The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-11-26

Coninthe scene of wlvl, Ia laid In Nantucket.
Here, for instaace is tho beginning of n
chupter, full Of lircsilc wisdom:
"Thcre arc but few women Of perception
who arc unable TO estimate their own nttrac.
tions, md to set II just value upon their
power Personal vanity, to bo sure, is fire.
quenlly betrayed to excess, in the cx!,ibi.
tion of the thousand little arts TO which, f..
males resort, to catch the eye, or to rivet
the Chains about the hearts Of the men
hut most women know the best way of
managing the things, and how to adorn
themselves for conquest. 1t is lamenta-
ble truth, however, that many Of the gen.
tier sex draw off their light artillery at /,
time when it tel,oovcs them to play their
engines more ski'lfullv, and to keep up a
: constant and well directed fire. How truly
this may be exempliiie'l, the attentive Oh
server may determine for himself, hy look
ing into the conduct of most females after
marriage. The bright eyes and wrcathcd
smiles of the mai.l, when she met her lover,
are changed to lak-lustre orbs and for
bidding sobelness in the matron to, ds
the husband and, at times, TO pc
peevsl'ness, or dinning invective.
blessing Of the rarson is, alas too
the signal for letting down the pegs Of the
instrument, that before had discourscd the
plcasantcst soun,ssin tie world; and, if its
strings are afterwards touched, they are
sure to jingle inharmoniously.
"Ihs broad rule is not without its ex.
ceptuns. The picture has its bright sides,
and the desert its sunny spots. There are
thousands of instances, we dare engage,
wherein wives forget not the arts or accom-
plisl,mcnts that won their husbands; and
who, to the latest day of their lives, practise
those kindly little attentions, that lose not
their charm by repetition. They are jewels
OF wives, and crowns to their husbands,
who, having won, continue the ways of win
ming. in order to keep The pure flame Of
early affection constantly burning in the
bosoms OF their hcl lpma,es. Verify they
are. not without their rewardla We never
knew continued and undertaking kindness
in the wife to 60 unrecompensed. A peace
ful household betokens holiness in the i'll
tercourse Of its members; and lie assured
that happiness is there, in as great n degree
as humanity can lay claim 10, amidst the
unavoidable rexations, which, like the scum
OF the caldron, boil up plen,ifully, when
ever we have to do with the world. Let
there be peace at lomc,' saith the clild's
book; and that there may be peace around
our own fireside, where, of all places in the
world, we should st,ive most for its main
tenance, we have only. 10 will it, and it is
ours. And mort of all doth it rest within
the power Of the wife to keep her house
hold in good humor, and 10 make the
stream Of life run smoothly, by pouring
oil upon its troubled waters.
Among the arts least rcsorted TO by
married women to plase their husbands, is
that Of personal attention to dress, before
appearing at the breakfast table. The
morning meal, Of all others, is the dullest :
and tits mnAe SO Lwcircnmstances complete.
Iy within the contro Of The one WHO presidcs
at the table. The men of America are de-
voted 10 business; and unceasing toll and
acsiSity in tlreit vocation are characteristics
of the people. we will not stop to
discuss the question whether, in. comparison
with other nations, they are deficient in
many OF the observances which appertain
to the enjoyment Of the eIegancies of life,
and which, in the present age of. refine
'nent, are:snpposed' to contribute to the
happiness OF; mankind BGt we were not
surely created for business alone, nor pre-
destined 10 dclye, grub-worm like, at the
unvarying labor Of boarding mp money {:
unless, rerchance, the curse attending tile
invasion Of Eden l'y the willy serpent,
and the punishment Of the origina! sin Of
transgression committed by Adam, he visi-
ted upon his' American postcri,y in particu
lar, and they alone should, by any cxccp.
ton, be doomed to earn hard subsistence
by the Sweat Of the brow.
"There must be hours for relaxation and
enjoyment, or VIC shall become sordid and
sinister. The time before the morning
meal, and at the breakfast table, may he
converted, with the greatest ease, to The es-
pecial purpose cf our highest enjoyment,
instead of being aimlessly spent in stupid
ity; or, what is equally bad. in bustIiug
anxiety.to be of andsabout our business, or
in hurry to be mingling with the jostling
crowd' Why not begin the day with cheer
fulness and equanimity of temper, in the
midsttof our families. instead of postponing
our pleasures until the day and its cares are
oyer4 Little do some women dream that
they the principal cause. OF tho quick dis