The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-09-27
"Uucle Mats" view of Life.
by PAULINE.

]
Easter" came some few weeks since f
this great wilderness Of brick and sin
called the "Empire City," to see th
"Crystal Palace, "City Life" and per
: haps, also, the Elephant.
He put up for few days at our boar
ding place, but, as we were all of US clev
er, quiet souls, content with good, ole
fashioned, primitive customs, and will
sufficient occupations to keep us out ot
mischief he concluded that staying with
us was too much like being at home, and
so, to see something Of men and manners
Uncle Matt removed to one of our ultra
fashionable hotels
AS he did not hide the light OF his
gold under a bushcl, and rs money can
buy everything, from penny whistle to
a woman or man, Uncle Matt soon
found himself in the good graces Of sever
al families Of flashy names and fashiona-
ble daughters.
had not seen him for several DAYS,
when one morning the good man called
to bid me good bye; he was going, he
said, back TO the granite hills of his ma
tive home.
"And what have you learned Uncle
Matthew ?" asked l.
"Among other things, the meaning
Of the words lady and gentleman" repli-
ed he.
Pray Define" urged I.
IL had always been taught" said he,
settling his spectacles to his satisfaction,
Ito think a lady was one who, with a
what was due to herseH anu Prvlr'~.y,
always bore in mind the golden rule of
doing rs she would be done by. Our la
dies at home weave and spin, and bake,
and brew they make home comfortable
and happy, darn their husbands stock
ings, and sew on his buttons, study Greek
and Latin, domestic and political econo-
my, train up their children to useful la
Dor and rational enjoyment and devote
as much time to the light literature of
the day and to light accomplishments as
they can give from more urgent occupa-
tons. They generally contrive to make
themselves pretty thorough musicians
and pretty skilful in the use Of pencil and
pom. They think that labor is worship,
aud so they do what they have to do
with their might, giving to each hour its
occupation"
"So much for New England women !;
now for our ladies'" said |.
"As far rs | can learn," replied Uncle
Matthew, with severity unusual to him.,
"they are human butterflies, who esti
mate the clearness Of their title to the
term lady precisely in the ratio Of their
uselessness and, after beng finished "
at fashionable school, where they go
through long books with long names,
from which not one practical idea are
they taught by their fashionable instruc,
tors, they commence life with the idea
that display, notoriety, surface and splen-
dor--to dress, flrt, play and sing little,
dance, and secure husband, is the end
and aim OF existance. And after the
husband is achieved, then commences and
continues the strife for new conquest
The children are given over to the tender
mercies Of ignorant nurse girls, and NOR.
ming calls, dress, hotbed novels and vapid
flirtations occupy the day and days o
the" lady" One useful thought, one
deed Of mercy, one act Of labor, and the
fair aspirapt loses Just so much Of her ii
tic to lady ship. The mischief does not
end here" continued Uucle Matt, grow
ing didactic, as mother aud daughter
give the tone TO society, we find with then
the origin Of the serious conplnints o
hard times and bankruptcies amongst us
} Every man lives mp TO his income, or be
yond il, TO support in their sinful idIenes
the wife or daughters whose vanity an'
extrayagcnce are boundless and thus hi
: ruin is explained. Men are severely cen
sured by their fellows, and in the Jour
nails Of the day, for their stupendous dis
honesties, and are driven from their home
and 10 despair but take my word for 4
, 10 many instances, the sole cause Of thei
: terrible downfall lies in the fact Of thei
: not beng able to resist the title Of extra,
agant desire which surround them in th
; shape Of beaaiful, wianing, coaxing wivC
Q or daughters--petted, spoiled, usele'
drones Of society, who know the cost