Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-12-13

Mr.. EDITOR 1t is with pleasure that |
read every week that portion of your paper
set apart for the Social Circle" There are
very few papers in the State for which the
Ladies write and it is a high recommends
ton to yours to have a part of every number
filled with their productions. The Ladies of
North Carolina have never made a great
showing as writers. Mrs. Ellet, Mrs. Now
att, Caroline Lee Hentz, Mrs. Wetherell, and
a host of others, have figured extensively and
acquired enviable regulations in the Union
but a North Carolina Lady has not as yet en-
deavored to rival them. Mrs. Hentz has de-
picted scenes and scenery in North Carolina,
particularly about Chapel Hill while the
native Ladies, have mutely and ingloriously
permitted their pens to rust.
1t seems characteristic of us all, both men
and women, to rely on the research and Ia
Dor of strangers. We have not self-confdence
enough. If we see something shining like a
gem in the mud, we are apt to pass 1t by,
saving that all is not gold that glitters,"
it is in North Carolina and there is nothing
valuable in our soil and thus, lying on our
oars, some northerner passes by, plucks 1T,
and reveals the treasure to our admirlng
gaze. But l fancy that a brighter day is
dawning.
1t is said that massachusetts had her
Arabella, Virginia her PocahOntas, and North
Carolina her Flora Mcdonald" and l hope
that the Scottish heroine will not be permit
ted to stand alone. We may yet see beside
the name of Flora Mcdonald, that of a Lora,
an Inez Irving-a Flora Flaville-or a Mat
tie May, identified, not like hers, with deeds
done in war, but with the purest and moss
lasting literature of America. We know thai
it is possible nothing is wanting: and why
do they blush unseen 2" Ii our ladies
wish to write of flowers, we have gardens Fl
for a botanist if they wish to write Of birds
our forests TEEN with the painted songsters
if they wish to indulge in divine poesy, on
mountain scenery will feed their magma
tons; il they wish to WELD the golden pei
of fiction" our characters are rare enough
and the ups and downs in life are plenty
and lastly, but not leastly, if they wish t
paint the horrors of intemperance, we regre
to say, examples enough are daily hoverin
around them. Those whose names I hay
taken occasion to use, have broken the ba,
Tier. and it is to be hoped that others Wi
: follow. 1t must be a treat to an Editor
publish the productions of a lady, and espe
tally so now when they are so sparing. YOr
paper, however, is peculiarly blessed. The
grace every number with their production
and productions too indicative of intellectn
minds. They show that the ladies ere emil
ted in your cause, and that simple fact
enough to induce others to follow. TIL
language, coming as it does from the pu
lie lips of acoman, bears truth on its very fax
ic Ihope they willcontinue their pleasant piece
and not only tell each other of sunny seen
k, and happy hours, but mingle sad tales of t
d. inebriate, give good and wholesome eouns
Y. and thereby arrest many an unsuspecti
voyager from ruin, and render him wort
n of moving in their 4" Social Circle
Chapel Hill, N. G. r. r