Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-27
JUNE 81.
gaOies' Department.
For the Spirit of the Age.
FEMALE DISSIPATION.
by BEATRICE.

woman was never seen, says one. Al
low me to differ with you on that point,
my fair friend. Many of the females
of the present century are as deeply
plunged in the vortex Of fashionable
dissipation as some of the opposite sex.
A description Of this female devotee
and the routine of her daily duties, will
not be amiss. Nine o'clock in the morn
ing finds her in bed; she feebly rises
and rings the bell; her maid enters
she demands a cup Of chocolate and a
number of delicacies too numerous to
mention-orders the morning paper and
the latest novel, and then my lady must
remain undisturbed until near dinner
time.
Wearied with these, she rises and is
assisted to dress by her maid-(this op-
GRAFTON generally takes an hour and a
halfEand descends ito dinner with a
peevish, Disconnected look upon her
otherwise fair countenance /; she seats
herself at the table-tastes first of n
thing, then another nothing is right,
and ut last turns away, thoroughly dis
gusted with every dish.
Why is this ?
The previous nights soiree will tell
the tale. A constant whirl of excite
ment, over-eating and over-drinking-
flor wine is made use of to a consldera-
BILE extent among the ~fashionables OF our
community has created this listless
morbid feeling and want Of appetite.
The lady now consults her watch
orders her carriage-makes a few calls
gossips over the events Of the preceding
night, calls at Stewards or some othe.
fashionable fancy store, makes a fey
trihing purchases, and returns hGme t
prepare for another evenings entertain
ment.
The opera, theatre, novel reading
receiving and returning calls, eGnstitut
her whole employment.
But where are the husband and chi
dren all this time?
The little ones are confined IN a bat
ly ventilated nursery, pampered wit
sweetmeats, left entirely to the cares
an ignorant servant girl, and not permi
ted to breathe the pure air of'hcayt
oftener than once a week. Upon ]
condition are they allowed to .desecra
the splendidly furnished parlors, unle
sent for to be presented to some AattC
ing, fawning visitor, who praises the
to the mothers face, but will imme'
ately describe them to some particul
friend as the most i'll bred, ugly set
children hat she ever beheld.
The husband sits at his office stuC
ing over some musty old book of !,
in the hope of getting some inforr
moment of getting defeated-it wo
ruin his reputation-so he labors
from day to day, and sometimes u q,
part Of the night, preparing for the
gal combat.
He returns to his d~esolate house,
desolate it is in spite Of its costly fm
ture, splendid paiatings, and glow
crate of anthracite that looks so s
lingly upon him as he enters. No
to welcome him home with a kiss u
his manly brow; that would be an
heard Of thing, disgusting vulgarity
the extreme! No children to embr
him, their place of abode is up tn
pairs Of stairs. He rings for his S
per, and enquiries for the lady Of
mansion; is told hat she has gone to
theatre with Mrs. -z, and husban
What wonder is it then that the |
band and father seeks enioymen
clubs and saloons to while away the
teryening hours? His own fresid
desolate, his social ties are rent asun,
his wife an alien, his children strang
His wife he sees amid the bustl
an evening %soiree, enlivening a or
of the genus homo (which but for
lame they bear would oftentimei
mistaken for monkeys)-With wit
lively %sallies; her society is coveted
both male and female of the upper
and many a one enyies lawyer E
his lovely, interesting wife, and tn
he must be the happiest man in G.
tendon.
For the husband, she has cross,
wish words, unless she wants her 4
mORaie filled with the needful, and
the relics of a smile play upon her c
~tenance.
For the stranger she ever has
her husband would value more than
monds-a face wreathed in smiles,
completely f~ascinates him with her
versational powers. Now, my fair fir
is not this dissipation of the worst /
Did God design woman for no
purpose than to eat, drink, dress
be fattered? What moral Unfit
does she exert oyer her associates
q good one at all events home Unfit
she entirely peryerts.
BY frequent fashionable card p;
she countenances and fosters gamb
by Offering the wine cup to her J
friends lips, she may create the h
appetite for ardent spirits, that W.
timately cause the ruin of both sou
body. She not only exerts a den
izlng influence over her friends, b
her neglect drives her husband
wine cup. Once enter the whirlp
fashionable dissipation and you
not where to stop.