Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-04-01
LADIES DEPARTMENT..
For the Spirit of the Age.
To the Lords Of Creation.

To the Lords OF Creation.
l am an invalid, and as such, have been
deprived Of most amusements, visiting, dc.
For my entertainment I have the occa-
sional visits of friends, my books, pen, pia-
n, and our charming Esprit" But be-
sides | have been "takin' notes. on the
ways and follies Of men. And / have q
heightened list. Pardon me, reader, but
/ do think some Of the "lords'' need a civil
talk. Imerely allude tothcm domestically.
In the great world, where Fame crowns
heroes, and men strive for wealth and
honors, and heap upon sells altar the
plaudits Of the crowd, they can just act as
they like. But when they have had their
fill Of pleasure, or heaped into their Golfers
the ringing dollars and laughed that wealth
was 50 lavish other glittering jewels, when
they como in from their various ayocations,
why need they wear an ill-Ratured frown 7
Poor Puss must fly this way, and little
Fido that, while his majesty, after q glance
around the apartment, inquiries with great
dignity, if "dinner ishalf DONE" or " will
there be any thing to eat to day." Well,
when dinner!does come. the various dishes
undergo a criticism as minutely as if poor
Cook knew the exact number of Goals it
required TO bake the bread, and every other
culinary mystery.
Now, my friends, don't accidents happen
in every ones life Don't your lordships
ever spill your ink on your pretty kids or
your exquisite handkerchief? Don't you
ever deface some eloquent epistle, just as
you close, with an ugly black blotch from
your penY Don't the wind ever send your
treasured beaver to navigate some muddy
miniature pond, and sometimes, my dear
exquisite, you topple over in these lima
tured swinelakes yourselves, afterspending
certain hours in various uncertain places;
and you know as every other body does,
that THAT was an accident. Certainly, an
accidentl Then if lords suffer accidents,
why not cooks2 Oh you all know full
well bow oft you have panied the tender
wife and loving mothers heart by your
ill-timed criticisms. Go, you who love to
ornament the street by your handsome
person, you who sport colds chains, pink
kids, and silver headed canes, and are SO
well versed in the graceful toss-away Of an
unfinished cigar. Go, all of you who love
to find fault, and see how Mamma or wife, or
the cook crisps her fingers, burns her face,
and tho children do cry, and cats new,
the house all topsy-turvy-the wood out
(whose faults that } andforty other things
you never dreamed of,require her care, she
goes from morn till "dewy eve," striving
To please you, and then you growll Shame,
shame! Only think | expect the half
of you sit down carelessly, never even ST.
lently returning thanks to the Giver for
the food to sustain life, nor for it's ~luxuries
either. But sometimes you dare, yes dare
to tempt God, by, in mockery, invoking a
blessing, or returning a thanksgiving :
Dare Heavens vengeance by hinging back
~mockings, as you condescendingly accept
her rich blessings. Tremble, Oh man,
upon thy knees, aud repent, ere thy mock.
cry is re-echoed from the blacklist vaults,
in fendish laughs,and flow Ger thy terrified
soul.
Do you know THAT your smiles make
bone q paradise for woman ? Do you
know that while you are at your various
pursuits, your pleasurc-takings, your social
gatherings, and your reUelries around The
ahtar ofthe wine god, there is at home wo.
mans heart t~hrobbing with devotednesr
to youP And you are oft contented to
crush the last lingering hope of life BY
your thoughtless words. We say thought.
less rords; but your acts are often pre-.
meditated for do you not look in upon
the trimming gobblets at the tavern ban
and resolve to spend "this evening therc;''
and you 60, hugging the charmer closer tC
your heart, measuring a love that roots uL
all natural affections. You sip and play
with the coiled rum-fend as tho no pois-
onous tooth, no fatal sting were there. Ii
conscience put under clock and key" ere
you cross the threshold Of the run shop
or does it ever whisper in your ear of home
and loved ones whom you neglect2 Yes
oft as you press your lips to the ruby pois
on does the hand tremble, for there are
"Spirits' whispering, breathing Ger Thy
soul, Of q sorrowing wife and bright-eyeC
little children, who are watching and lis
tening for your coming footsteps; wh'
long 10 lay their little heads on your bosom
and list to the pretty stories you used Il
tell them. Man, have you never, in tn,
deep dark stiffness Of night, felt aught O
anguish and remorse as you listened to tn
low earnest ~pleadings Of a loving wife t
"drink no more" Brother, you have hear,
the deep, half audible sigh, and saw th
tear of unutterable sorrow dim your sister
eye, as you started for your evening resort
Well you knew the cause Of grief, and Of
you have half resolved to heed her look
Oh list to her words, wine-charmed soul
Why cast life and peace away2
But we have strangely wandered from
our subject, from q lecture to an entreat,
Well, | hope, Mr.. Lords, you will pardol
the depression and heed such parts as be
long to you. But, my dears, don't fly u
and say it was written by some crusty oil
maid or sour-crout wife for tits neither
but a young girl who can sometimes 81
what others feel.
ELFRIDA WEST.
Yadkin Home.