Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-04-04
Fo- the Patriot.
IVY LEAVES -. BY RANDALL.
NO vu.-HoMELY GIRLS.

use the word homely, because it expresses
fully my meaning. consequently use it in its
strictest sense. The want of personal beauty
has always been by women, considered as
a misfortune; because nature treated them
roughly. and deckCd them not in robes of
external splendor, they feel sighted; but all
miSfortunes admit of consolation, aud many
of them under judcious lite may be turned
into blessings. But searched my sighted
reader beneath thy hOmely features, and see
what nature has hid there; ah, there, are
treasures of unspeakabe value; beneath the
neglected exterior may be found gems of the
first magnitude. Tut when found they must
not be allowed to remain untouched, vigor-
ously polish them, and let their hidden
lustre shine forth in all their brlliancy.
Experience has proved that plain or homely
women are entitled to the most esteem.
though they do not excite the passion OF love
at first sight, nor cause strange emotions 10
spring mp in the hearts of certain class of
men. whose title | shall nj present refrain
from naming. true, they are not tlattered by
the fashionable world nor cnvied and praised
by those who find their pleasures nowhere
else but in the midst of rrvelry. but trey are
Notwithstanding the loss Of all these treasures
of the CAV, the gems of intellectual society
nay, more, they are the very seasoning I" the
feast of life. without them it wOnld be flat.
stat and Improbable. it may sound strange,
but still l will assert it, that plain women,
those who have no great preteusions to
beauty. are generally q do not say always
found TO be the most agreeable companions OF
life. they are indeed generally speaking the
best daughters, the best wives. and the best
mothers.
A youug lady whose person possesses not
external attractions. cannot help but notice
howmuch She 81 neglected at public gatherings
and what universal attention is paid to
beauty: she naturally feels desire to hare
this respect. how shall she succeed in doing
so; as to her features, it is useless to think OF
! altering them. She therefore forms IN her
mind the most iik .ly means of accomplishing
! her desire, she will study to make her con-
vcrSatinn agreeable she will r, adj. ref ct. aud
! remember and adOrn her mind with such
| Jewels, a shall claim the admiration oil
| intellectual society. she will 5 ore her mind
with knowledge. which will produce its silfin
| conversation, with all the graccs of Ease ana
| el gance, the Improvement of her mind will
! have a tendency to mOliy and humanize her
! disposition, for she will wisely argue that
| envy, aud vanity will add 10 features
| naturally worse than plain. distortion and
| uglincsS. she will exert herself to hide her
detects not merely by intelligence and good
nature. but by being u.s. full, she will study
! the practical parts of domestic economy, those
! parts of humble but valuable knowledge that
the fine lady with pretty face would scorn
| to acknowledge, those sensible, good naturcd
and useful her society will be sought by mra
| of sense and character, and il any OF them are
| disposed TO marry she will be chosen IN
| preference TO yonder beauty with all her
| bewitching smiles. and studied graces.
Her disposition has been sweetened by her
| own exertions. for her plain person secluded
| her from vanity, hence she will be delight
| fully pleasant az well a tender and alice
| tionatc companion, she seeks and finds com
! fort and happiness at home, and desires not
! to mingle in the circl' of the gay and reckless,
! but if she can look back and find no domestic
! duty omitted, she feels that the day has been
! happily closed. thus rendering her life (aS
we'll as the life of the partner Of her JOYS and
| Sorrows) one continued sun>hln".
Sigh not then my hOmely friend for tranSi-
| tory beauty. rather sigh for that beauty whose
! brightness shall be n beacon light to thee
| through thy life; though years may bow thee
! down. and sorrows light upon thee, and
spread clouds over thy path yet there will
| softly steal through their darkness gentle rays
| of consolation. whose welcome brightness
will light thee in peace aud happiness to thy
grave.
| NASHVILLE. April 2. 1859.