The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-12-25

BETH City IN. c. Sentinel.
A SENSIBLE CUsToM.-In the French
army, the soldiers, during the winter, wear
wooden bottom shoes. The result is, that
the French army is less afflicted with tooth
ache and rheumatism than any army in the
world. A wooden-b bottom shoe is always
dry-a fact that should always give them
preference.
THE MAN OF MANY PROMISES.
"What hollow things are heartless PROMISES
1t is the easiest thing in the world to
make promises. There are, moreover,
many persons who promise, never intending
to perform, and not few who believe, at
the time, that they are sincere, and will
fulfil all that they undertake to do. They
mean well, but do not reflect sufficiently:
in other words, they speak without thinking.
They are easy, changeable, facile and rea-
dy; and thus, while they lack the courage
to say no, they often say yeS unconsciously,
or, at least, not seriously. A promise is
ed. 1t should not be given lightly, and
should never, if possible, be violated. Nev-
ertheless, there are multitudes who are in
the constant habit of classifying their pledges
and breaking their promises. They make
engagements for all times and occasions,
and then they treat them with Indifference
and contempt, The effect is to cause dis
appointment, to provoke unkindness and ILL
will, to engender enmity. The huinblest in
dividual in society disliles to be triaed
with. If truthful himself, he has right to
expect truth in others. His engagements
and obligations he regards as sacred and
he, therefore, naturally and reasonably ex-
poets the same fidelity and honor on the
part of others.
Alas for the victims of this class of in
dividuals. They are led on by false hopes,
,v--a vft,-. induced to make heavy co
critics. They may have been promised
some situation, some influence, or some pc
culiar aid and at the designated hour they
find the whole thing hollow mockery, if
not a base coinage.
We have heard of more than one deplora-
BILE case. A few years since an estimable
young stranger who was i'll very needy cir
cumstances was offered a situation in a
Western city. He was about accepting it,
when pretended friend advised him other
wise, and guaranteed something much bet
ter within a few weeks" The opportunity
was permitted to pass, and at the expiration
of the allotted time the better situation was
found to be nero bubble-a heartless
fiction. Nay, in another case, a man of
family was induced, by public functional
ry, to throw up an eligible post, under the
promise of providing him a much better
and then, to his CONSERVATION, he was cool
ly told by the individual who had placed
him in such a dilemma that he could not
receive the appointment. Such conduct
we regard not only discreditable, but as
base and unmanly. The system we repeat,
is reckless and heartless. We have no
right to triAe with the feeling and fortunes
of others; we have no right to raise expec-
tatiOns which we cannot realize. The man
of many promises is certain to become in
volved in feuds and misunderstandings.-
The decided and betrayed naturally get
indignant. They cannot understand pol
icy so false and so base. Nay, we have
known more than one instance in which a
bitter disappointment, caused by violated
promise, has resulted in sickness and DEATH
1t sometimes happens that for years the
mind is directed to a particular object. 1t
becomes the one great thought, the all-ab-
sorbing purpose. All the energies of the
character are devoted to its attainment
At such a moment aid, pecuniary or other
wise, may be absolutely essential This may
be promised, nay, sometimes violated, but
with no intention of affording it. When,
therefore, the truth is ascertained and the
delusion vanishes, the disappointment and
the despair are keen and agonizing; nay,
the grave itself is sometimes resorted to as
the only means of escape and relief. How
cruel, then, to promise without intending to
perform-to fan hopes and expectations
that can never be realized There are 9th
er kinds of promises in which the affections
are deeply engaged, and by which, when
violated, life is embittered for years These
obligations are not unfrequently the result |
rather of conduct than of words, of manner
than of professions. In aneighboring city,
not long since, highly accomplished lady |
was betrothed for a considerable period to |
one of the sterner sex, and the outdoor
world were in constant expectation of their
marriage; but suddenly, and without the |
slightest cause, the suffer withdrew his at |
tentions, and, in the course of few months. |
married another. The injured woman may |
forgive, but she never can forget such vile |
and yet her slumbers must be
far sweeter and deeper than those of the in
CRATE and the recreant. But to promise |
aoithout intending to perform is always Gull
pable, nay, criminal.-PeansyLUania In
Quirer.