Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-10-07
For the Spirit of the Age

Mr.. EDITOR: Iagree with your correspon.
dents Benedick" and ' A Young Bache-
lur," that there is an error in suciety,' and
would gladly assist them in setting socie- I
ty right on this matter but the error is an
ancient one, and, like chronic diseases, it will
he hard to cure. Society is hard case :
but if they can devise anv plan by which u
reformation can be effected, they may rely
on my hearty corporation. While it is a
lamentable fact that there are many errors
in suciety, it is no less to be, lamented that
there are SO few who have the hardihOod to
raise up their voices against them. Nav if
you Mr.. Ben"dick" and Mr.. " Bachelor"
keep society from frowning me down, I'll
briefly speak of another error in society,
which is this /: Th.t gentleman and lady
cannot correspond, no matter what the sub
ject, without the report going abroad that
mdtrimony is the subject, and that things
will shortly be brought to a crisis.
Why sir, if gentleman, who has grown
up with lady, been her intimate friend,
gone to school with her, conned the same
lessons together, should leave home and write
to her once or twice, why, the whole co un-
try is made aware of the fact, and stranger
still, everybody kaolcs they are engaged, and
will be married as soon as he returns. Now
1 sir, this is wrong Society has no right to
make any such assertions.
l am student. and perhaps we suffer
more from this error, this false notion of pro-
prIety, or whatever you choose to call it, than
any other class of persons. We are often
branded as firtS. Now if the ladies would
only give US fair chance, we would contra
diet this not only verbally, but practically.
Often on leaving home would he ask some
fair friend the privilege of corresponding,
but he knowRs that Rumor, that e moRstfuma
hOrrendum, Mgens," with her thousand
tongues and eyes will herald it through the
country. with many additions and enlarge
: ments he is thus deferred from asking a
correspondence that might be agreeable and
profitable to both.
+ To think rightly, Is of knowledge; to speak
q huently, is of nature;
To read with profit, is of care; but to Write aptiy
!, is Of practice"
E Now sir, will not any one who has fe
/. male correspondent be more careful aohat anC
e hoto he writes Will he not endeavor t,
e make his letters interesting and worthy o
being read Will he not better learn s. T.
write aptly" by correspondence of thi
kind than any other? OF course it is no
necessary to correspond with the ladies il
order to learn to write. A good writer ha
said:
"And should thou ask my judgement of that
a Which hath most profit in the world,
a For answer take thou this, the prudent penning
= letter."
d Not only is there profit" arising from 9Th
e prudent penning of letter." but there is
st deep pleasure. Who has not felt his hear
> thrill with pleasure while reading the glow
d, ing sentiments Of some fair friend, or laugt
,,g ed until his sides were aching, and his eye
n, wet with tears, at the spicy remark of som
al witty little correspondent? Such letter
- worth more toa poor fellow who has tt
ed g blues" foot thick, than all the moonligl
er music and ph5sic in the world. But how
ne this error of which have heen speaking.
I'm be removed? '' That's the question"
IN. am in for getting as many correspondent
y, of the right kind, as l can; and if ever
ed body does the same no one will have al
or grounds to make any remarks.
ed. What say you my friend '' Bachelor" al
Ter you Mr.. /" Bsnediek," are you willing tn ''
lb- and do likewise9" If so, mend your per
ial WALT"
ful -..~e.-