Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-03-31

TnE Louisiana Legislature has passed an act
abolishing capital punishment, and substituting
Imprisonment for life in place of the death PEN
atty.
Ia is much easier task to dig metal out of
its native mine than TO get it out of tIc coyetous
mans Golfer. Death only has the key of the
miscrs chest
QuEsrrOxs AND ANswrlis.-In the correspon-
lcuce column ofthe last n Y. Times and Mes
senger, we find the following interesting cues
tons and answers
Qa5ry:-"Ts thrlStylc of manners essentially
different from whatit was five aud twenty years
ago? For instance, am Walking Win Two Ia
dies whcn gentleman joins who Is acquail-
ted with the ladies but mut with nae, engages in
conversation and, in fact, makes himself one of
the party. How would this bc regarded by the
'old schoo?"
AHnrer:,-The manners OF the present day,
in this latitude, partake largely OF what would
be called "the free-and-easy, the principal in
gredient of.which is inpudence; and TO that
category belongs such a case as that to which
you refer. \ quarter Ofa century ago, no gem
Ileman would have intlulgcd in such an act Of
rudcGesS. Manners were then more ceFeuoni-
GUS and Intrusion was looked upon aS . high
social offence. Introductions were tnore Gorm-
al and guarded, and character WAS more essen
lial to acquaintance. Now, tle miscellaneous
element which mixes up everybody with every
body prevails; good and bad freely mingled,
and bold front is substitute for the more
substantial qualities Of goodness and intclli-
gence. This contrast is not favorable TO cur
own times.
. Querg:-''we have discussion at our boar
ding house whether gentleman who OCCASION
ally spends evening in the parlor with
young lady,i is under an obligation to take her
10 places of amusement in which she expresses
an interest"
AHstces:-The etiquette of boarding-house
life seems to be iInperfectly understood. Pri-
mafiy, the persons who congrcsate at boarding
hOnses do SO for their convenience, to secure
rooms and meals. The society is incidental,
aud lao boarder make demand upon
another for any more than the ordainry civili-
ties of strangers, cncouIteTing at table Or else
where. Killing Off time in the parlor is not TO
be taken in too serious part, not TO be consider
ed as indicating any special preference which
requires 10 be "ldllowca np.'' II the young la
dy chooses TO express an interest in any pariic
ular species Of aWuscnIent, we suppose that she
is at perfect liberty To ,ih SO; but ii she grows
enthusiastic ON the subject with view of sccu
ring an escort thereto have doubt that
the gentleman is fully justified in holding
himself iuGiiivIeUt the appeal
lHery;--''l haVe-had dispute ahOut the
word J,feseat when written On the back Of
note. | coutended that it signifed and was
"pre-Sent, 70 oilcr, or the act Of presenting
Tho other party held that it was present"
not absent. Piuuse give 'he proper PrOnun-
citation, aud why it is uscd:'
-AHs'reT:-Ihe word IS pronounced present,
(Sccent with first syiahle,) aud was originally
used to signify thai the note was sent by hand,
aud notify mail. At present IT can scarcely bo
said 10 possess a more definite pOpcrty than the
common snfiix ''Esq, appended by courtesy
to a gentleman naDic.
Qacyy:-'If a gentleman offers himself to
lady, and is refused, has he right to- demand
of her reason for 50 doing, and il she refuses
to give any, could it be construed insuit?"
AHweer:-in all such matters tile lady is her
own judge, and to her sense of prOpriety you
will find it wise 70 defer. Her silence may be
kindly meant, and an explanation would no
doubt often disclose rcnsons for her refusal that
might be less ss-----iI.. 4l,an n more ne0ativp
without reason furnished.
Oueyy:-A literary friend asserts tliat there
is no such thing Rs absolute originality and that
therefore, all charges Of plagiarism are absurd.
Aasrer:-Yo Your lIiend takes an extreme view
of the matter. He might Gs well say there's no
such thing as property, because any aud every
species is an aggregate of atoms, drawn togetll-
pr from various sources. Accidental cOinclden-
ces, aud even iutentionHl coveyances OF ideas,
are Numerous enough, and occur even in writer's
of acknowledged genius; but no one, therefore,
denies that they are men Of genius, or fails to
discern tbat, taken altogether, their writings
differ essentially fTom those of other authors
Ii is tie law OF n man of genius to be original
He initiates by accident, ana borTOwS as the ex-
ception. Tie plagiarist stcais, as it were, for
living, and can he honest or original, even
by accident Tie entire manner OF an author
is quite as much his own, and aS clearly di>tin-
guishes him Sour all otller writer's, any sep
nrnfc ar sDccinl ideas or facieS which he inav
enunciatc.
SxuFr-DlPPrxG Auoxa TIE WoNsx or TIE
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