Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-02-20
From the knickerbocker
THE ETIQUETTE OF VISITING
EY THOMAS BIBB BRADLEY

By THOMAS BIBB BRADLEY.
Ny readers, there is nothing more delightful
than visiting pretty, bright-eyed woman, on a
pretty, starry night. / can tell you, pretty
woman is good thing-a devilish good thing
-bonurl Drum. a man in the presence of a
lovely lady should graciously thank PRovI-
DExcE for His benignity in creating her. The
RULER of tho universe arranged all those beau
tiful curls on that pearly neck, that she might
be attractive and pleasant unto man. Those
rare lips and that snowy brow, and those heav-
only eyes, nnd that swelling bosom were grant
ed to her to render her suitable partner for us.
In our visits to her, then, let us remember it,
and bow obedient to the shrine of her beauty.
OF course, every gentleman more or less fire.
cuently visits the ladies. Not to do so argues
him unqualified for the balmy atmosphere of a
lady's parlor, and unsuited for the sweetest
pleasure of this short existence. The man who
has no friends among the women is in a sad po-
sition. Than to be such man, l would prefer
to be suspended by a hair over the cliffs of Do
yer, or navigating tho Arctic Ocean in ca
noe. Even animals are sociable pigs confab-
ulate, and swine are capable Of sustaing con-
versation. Elephants visit each other, and al
Iigators enjoy evening entertainments. Horses
indeed have an established code of etiquette
in their chit-chats. In fact, once knew silly
beast who associated (by accident purely with
refined horse-company until he imagined him
self an excellent riding animal, and full of spi-
rit. The consequence was, he rendered him
self ridiculous on all occasions by his intoler-
cradle vanity and abominable attempts at the
imitation of his superiors.
If fondness for company is thus true of the
lower animals, how much more true OF man.
The great question to be considered then, is
how to render society and even single visit
pleasant and profitable. In the first place, it is
generally conceded that no one should be
present at any entertainment, public or private
or visit any fair lady, or in any manner what
soever protrude himself upon genteel compa-
nv. who cannot contribute his share to the in
terest of the occasion. Such a rule excludes
boys with shirt-collars three inches high, and
skull six inches thick it demolishes dandies
and depopulates the whole tribo of speclle-fa
ced nihilitics 1t gives decent men chance
and consicns to their merited oblivion all red
eyed boobies Such rule works cogently, and
orun,. 1t should be generally adopted in this
benightcd country. The dominion Of boydon
would be over it would breathe its last sigt
gently as sick hen. Misses in their facetlou'
teens would no more snicker and blush ever
tn their eyebrows at the compliments and stu
Did batteries of some sentimental ka-sioVeo,
book-nosed little gallant. Their founces ano
furbclows would infest ballroom OF private
n,rtv no more; those satinets, and jaconets
and bobinets would net no more minnows;
say minnows, for trout don't bite at snal m
bats. They are sensible fish, and know no"
to appreciate good thing.
Such rule, if adopted, would accoihpi.'l
another great desideratum in all goodly sooie
ty. 1t would destroy with a keen and wither'
Ing frost those rare exotics which silently
bloom in their quiet simplicity. refer 10 'i'
species wall-fowers. Now they are indeee
placid plants, quite content to waste 'nel
sweetness upon'thc desert air, but they AWAY