Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-05-18

prayer as found way to the heart OF Mrs.
W, who ultimately became meek and |
pious woman-a fit helpmate for devout
Gospel minister. And, strange to say, she |
dates her conversion from the day of that
comical, but not unproftable, dinner party. |
The Duty of Women to Look Pretty.
4 French author has recently written a
book on The Duty of Pretty Woman to
look Pretty Such Il work. doubtless has its
uses but it is of limited application. We
should have rejoiced in title of more ex-
tended significance, with contents correspon-
ding to the title. The subject should have
been, in eflcct-word it as you may-the duty
Of fcrery roman 10 look as pretty as she can.
Some women are unfortunately not pretty
but there are tc'C tcomen who cannot impart
Somcthing Of comeliness even to an ill-iavored
face and misshapen figure, Il they piH only
| take the trOubie.
We speak very gravelv when we say that
there are few relations in life, or rather that
there are few relationlcss conditions, IN which
this is not a dutV. That cleanliness is vir-
tue is seldom denied A pretty woman,
doubtless looks prettier when clean, and an
ugly one ugIier when dirty And there are
duties beyond personal cleanliness. Neat
ness, tidiness, follow close upon it. But
something more may still be needed and
this something more, clearly seen and pro-
perly described, is The least possible spice of
Coquetry.
1t is difficult, to limit the extent to which
n woman. bv due attention to dress, may I'M
prove her natural attractions, OF obviate the
the disadvantages with which she WAS born.
And that it is her duty to do this. whether
she be well or i'll favored. is something more
than a maxim OF mere worldiness. To en-
TO tba utp to plea so those with
whom we live, is unquestionably duty
\ man marries, indeed, for the sake OF
donus et piacens uror.' He does not take
a woman to his hearth because she is philo-
sopher, or an arithmetician, but because, in
homely language, there is something nice
about her 1t was. doubtless, the design of
tho Almighty, in giving man helpmate that
she should satisfy his natural craving after
the beautiful, the graceful and the gentle.
For this was woman formed
For softne., she and sweet attractive grace
inv uvuI.u "uo iorgcts TINS. ignores o"o %
the great objects of her creation. The ,cfe
tcho torgets th,s, riolates one of the primal
conditions Ofthc connubidi contract.
That some women are naturally more
beautiful and graceful than others. is fact
which makes not against, hut for, our argu-
mcnt. Dress is common to all. 1t Is con-
ISOLATION to those not naturally gifted, that
there Is point uI NilCI yitlue W
art, and the work of mens hands is potent to
supply the adornment not vouchsafed by Pro-
violence. II is surprising what a rcry little
, tcay mere personal beauty goes.
I'VE may confidently appeal to the e1pe-
rencc Of men Of the world in support OF the
assertion that the efforts of art are often
more pleasing and attractive than the gifts
l Of nature-n other words, that 'cell-d, esscd
,conlen are more admired than merely bcduti-
1 fu1 ones Accident is beaten by effort in the
great Olympics of society.
G 1t NAV be argued that taste in dress is
scarcely less natural gift than personal
: beauty And to some extent, at least, the
i fac. must be admitted. One woman has ma
: turally an eye for color and form, whilst
= another has neither the one nor the other
!. But there are few women who have not OF
cannot acquire, a sufficient knowledge Of the
5 becoming in costume for all domestic pur-
o poses 1t may be doubted, indeed. whether
u the plea ofincompetency of is ever set up The
I real secret of inattention to dress is careless
: -lndifierence-idleness 1t is no
n worth the trouble Women do not always
II consider that what is worth their while tC
l. gain, it is worth their while to keep. IL 4
&c no uncommon thing for womcn 10 Jeconr
IL slaticrniy otier marriage. They say tina
l. they have other things to attend to, anl
e dress is hahitually ncglected-cxcept, per
Z haps, on great occasions, when there is dis
Il play of iiucry and bad taste abroad, to be fol
lowed by greater negligence at home. Grca
~ respect is shown to what is called company
Il but apart from this there is sort of cui ban
y abandonment, and the compliment which
% paid to strangers is withheld from those VIII
II have the best right to claim, and are mos
y likely to appreciate it. This is a fatal, bu
u too common error When woman, with re
ference to the question of personal adorr
l cl ment begins to say to herself. 1t is only IN
III husband, she must prepare herself for consc
~ ~ qucnces, which, perhaps, she may rue to tn
W latest day of her life.
The effect, indeed, of attention or matter
81 cr ton 10 dreSs-and we include in the one litt
.'ri word whatever contributes to personal CONT
oi illness and attractiveness-upon the domest
Is, happiness, especially of tho lower and midd
.ts classes, cannst easily be overstated. III
~ I placens uror, ms we have said, is no sma
ne part of the totality of home. If a man fine
oh that he has not secured what he believed |
.o had married, he has right to feel disal
.: pointed. We do not say that he has rigl
u to retaliate. The obligations of the connubi
" contract are not conditional, but absolut
" y. Negligence on the one side does not excu
'i' negligence on the other; but it will vel
, surely induce it. When there is nothing a
ue tractire at home, a man, however inexcus
II
II" whether at the achouse, the club, 4
~ ~ theatre, the gaming table, or only in what
~ commonly called society. We do not me;
''' to say that dress alone is tho agency
or which the crratic propensites of husban
FS' are to be restrained, but that it is II high
l.. important part ofH. Indeed, it may be q
eetS serted that the absence of attention to Il
IT, matter pre-supposcs the absence of almost
'"o other gentle, kindly, and attractive qua
ties.
on, DIAMoND Cur DIANoNp.-Ihe fullowi
sho incident was related to us the other day,
having occurred at one of the numerous &c
- tlemens Furnishing Establishments on Lo
Wharf. The parties concerned were
my proprietor of the store and John ChinamS
IRE, Examining a pair of boots, the price ofwhi
We was 50, John inquired How muchee y
del axee for um boutee y
'ors In spint of waggery, it is presunnb
wife the owner replied Two dollar and half
'ea John very cheap bootee, ainteo >
ms; Cheap bootee, said John, who thereuI
wed examined palr, and concluding to bI
'sed offered a quarter eagle.
: in But. said the dealer in leather, 'thi,
I'd only enough for one boot /; they are t
the dollars and half apiece, two bootee cost
nd, John was somewhat astonished said
- would not buy, and demanded the return
gh- his money but tho dealer was inexoral
ed No. John, said the latter, you have
. so one boot, and have paid for it now G
bled me another piece like this, and take
ure, other
John saw the drift Of the game, and
dol at once resolved. WELL said he, Il
'sts, bootee be mine maybe paid for um =
ion, Yes said the dealer.
and And YOU no give mo the other boote
pre- asked John.
one Not without the money said the otl
er W ell, said John, do with um boo
my what please cutee um up, and tn,