Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-05-29
l. L f E'S PHA ES.
CONTINUED.

was esteemed a most exemplary accomplished
and cOmpaniOnable gentleman Though natu.
rally taciturn, he had acquired complete mas
terry over his disposition, and was ever ready
TO agreeably entertain those with whom he
mingled. This facility sprang from crastiness
and the desire TO appear in public 10 the best
possible advantage, and had not any part Of its
origin in sincerity When alone with his FAM
ally the same controlling influences were inOp-
erative, and the natural man there exhibited
aself, stripped OF hypocritical screens, and
standing forth in all the deformity of pe,u.
liant and fractious disposition.
There the pent-up passions found vent and
overwhelmed the household with expressions OF
fastdious censure; and there his unrestrained
ebullitions Of temper were displayed. as often
without as with provocation. Even towards
MS vile he was frequently unealIant and sel-
fsh, though he loved her, no doubt. more than
All the world besides, and as dcvotedly as his
feveTIsh heart Was sEsceptibIe Of loving He
treated his children with such reserve that
they were literally strangers to him. 80 far. at
least' rs having any sympathies or impulses in
common. Ills servants, annoyed with habitual
Iaul'.nnding and even clamOrou, railing, in
case they were guilty of any slight peccadiIlos
heartily despised him, and only assumed a
snow OF respect, in order to retain their situa-
lions till better could be secured
FROM seeking solely the exhibition of an
appearance OF respectabiity :" from living n
continual fslsehOOd to the world Mr. d. s own
moral principle was warped and perverted :
and, hence, he was inoa psbIe of infusinr any
INTO the minds OF his children On the contrary
ne was continually teaching them, by example
the Pernicious practice of deception. His busi
ness furnished him moro than sufficient en-
pioyment, ahd, therefore. he bad no time left,
had he experienced the inclination tn bestow
any eSpeclal attention on those innocent de-
pendentS. lie cared not to have their pure af
lecuons enfWlned about his arrogant heart, al
tno9gn they might prove to it a - healing balm
ot wonderful efficacy" The rapturous felicity
oil possessing cbild'S unseliSh love, was a
proolem too profound for him to solve and the
apotheSm thai " The love of a child is the de-
light of the soul, " had neither sense nor reason
IN 1t according to his judgment
ne DeIleVcd he pertJrmed his entire duty to-
wards MS family In providing them shelter
iood, clothing, education, and spending money
and, but IN order that they should appear
"eil ana De credit TO him, portion of this
would probably have been omitted He never
reflected that disgrace aud ignomiHy would re-
suit from their growing up destitute of those
established rules of action which are the cbiId's
safeguards against temptation and the buoys
that prevent lts enguI fment in the black waters
OF lnlquliy. Perhaps, he fancied, as many
others seem to do, that these things are ro:
sessed intuitively, or come through revelation
from some guardian spirit, and, hence il is
unnecessary that parents shall impart them
Inc wife OF Mi. ID. was handsome rener-
ous-nearted and accomplished lady. the alb
sorong passlon OF whose life was love for her
husband. His wishes were her law and her
conduct was governed entirely by his actions
and desires. his pecuniary concerns we're 81
sealed bOok to her, but as she lacked the eEer-
g to investigate such matters. notwithstanding
thelr lnOmentouS Importance to herself his un-
Willingness to communicate anything respect
ing them was not deemed hardship
wa Of =
WomankInd who are never known to refuse
Obedlonce to husbands in unctiOns-liying
as II were, without a mind, n nero automatic
and lnSensato human shape. The world praised
her as good wife and excellent woman. hut
We cannot think she was entitled to either COM
phnent: For our part, let our good woman
anu vito. be woman Of thought and spirit
who has a will OF her own and gay of her
own. and cannot be shifted hither and thither
as others may direct. Suppose she does con-
tend with and contradict us or even deal us n
slap occasionally, ii were better so, than to be
y0ked TO dull, unthnking mass of flesh and
bones, VINO would impose upon us all the intel
lectuaI labor
For Mrs D., however, there was the excuse
tIat her husband subjected her to mental en-
slavement, and occasion never existed for
that activity Of mind which alone induces a
vigorous exercise of judgment Hence. these
qualities were subiued, and in a little time an.
became incompetent to advise with and console
her husband, or educate and train her chill
dren- There can be no doubt that she loved
the latter, but peTceiving that all their
physlcal wants were amply provided for
was fain to conclu le that she had discharged
her duty towards them by bringing them into
the world. She had not time TO impart TO
them any Ot those lessons which are only TO be
learned through mother tuition; or, if she
mad, her time was pre-Occupied in the accom-
p'ishnent OF some task imposed by her hus-
band, or In indulgence in fashionable pleasure
She was always kind to them, however, fire.
quently caressing them, and gratifed almost
every wish they uttered
The children of this unexempIary coupIe
were Henry, Ellen and William, who, at the
date OF our hrst memorandum were aged re-
specuvely about nineteen, fifteen and twelve
They had been reared by nurses sewing girls
school-teaehers, and professors of dancing mu-
sic, and French. Whatever of morality and
recntude they possessed WAS gathered at ran
dom from associates, instead of being derived
from It's appropriate source-their parents Ii
Is only with Ellen's history we have any pre.-
ent business, yet, that it may be more readily
understood We will casually glance at that Of
her oldest brother.
This youth was endowed with excellent ca.
Paeltles, but being east into the midst of life
without that stamina which controls folly and
keeps evil IN subsection, his mind naturally alb
sorbed those elements most obviously predOmi-
naLt In society and which, unfOrtu IA tely, are
OF the baser sort, tending only to degrade
Hence, 1t was hardly TO be expected that he
would seek high minded and honorable COM
panlons, or endeayOr 10 occupy an elevated So
cial position. Selfshness, Of that description
which creates within us an utter indifference
about the condition of others, and induces us
with unhealthy avidity, to seek our own enjoy
ment, early became his characteristic. Those
who are governed by this disposition, grow
reckless concerning the welfare Of their dearest
friends Pleasure becomes their religion, and
self their god; and We once knew a deyout
woIshIPper at the shrine, who left the bedside
0t hl. dying vile to crafty his unholy passion
by attending public festival Such beings
are incarnations of mans greatest folly, and
sach was Henry, although but a youth To
ascertain the most rational method of enjoy-
ment required labor, and he was not will
ing TO undergo this, he madly plunged into
such yiciousneSs as presented itself.
His education was limit ted and Au Dprticial IN