Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-06-09
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For the Spirit of the Are

N'@~ '1PAii ~ vi lile age.
DEAR SPIRIT Did ever you see a Dan.
dy Did you mark well his graces and
PerIettlons Did you take the tout ON
senh OF his entity and non-entity 2 Let
m r''oih the memory of one, as fresh
pm 9reen as 1t comes before my mental eve
Oh his face, and his figure, and his dress
and then his manners, low bcyond reason
D''IGt or nature Once to have seen him
pn all the perfection of his species. will
make mark in recollection not easily oh
llterated. Shut your eyes while I tell him
over to your mind. Yes, shut your ewes
Tor the plain world in its most olowino
hnes and colors has little affinity with the
SiSI't That greets you in the elegant youno
man. ''"S
Ills face is made up of regular doT-like
features, which either by nature have NO
expression, or are cultiDated into that woo
ry look--a face he means shall be stvled
nonchaIant,' no fire in his eye-no ener.
gy IN the curve Of the lip; only miser-
"oie sentmentaism CLEANS from his half
closed Iids-a meaningless smile linpers
around the mouth, or should say appears
there under the chaperonage of his dear
moustache, and only when in the presence
OF the fair for whose favor alone he is
ambitious. His head is a third less +bon
the average size for man. vet his hra;n
Is so amply lodged that it shakes abon+
rom morning till night producingth rat.
tlmg nonsense and clatter that COMPRISE
the sum Of his conversation. But his
mead, this face, this evenly parted. Well
dressed hair are his devout admiration
How those locks wave-how rich tho c,Ioss
produced blythe oleaginous compounds that
assist his toilet The same Jlrl-naners
|crc m rc9Gisitioh yesterday ,Ts inc day T
beforehand could his ooking-gass speak,
it could a tale unfold of long hours of
sweet companionship and tender admira
ton spent before that dear reflector. His
figure--EIeayen be praised for his delicate
waist, his taper limbs, his lovely hands and
feet, and above all his shoulders They
set so we'll and suit his style of head ii. c.
hairy Hsneck is of no importance,
being of the precise length and curve to
preserve his collars without rumpling. His
tailor is invaluable to him. How elegant
ly he gets him up never a button too
few or too many-not an inch too wide
nor too long-not a shade lighter or dar-
ker than the prevailing mode, and that
mode Partisan, PariSian, think of it His
delicate, white hands, (guiltless Of vulgar
toil,) are always set off by linen of the pu-
rest tint, and starchiest style. If embroid-
cry or cambric-frilled bosom chance to be
the fashion, his person displays any a
mount of the latest importation, (for, be it
known, home manufactures are beneath his
interest and attention. lie utterly ignores
the simple garments Of his boyhood, if in
deed he ever passed such period in life,
and in thought he casts plying remem-
brance on these primeval years of fashion
less stupidity.) Noto thanks y the rapid
transit of European styles teaches young
America how to dress. Not always, in
deed, without some additions that bespeak
the individual character and prove an in
dex TO his mind. According as he lacks
genius, he adds fuery to his personal a.
dornment. There is a CLEAN Of glassie1
breast-pin upon his bosom-larger buttons
at his wrists, moro seals and charms to his
watch-chain-' rings on his fingers and
had almost said to complete Mother Gooses
description bells on his toes Perfum
cl gloves and scented handkerehiefs are
Part of his being, as we'll as is the immac
llate tic of his crayat, and unless his boot
are black as ebony and almost tighter thar
the skin, he is wretched
Can't you see him ambling through life
half trotting, half lmping, with the com
petest wisp Of a cane, but oh so graceful
ly--so delicatcly handled Think of him
all bright-all perfect from the topmos
curl on his head to the point of light tha
glances on the toe of his fine boot. Wht
on earth so happy as a Dandy! His mine
only receives the superfcialities of life h
catches only the rays of pleasure that fiji
across his path-the shadows he has no
soul enough to see. He does not dream
that the best enioyments of life are in tn
shaded spots-that the richest colorin
there shows the purest, for he is charme
with his way, and feels a slight, condescer
ding sympathy for all who are loss favore
than himself,
Shall tell you Of his manners the
are most elegant in company, and tits fC
the brilianoy of gay society that he hi
most fully prepared and cultivated himse
He delights in the etiquette of the ba
room, the party, the evening drive
promenade, or the opera, His attitud
are studied-practised-thoroughly lear
ed, and when he hands Miss Serephi
an ice-cream, or presents bouquet she
ready to 90 into rapturos over his graz
his soft glances and softer batteries. III
made and made-up being has not ser
enough for appreciating home virtues, n
has he home manners. If his mother
his sister chance to drop spool of colt
while sitting az their work. be has no @,