The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-08-14

moment looks so dull and weary, you are eIae
to see him so far decided as to fall asleen. \ ,
ne rooses himself, exclaims at the lateness O
the nour, and hastens to his books to leave then
at midnight, earlier or later, as he must.
zen invites friends to visit her, he can b,
gracions 70 them, but puts on look of reproacl
at the nard work he shall have, to make up los
Tune! TINS look being reserved for her. Otter
nave known her to decline an invitation, be
cause sne knew how unwillingly he might con
senl 90 with her; and when suggested tc
her not to depend on him, she remarked thai
sne was tired of going always alone.
mace heard him speak to the children. He
ASKED Martha if she would have piece of beef
ana told Harry not to make such q noise Eyi
oentiy, ne does not fail in parental duty.
| ventured to ask him how long this is to
last! and he assures me, that by and by he
shall be more Independent, but now he mas
| MAINTAIN his position, and mast provide for his
family. SO he has talked these ten years. and
grown gray in the service while Cousin John
| assuresm he is worth more than the SlOO. O0O he
always used to fix as the limit of his ambition,
| verify believe he once intended to pause when
| the urgent necessity for exertion should have
passed; but, from long habit, he cannot STOP and
the taste for home and domestic life has passed
away.
he processes to regard the Bible. and found
MIN text the othex day about moderation :"
but he said that was meant for the LEWIS not
for us; and, indeed, he rather thought there was
an error In the translation. The word sounded
obsolete.
cousin Fen bears 1t very quietly-a woman's
best course, when she cannot help herself; but
she does not look radiant with happiness. In
all these months, have never seen him devote
an hour to her, and her alone, as he once could
do, when he was urging her to spend her life
with him. lou. without him p She performs
her family duties faithfully, tries to be both
father and mother to her children, and quotes
his authority and precepts, when they cannot
but know it is perfectly apocryphal.
have considered it well. Mr.. x NAV
not be a fair specimens but if be be, evidently
we would not marry this professional man.
Cousin Julia invited me to spend few weeks
with her. They have fine house. a well-ap.
pointed establishment. Mr. Y-is in success
ful business, and has everything arranged as
becomes his station and dignity
You must remember Julia, as do, when as
children we looked with sort of awe upon her
stately grace. How we used to watch her dress
ing for party, when we were undressing for
bed, and envy her such unalloyed pleasures
How we marvelled at her lively sallies in con-
versation, and at her, to us, wonderful exhibi
tons of talent and intelligence.
She loves society still, and reads and keeps
up her interest in literature; and have looked
to MIR. Y, to see what sympathy she finds
there
This is our mode of life. All is fastened in
the morning, that he may go to his business.
de returns late; we have a formal dinner, and
he has not left his cares behind him. IF there
are guests, he talks, and sometimes exerts him.
self when we are alone; but one derives little
pleasure, where the exertion is so evident.
Mind and body have been on the stretch, and
after dinner it is plain that both are thoroughly
weary. comfortable sofa or an armchair
receives the lord of the household; and there,
am sorry to confess, he lies like lump of clay
as he is, until the decent time arrives to trans
ter himself to his bed. This is the rule: the
exceptions are, when he revives for a part of
the evening, and can talk, with a friend who
has dropped in, of interesting works of art, coll
Julia is fond of society in reasonable way,
and would 60 out now and Them but from any
party, large or small, he begs off; he is tired,
or dull, or has headache, and she can Just as
well go alone. Perhaps she has been at home
all day; such evenings, without change, are
rather dull and cheerless. If she reads, she
reads alone. Once, Mr.. Y loved to read
and think with her, and they sympathized in
their tastes and pleasures. He has "no time "
now, and 1 might add, no mind. Alas no.
The man of business. His course may be
the fault of the times, of the spirit of the age
but this does not make the fact any better, or
the life more attractive. Shall we marry him +?
think not.
Of all created beings, have always had the
most profound admiration for literary men
perhaps l should say, men of letters. You re-
member, dear Polite, how often we have COM
muned together, and felt that we could almost
worship any of those beings who could write
books, and see them printed; their own thoughts
given to the world-aye, even those who wrote
for Quarterlies and Magazines-not the love
stories, but pages which showed thought, intel
leot.
Alas l wish had remained in my blind
ness the deluson has all vanished, since
have seen and known. They look like other
men, only sometimes worse; for | think the lite
rary air is second only to the artistic in hirsute
development and general disregard of taste.
Then l am sorry to say that, even in society,
they are not more agreeable than others. 1t
may not be their fault, for it is said men very
seldom both write and talk we'll. But l think
there is another reason. Their thoughts, mer-
cenary creatures, are worth so much volume,
or so much page; perhaps, if they would be
liberal, an exchange of thoughts might return
them as much as they bestow; but this they
have not tried and they can't afford to let half
and quarter eagles drop from their lips. They
might be generous, and follow the example of
the little girl who spoke diamonds and pearls
with such freedom-only they are conscious of
this difference, that her supply was inexhaust
IDLE.
don't know as much of them in domestic
life, but, from some observation and inquiry, /
am led to conclude that they do not shine there.
The wearied mind must have repose, and home
is the place for repose. If a man may not
waste his talents on society, surely not on his
wife and children.
Time is precious, his brain is excited, he
must calm his nerves, or he must read or think
sometimes deeply, and with closed eyes!
may have been unfortunate in the subjects
of my observations for, so far as can Judge,
have given a fair estimate of the general state
of things, and the few beautiful and honorable
exceptions remain, / fear, as exceptions. They
show what can be done, if the will be not want
ing-and that there is such thing as domestic
life, even in the city of Funguston.
l have heard of a father, who not only knows
where his sons 90 to school, but who actually
chose the school for them-who knows what
they are studying, and even assists them with
their lessons. When ! see him, shall approach
him with respect, and perhaps shall not feel it
too much 10 bow with the reverence of Eastern
salutation. I will tell you if he appears to be
more than mortal
l am persuaded that one cause of this unso-
cial state of affairs lies, had almost said, in
nut-shell-it is enveloped in the folds of a
cigar.
With all our boosted independence, we are an
initiative people, and we are sadly given to ex
tremes. Example FIRST leads every man to smoke,
and his business habits lead him to smoke i'm.