Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-11-01
kissing Under Duress.

The following incident developes mode of en-
forcement of the claim. Of personal respect Though
the medium of constrained attertion to third par
ty, which, to say the least oil 1t, is peculiar Of
its perfect success, however, In the present in
stance, we have the proof i'll our personal expert
ence.
| In the days when We were young--"oh would
were a bow again !'-we made one of happy
throng Of youngsters, who, after having spent
delightful afternoon in the various duties and a
musemhnts usually incident to an old fashioned
"Quiltinr in the Country"-such as rolling up,
toteng water, threading needles, &c.-found
themselves with the quilt out, the room cleared
and swept. the chairs all placed against the walls,
and everything IN readiness for regular out and
out quilting frolic.
Our party, in addition to the boys and girls, in
cluded several married persons, older and some
Younger most of whom had just dropped in to see
the young folks enjoy themselves and to Parake
of the creature comforts which usually constitute
an important feature in the programme on such
occasions. Bot among them were John b.,
and his newly welded wife, the latter Of whom.
| by the by, was scarcely sixteen, and decidedly
the prettest girl in the room Her husband was
man of about FIVE and twenty, full six feet high,
man" in the District, and ready at short notice
to prove it.
After the usual preliminaries in the way Of
small talk and compliments, just to wear off fol
ish embarrassment, the order OF the evening com
menced with the play called "Contentment, J" and
many pawn was paid and faithfully redeemed
not by repeating verses of poetry, standing hve
minutes with the face to the wall, walking three
49,, ,.o,nd che hIindfoldaJ nr anv cuch tame
performances as are commonly practiced in the
more refined circles of the cities, which only serve
to remind one of the better times in the county
but in the primitive way, by good old fashioned
honest kissing, that sounded out clear and distinct
like the cracking of wagon whip, set the old
folks mouth to water, and made old Mrs. Deal
whisper to Mrs. Skeleton that .'she didn't see
why married women couldn't enjoy plays Just as
well as single gals; for her part, she didn't see
no difference because she was old it warn't no
reason she shouldn't feel young"
The sport continued for some time, the boys ev-
er and anon slyly peeplng at the pretty face OF
Mrs. B., and only wishing they could select
her as partner, but restrained by the fear that
her stalwart husband might think proper to resent
such liberty with his new bride; in consequence
of which latter impression, she was, for the time
being, mere wal-fower.
This state of things was observed by John, who,
constituting the lack of attention to one whom he
thought as deserving as any, into want OF prop
er respect towards his wife, and by reflection to-
wards himself. determined it should not longer
pass unnotced. So, rolling up his sleeves, he
stepped into the middle of the room; and, in
tone of voice that at once secured marked atten-
ton. said:
''Gentlemen. Pve been noticing how things
have been working here for some time. and amt
half satisfied. don't want to rase fuss but"
"What's the matter, John 2" inquired half
dozen of us. "What do you mean? Have done
anything to hurt your feelings?"
'.Yes you have; all of you have hurt my feel
ings; and Pve just got this to say aboutit Here's
every gal in the room has been kissed mighty
nigh dozen times apiece, and there's my wife,
who consider as likely as any Of 'em, has not
had single kiss tonight; and just tell you now,
if she don't get as many kisses the balance of the
time as any gal in the room, the man that sights
her hd, got me nghr-Ihat's all. Now 60 a.
head with your plays!"
If Mrs B was slighted during the bal
ance of the evening, we did not observe it. As
for ourselves, we know John had no fault to find
with us individually, for any neglect on our part.
Columbus Enquirer.