Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-10-11
roe THE srIG.r OF THE AGE.

Foe THE SPIRIT OF H AGE. .
THE SOCIAL CIRCLE. !,
DEAR Mr.. EDITOR When, from the
restlessness e~ngendered by a lonely and an
idle hour, l first sat down to a social chit
chat with you, | did not think of its con-
tinuation beyond that one letter, still less
did I dream Of their gradual Identification
with the actual pleasures of my life. Yet
such has been the case, until you can form
no idea how naturally my pen jots down
that "Dear Mr.. Editor" or how familiar
" it looks up to me from the pure white
page upon which it is deposited. Very
pleasant has this intercourse been, for if
YOU did not exactly license me to infict my
owe sentiments aud individual matters on
your readers, you have at least been kind
enough to allow them to pass, thereby en-
couragiug that scribbling propensity which
had its origin in the early age at which l
left my home, and my mothers demand,
while she lived, Of at least one long letter
each KeekL1 Raersly 4ms9ti~.-thg-9o.t
ask&6 You mayVteel inclined to associate
With my determiuedly protractcd correspon-
dence.
/ had really concluded that I would spare
YOU the infiction Of my usual letter this
J week, and instead accept 4" Flora Fla
ViIIe'S" invitation TO gossip a little with
her coterie of choice friends. But then,
we are not old acquaintances like you and
/, Mr.. Editor, and for the life of me | can
not make a beginning to any one else, that
looks homelike aud natural. | spoiled one
sheet with " Dear Flora," before | thought
"Inez" was included, and then | began
"Dear Girls" and was progressing finely
when of a sudden, / remembered there was
"Delta, Gamma" and a "Major," and
could not tell whether they would like my
familiar" Dear Friends" and Dear Youns
Folks did not read musical; (besides, how
was | to know ii would be right so l hav,
wearied aud puzzled my poor brain until
have concluded at last you were the yer,
one to help me out of my difficulty. An
SO, would you be good enough just to as
Flora" how [ am to address the Clique
for she has not half introduced them to m
yet, and let me know at your earliest leit
ure. And do let it be soon, for | have
number of points TO discuss with them in
quiet sort Of way, and | very especial
; want to take her to task for accusing Ii
of rapping the Associate over the shoulde
. with a lecture. Why | only gave you
I few gentle hints, through which I thoug1
you might affect a little improvement, {
> it is generally admitted that two heads a
better than one, if one is a sleeps hea
which, thank heaven, mine is not yet.
4 On the whole, l have a mind to wit
draw them, since {" Flora" has pounc
down upon him so horribly unmercifull
What business had she saying she " hat
e bachelors 7" Webster defines the word
~ be-"A young man who has not been m
ried''-and who do you think believes a
r -~Vo1 tvrvut. L II DeC a dollar l am O.
,e er by a number Of years than "F2ora'' /
of L have not arrived at that heathenish ST.
&c of feelings yet. And indeed if we cam
: win her over 70 a more orthodox creed
think we had better make an effort to
I'd her aud her followers colonized out wht
or her heresies can produce no farther m
r. chief. If she had only said she hated m
IT. rled men, q must say it ia spite of yc
t. frowns, Mr.. Senior) there might have be
n. more sense in it-but who ever knew
os bachelor, under fifty-ive, that was not nj
Is bic enough to return a fair lady her DO,
4 ct handkerchief instauter-or that co,
not llstec without a yawn through the d.
en- derous music of her examination overtu
just dwell a moment on the horrible iC
be OF a world without them! Sure as y
us live, flowers would droop and die for VIZ
of cultivation-music would lie on lis d
lv ty stand neglected and forgotteu-even
beautiful moonlight would become shorn
b. much of its calm and holy power-cu
would be disordered-jewels u~nprized
,e. dresses defective in neatness and beau
no and q hundred other disastrous consequ
mt ces would ensue directly.
nd Oh! no I don't hate bachelors
a Heaven, that created Che respective sex
oh linked them together with a beautiful wre
nd of social and moral dependence upon e;
ate other, not one flower of which shall be t
es. away by my hand. But " Flora" did
er. mean it; | know girls are given to 81
things, and the writer of such a beaut
ZEN interesting letter as that of hers, is res
ing incapable Of indulging any such folly, wi
ed. ever they may say to the contrary.
,es. please do not tell her what / have b
of saying, Mr.. Editor !; she might not like
itv you know; and might even shut the q
raj in my face, when l called but you
Va. tell her to regard the simple story l s
ed. commence mex week as my first visi
Inv the hearthside where she has so kindly
fered me a seat. | shall love to meet
there, these long cosy winter nights, W
we can turn over leaf after leaf Of that
ner book which is hidden from the wo
ing, and talk over all that is bright, and b
tiful, and joyful, and good in the natu
mel the social, and the moral world. tFZo,
is a nature to perceive and exquisitely
no JOY life's harmony, | know full well.
ood had really decided to give you a 81
letter this time, and for once / will. G
in, bye. LORA
lnd -
are Aynwv NArrrrx-1 y