Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-11-09
y5lItGEA? & ssE SENTINEL 81.
A Perfect Wife.

We give below, Edmund Burke's descrip-
ton of perfect wife" Its great merits
will excuse its length 1t was intended as
the picture of his own wife:
intend to give my idea of a woman If it
at all answers any original, L shall be pleased.
She is handsome, but it is a beauty not arls-
ing from features, from complexion, or from
shape she has all three In high degree.
but it is not by these that she touches the
heart: it is all that sweetness of temper, be-
nevolence, innocence, but sensibility. which
a face can express, that forms her beauty.
She has face that just raises your attention
at first sight it grows ON you every moment,
and you wonder it did no more than raise your
attention at first. Her eyes have mild light
but they awe you when she pleases. They
command like good man out of Office, not
By authority, but by virtue. Her features
not perfectly regular; that sort of exactness
is more to be praised than to be loved for it
is never animated. She has all the softness
that does not imply weakness. There is often
more of the coquette shown in the affected
plainness, than in tawdry iineness; she is
always clean, without preciseness or afecta-
ton. Her gravity is a gentle thoughtfuiness
that softens the features without discomposing
them she is usually grave. Her smiles are
inexpressible Her voice is low, soft mu--
sic, not formed to rule in public assemblies,
but to charm those who can distinguish COM
pany from a crowd 1t has this advantage
you must come near her to hear it, TO des-
cribe her body, describes her mind; one is
the transcript of the other. Her understand
ing is not shown in the variety of matters it
exerts itself on, but in the goodness of the
choice she makes. She does not display it so
much In saying or doing striking things, as in
avoiding such she ought not to say or do.
She discovers the right and wrong of things,
not by reasoning, but sagacty most women,
and many good ones, have closeness and
something selfish in their dispositions: she
has true generosity of temper; the most ex
travagant cannot be more unbounded in their
lberality, the most covetous not more eau
tious in their disposition. Her polit ness
seems to flow rather from a natural DISPOSE
ton to oblige, than from any rules ON that
subject; and therefore never fails to strike
those who understand good breeding and those
who do not. She does not run, with girlish
eagerness, into new friendships, which, as they
have no foundation in reason, serve only to
multiply and embitter disputes it is long be-
fore she chooses, but then it is fixed forever
and the first hour of romantic friendship is not
warmer than hers after the lapse of years.
As she never disgraces her good nature by Sc
we're reflections on any body, so she never de-
grades her judgment by immoderate or i'll
praises; for everything violent is contrary to
the gentleness of her disposition, and the even
ness of her virtue; she has steady and firm
mind, which takes no more from the female
character than the solidity of marble does from
its polish and lustre She has such virtues
as make us value the truly great of our own
sex; she has all the winning graces that make
us love even the faults We see in the weak and
beautiful Of hers.