Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-02-04
HINTS TO THE UNWARY.


HINTS TO THE UNWARY.
The soft impeachment of Aattery is often IRE
ferred when it is scarcely believed. Alady seldom
thinks gentleman is fattering whrr he is really
pouring the delicious poison into her willing ear
II is when hr ha!ts when compliments are exhaust
ell. when language cannot convey sentiments more
delicate and tender than have alrenly been ex-
pressed, and still unsatisfei, she puts on her
sweetest looks and most fascinating charms to
extort more lavish praise, that the thought flashes
through her mind that perhaps it is all fattery-
This is the critical moment. If man can rise to
the requirements Of the occasion, if he has no re
gard for the TRUTH if he will only tax his imagi-
nation for holder metaphors, if he will not contlne
himself to the common place topics of roses, vlo-
lets and lilies. but compare her to the angels, and
bright-winged. cherubc host that gladdens the
Sabbath Of the skies with ph-nlusc--and
whatever other extravagant comparison that seems
most particularly inappropriate, then he IS safe
and may confidently expect to escape the amiaple
accusation of being "great tlatterer.'
But. TO enter into this very interesting and ab-
struse theme more fully, let us first consider who
NAV be hattercd. ard; secondly the "ways t.nd
means by which this may be effected In the
first instance we lay If DOWN rs an indsputable
fact, that MI the lincal descendants of ADAM and
EVE, and their collateral relations, the descendants
of monkeys and ourang. outangs, are susceptible
of 1attery. We take this broad platform. not has
,ily and inconsiderately, but after mature fore
thought, because the question is one that requires
deem consideration. Every one who has duly con.
templated human nature, rs exhibited in its va
rious manifestations, must have been impressed
with this philosophic belief. But if we will only
consider moment the element in man upon
hich the hattcrer predicates his hypcrboles, we
will instantly admit the ustness of this conclusion
"All is vanity" said the wisest of men, and the
satirical SWIFT calls vanity the 'food of fools v
In the same spirit Of rlcule. ha;tery has been
termed counterfeit coin to which self-love alone
gives currency Vanity is the perversion o.
self ESTEEM, legitimate and useful element in
man, and without which, he could never have the
confidence to undertake, nor the ambition to ex-
ecute, any high anil noble resolve. But every
man for it is not confined to the lades-passesses
sufficient fund Of vanity, scif-love. self-esteem
or whatever you please to callit, to make Hatcry,
judciously applied, always safe operation. We
have known men who really possessed talents
whicl. would have commanded admiration, pridiug
themselves upon their looks, their lineage long,
their dress or some einconsiderabe accomplishment
or mcretricious ornament. We conclude then that
all can be flattered, in some manner.
As to the method, of course this must necessa-
rily be modified by the circumstances of the case.
Fit is desired to aatter n lady-her age, assocla-
tionS, degree of bearty-intellectual or sensual,
&C.. are to be taken into consideration. But we
suppose it is scarcely necessary to enter into PR
ticuars on this point, as all understand how to
hatter, and we have never seen any one who did
not know how to receive it. But is it right? a
certain degree of it is every day sanctioned by
the usages of society under the euphonious title
Of roliteness The laws of hospitality require
certain amount of attention to all guests, and that
we like other persons better, is no reason why we
should carry our frankness so fur as to offend by
proclaiming it aloud We should have relish ed
the acqunintanccship of the shakspearean charac-
ter. who
"Woud not hatter Neptune for his trident;
Or Jove for his power to thunder"
We can fancy the figure he would have cat amcng
the ladies by saying everything that he thought.
We can imagine many ''rare and radiant maid
en-" with pouting lip and flashing eye, "nursipg
her wrath to keep it warm" Would he not have
mad. sad havoc among those who have nothing to
boast of but few curls, pretty set of teeth,
ruby lip, or q delicate hand He would soon have
been voted down for his rudeness. Say what we
please about fattery, q certain degree is necessa-
ry to lubricate the jarring wheels of society ms
now organized. SpENsER asked long ago,
"Who would care to do brave deed,
Or strive in virtue others to excel,
If none should yield him his deserved need,
Due praise. that is the spur OF DUNG WELL