The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-04-16

From the Frenca.

| sar The Learned Ounce. a.
4 ttH' riznt 6 fas n- Ff@ a' sFsSSse erE
| sv,,as.,s - From the French. $50; t.f,,.,
| Iwent some time since in company with an
intimate friend, TO soiree, held some distance
| from Paris, at the house Of mutual friend
lately married. When we entered, three Ia
dies were in'the act Of executing trio The
husband introduced as to his wife, pretty
looking parsonage, to whom expressed my
regrets that had not been able to pay my re-
| spects earlier. - trfsiS io29 aaa tssS
81 must scold your husband for keeping
you 50 secluded from the world, madam y
said 1. aa
"It is true, Monsieur, that we lead a very re-
| tired life, but love solitude, for indeed, the
gay world hath but few charms for me.' d
looked at my friend, who said in low
tone-s'this is woman of genius." is.
-"If 1 mistake not we have missed some very
fine music" asBa E.tz }seas ~ sasa.
"You have, indeed, gentlemen; you have
missed an excellent trio of Beethoven,s. Oh
what genius was Beethoven WHAT soul!
How mystical is his harmony How his mod
ulations seem to embody themselves with each
other, and to plunge the soul into strange rev.
eries.o trfst.,g ~. u z.s...s-.
My friend looked at me with astonish-
ment.s ss s,yzaf-gr s.s t.s... H..
"This woman is indeed genius,' said I in
low tone.
"No! Germany has rot produced Bethooven's
equal, said the lady.
.Madame forsets Mozart and Weber,"
.Were they German composers?"
was stupefed. How! she knows Beeiho-
ven and -
A very animated discussion carried on be-
tween two amateur painters, at this moment
attracted the attention of the lady to another
subject. They were speaking Of arabesq ues.
"Arabesques or moresques," said the lady,
81 admire these ornaments of sculpture. .,paint-
ing and Of architecture formed of foliage leaves
of figures of animals, plants, or Of imaginary
beings. Have you remarked, gentlemen, that
in the houses Of the Mahometens, the mo-
resques never contain the figures Of animals?n
"But- les 6&ir
"It is true, gentlemen, for the law of Ma
homet expressly forbids the employment of
images, beasts, or of animated beings in ara
besques.''
My surprise was extreme. My friend stared
with wonder, and we could hardly disguise
our thoughts; but some one asked, just al the
moment, her opinion Of frescoes.
"Frescces! what are they? are they an
cients?'' @aRa
l was dumb with surprise, How could this
melange OF elucation and ignorance be ac-
couated for2 Did she do it wilfully? Was it
from some feminine malice, to serve some
private purpose of her own? az a5.a
The conversation then took an historical
turn They spoke Of the ancient Greeks and
Athenians. Some one named Aspasia.
:Few women, !" she said, s'could boast of ex-
ercising such influence over people. Conr
texan and philosopher, she numbered among
her pupils and lovers, Socrates and Alcibiades.
Such was the power she had over the heart Of
Pericles, that he repudiated his wife to espouse
the fair Milaneseo a3 t ssf4ae
Myself and friend again looked at each 9th.
or With astonishment. #ht r. go q
sYes," replied |, she was women of talents
Of the first order. Then her popularity, her
eloqaence. All the youth Of Athens came to
the classes of Aspasia. when she delivered the
harangaes of Demosthenes.n - 80
eDsmosfhsnes!a cried the lady, "who. was
she?u 2s 80 81 ss SD I'll aa.ss al
Music now broke upon the conversation,
my friend ahd.I not knowing what to think
Of the Accomplishments and ridiculous mis-
takes of our fair hostess. What was the mean.
ing Of this familiarity with certain names, and
her entire ignorance Of certain others. The
enigma had something piquante aboutit, and
reflected upon il during the remainder of the
evening. sHss r' 5di ess
q The next day my friend entered my apart
men., and cried. sssths problem is solved,''
have just returned from our friends house; he
has bought pocket Cyelopedia, which his
wife Is committing to memory, and 1t is ex-
tremely naturalfor her TO commence at the
commencement; she has stadied A, 81 ARA-
BEseuEs, AsPAsIA, and the others; but Of
course as yet she knows nothing of DEAos-
E
THEMES, nor FREscoEs, nor MozAsr, nor
WEBBEs, for the wife of our friend is receiv-
ing her education in alphabetical. order.'' {
This was the truth.
Some days after this again visited the fs.
male scholar; the discourse turned rpon poll
tics. She ,harangued with much energy upon
the talents of DANroN, the revolutionist. 1t
appeared she had arrived at the letter d.
NoTE.-Ws think from what we have seen
Of the above named Dictionary, that in about
fifteen, years from this time the fair scholar
win be able to discourse upon the merits of
Zoology, and Of the talents Of Zoroaster. y,
A FINE THoUGHr.-'I would not (said
one who was not himself, pious) marry any
woman,who was not a Christian. should feel
it such an honor to share heart in which
God dwelt.n 1t was iae thought, aud de-
serves to be specially remembered. s e
You want a friend in whom you can have
entire and unlimited confidence one who can
be your counsellor in all circumstances OF
difficulty or trial; one who is to Be identified
with you through life, 10 hope and fear, in
joy and sorrow. She is to be sort OF presi-
dino diyinitV, AT tbv famiIv hoard and M