sex, says Dr.
Hugh Murray, in his Encyclopedia
of Geography" is of all other partfcu-
lars, the most atrocious. Their court
ship consists Ii the most brutal vio-
lence. The intended husband, having
contrived to find alone the unhappy
victim of his love, begins by beating
her to the ground with a club; then
accumuiates blows, till she becomes
altogether senseless, when he dragS
her 10 his hovel, regardless of her
against shrubs and stones, till,
under such promising auspices, she is
fixed in his domestic establishment
All of their subsequent life is of piece
with this outset. Several of the colo
nists in vain attempted to count the
scars with which the faces of these un-
fortunates beings we're variegated. !
Sir Isaac NemtOa the courtship
of this illustrious philosopher, have
somewhere read an anecdote, although |
it is not to be found in several lives of |
him which have searched 1t is well |
known he was often absent-minded /; |
that for example, he would sometimes
rise aud sit for several hours by his bed |
side undressed and absorbed in thought: |
that he would often forget to dine until
reminded by his domestics, that to live
i was necessary to eat.
Once and once only he loved a young
woman. One evening they were seat
I'd by the fireside together. He sat 81
emily smoking. She was too proud of
lis love to be offended by his conduct
1t length he took his pipe from his
mouth, and seized her hand. She ex.
,ected that he was about to kiss it
instead of doing so, however, he stirred
he tobacco in the head of his pipe with
Ter fore fingers rather odd substitute
or q pin! She was angry with him
md their coartship ended.
Eidon n-The father of Lord Eldon,
he Chancellor Of England, having re-
olved to marry, rang his bell. A fe-
aale servant answeredit it. He told her
D dress herself, in order to repair TO the |
8tar with him. She thought he was
ssting and disobeyed. He rang his
ell again. A second servant appeared.
b her he gave the same command.-
he attired herself and was made
ride. @
OConnell-DanieI O'Connell did not
nnrt at all. He told his streetheart