Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-01-20
YaSitsi 9tpartmtnt.
For the Spirit Of the Age.
FLIRTING.

FLIRTING.
According to Walker, to "Airt, is to CO
uuctte;' and to "coquette, is to treat with
amorous tenderness We have heard of
many definitions, and all agree on one
point; that is, that it means, to win the
love Of an object, merely for amusement
a Young lady goes out into company inn
pressed with the idea that to conquer, she
has only TO be seen. She studies the taste
OF her different admirers, finds out their
weak points, soon learns to put on" the
CAV, serious, sentimental or innocent look,
(which ever may be most pleasing to the
one she designs to entIap) and soon has
the unsuspecting victim completely in her
power. He thinks her perfect, (and indeed
she Is a perfect a%ctress,) places the most
/. implicit confidence in her word, believes
that all she says or does is caused by mo-
tives Of the purest kind; and at last is led
on by gentle smiles, a few bushes and sighs,
to make the important declaration. Here
the lady, not at all daunted, expresses her
surprised his presumption, is sure that she
has never given him the slightest cause to
imagine, that she would hear such a decla-
ration, and concludes with the assurance
that she will always be his friend, but can
be nothing more With this they part he
to rail over the fair sex in general, she to
4lauQhin her sleeve" over the success of her
plan. Alas that there should be one of
Gods creatures, and a 1Oomdn too, capable
Of such an unlady-like action as flirting.
But let us glance over the other side
A gentleman makes the acquaintance of a
Young lady, concludes it win be a fine way
TO pass off time, and believes that he'll "hy
around" He soon succeeds in keeping off
any other admirer or friend, ingratiates
himself in her good graces, until he finds
himself perfectly secure, then he can with
draw hisattcntions slightly, to let the aOorld
see that he is not IN earnest. The lady in
the mean while believes him all truth and
honor, and all that friends can say or do
caunot change her. He gains her promise
to marry him, and for a while all goes
"mcrry as a marriage bell" But this spe-
cies Of p~retence cannot 90 on forever, and
he soon tires Of his prize. Then he puzzle
his brain for an excuse to get clear OF In
engagement, and at last, intimates that h
has "learned to love another but will full
I'll his engagement provided the lady re
quires it." Or, as a gentleman ] once hear
Of, did, 90 off and marry another, to &c
clear Of the one he is engaged to.
1t is regarded by many as no harm t
try TO lead a person on, provided there is n
Engagement made. l contend that IL
Crong. Let me suppose a case: agent,
mai sees a lady, likes her looks, gets a
quainted, and then visits her. The lac
does not know what his intentions are, al
she only has his actions to Judge by. /
is handsome and intelligent, and his cont
ued and special attentions attract her n
tice. She sees how different his actio
are toward her, and others. She watch
the chances which beam from those CSC
speaking eyes" and thinks how much 10
err and tenderer his voice falls when spe;
ing TO her. And at last, believing her
to be loved, gives up to the blissful Dire
Of worshipping her supposed lover.
knows that he has won her love, but h
ing no idea of carrying the affair any fan
err, dclicately hints TO her, that Hhe has
right to lore any one that of course
is most painful 10 him, bat that az oCas
duty TO tell her, lest she, ere she kneO
might learn 10 loUe him." All this is d,
on his part with the air of one, who VIC
not give a moments %unhappiness fol
world. OF course he does not for a ]
ment suppose that he is giving her pa
and truly he does not know the storm t
he has awakened in her breast.
IT'S seldom, very seldom, that the n
ter chord of aOoman'S heart is touch,
and when it is, death alone can efface
impression made. She may outwai
seem, as gay and happy as before; Ju
her heart, she can never be the same.
this kind of flirting is passed unnoticeC
1t is authorized by the world they do
see the harm done, for they cannot
her heart, or see the storm of passion ra,
there. MINNIE L. RAY
Conwayboro, S. @.