Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-08-06
Children..Where are they.
BY MRS. MEIrA vIcroRIA VICTOR.


"Boys! boys! where have the boys gone
tof we hear some of the people of this
generation anxiously enquiring. We look
about us, and answer "Where?n They
have disappeared, vanished entirely. become
absorbed IN a race of miniature men. small
in person, small in knowledge, small in wit,
small in virtue, but great in extravaganza.
great in selfconceit, great in impotence,
great-very great, in their own eyes. In
stead of blowing soap bubbles, they are smo-
king cigars; instead of rejoicing in jackets,
they sport Shanghais and flirt little canes;
instead of honoring and reverencing their
fathers and mothers, they look down upon
them with profound pity, if not contempt.
from the immense height which they have
attained in knowledge of the world, and su-
perior wisdom generally. In fact it may
even be suspected that they feel that they
have the power to patronize even their lady
friends, who cannot but be very much "ta-
ken" with the airs of different self posses
sion. What if they should take fancy to
slight one of those beautiful women would
she not feel crushed ?-and the young gen
tlemen fondle the lip and skin ''where the
down ought to grow"
We ask, too, where are the girls? Where
are the modest, sweet faced, artless, heaven
ly little things, whose very looks and actions
used to teach the skeptical men of the world
holy lessons of beauty and unconscious pa-
rlty Alas where are the charming little
girls 2"
We see plenty of finnifed demoiselles,
miniature patterns of mama, elegance and
Godey's fashion plates, We met them in
the parlors, quick reply and coquetish man
ner, skilled thus early in the arts and wiles
that worldings prize, craving for incense to-
be afforded to their vanity; feeling them
selves already to be little women, anxious
to enter upon the area where their graces
and accomplishments are to be called into
competition and display.
We meet them upon the streets, with the
little curl of assumed scorn or nonchalence
upon the lip; the precise step, the affected
air, all betraying their melancholy initiation
into the frivolty, duplicity and heartless-
ness of society.
Some childish speeches We occasionally
see recorded in the Knickerbocher from
two or three years old; but even these we
expect soon to be found spanking the Ian
guage of men and wonen. We sigh at the
thought, and the promise of the future. If
there is anything lovely and delightful un-
der heaven, it is the refreshing innocence,
artlessness, faith, unconscious grace of chill
dren. The moment that vanity, selfcon-
sciousness, doubt or duplicity take their
place, the spell is broken.
Where are the children? Where are the
dear boys and girls, with their childish
faults and their childish charms? Were
The little, lumber elf,
Singing, dancaning to itself,''
such as Colerid ge paints. Dancing to elf
not for the admiration of others hap
py in its innocence, friendly with verything
even the bugs and butterflies amid the
flowers where it sports.
TEACHING FoREIGNER TO- SPEAK Eng
LIsH.-My friend, the foreigner, called on
me to bid me farewell before he quilted
the town, and on his departure he said
81 am going at the country" ventured
to correct his PHYSIOLOGY, by saying that
we were accustomed to say, 'going into the
country" He thanked me for this correc-
ton, said he profted by my lesson, and
added ID will knock into Your door on my
return"