True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-08-06
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After dinner, and before the ladies re.
tired. there generally began what were
called grounds I" Of toasts when each
gentleman named an absent lady, and
each lady an absent gentleman, seperate-
ly; or one person was required 10 give
an absent lady. and another person was re
quired 10 match gentleman with that
lady, and the pair named were toasted,
generally with illusions and jokes about
the fitness of the union. And, worst Of
all there were sentiments" These
were short epigramic sentences, express
sive Of moral feelings and virtues, and
were thought refined and elegant produc-
ions A faint conception Of their naus.
eousness may be formed from the follow
ing examples, every one Of which ] have
heard given thousand times, and which
indeed, / only recollect from their being
favorites. The glasses being filed, a
person was asked for his or for her senli.
ment, when this or something similar
was committed: May the pleasures of
the evening bear the reflections of the
morning Or, May the friends of our
youth be The companions Of our old age
Or, delicate pleasures to susceptible
minds MAY the honest heart never
feel distress May the hand Of charity
wipe the tear from ths eye of sorrow"
"May never worse be among u.s." There
were stores of similar reflections; and for
all kinds Of parties, from the elegant and
romantic, to the political, municipal, the
ecclesiastic, and the drunken. Many Of
the thoughts and sayings survive still,
and may occasionally be heard at club
or tavern. But even there they are ont
of vogue as established parts Of the enter
tainment; and in some scenes nothing can
be very offensive. But the proper senti.
ment was high and pure production
moral motto; and was meant to dignity
'"d grace private society. Hence. ever
after an easier age began to sneer at the
display, the correct course was to receive
the sentiment, if not with real admiration,
at least with decorous respect. Merci.
fully there was a large known public
stock of the odious commodity, so that
nobody that could screw up his nerves to
pronounce the words, had any occasion
to strain his invention. The conceited,
the ready, or the reckless, hackneyed in
the art, had a mack Of making new senti-
ments applicable to the passing accidents,
with great ease. But it was a dreadful
oppression on the timid or the awkward.
They used to shudder, ladies particularly
for nobody was spared when their turn
in the round approached. Many strug.
gle and blush did it cost; but this seemed
only to excite the tyranny of the masters
Of the craft; and compliance could never
be avoided, except by more torture than
yielding. There can scarcely be bet
ter example Of the emetical nature of the
stuff that was swallowed than the sent-
ment elaborated by the poor dominic at
Arndully. He was called upon in his
turn, before large party, aud having
nothing to guide him in an exercise 10
which he was new, except what he saw
was liked, after much writhing and
groaning he came out wilh-"The re
fec,ion of the moon in the Gavin bosom
of the lake" 1t is difficult for those who
have been born under more natural sys-
tenn to comprehend how sensible man,
respectable matron, worthy old maid,
and especially girl, could be expected
to 60 into company only on such condi
tions.--Lord Cockburn's Memorials.