Smyrna times., 1860-02-02
THE C0QUETTE.

THE C0QUETTE.
Every age has had its coquetry. Greece, in
her palmy days, might boast of a Lais and an
Aspasia. Rome was by no means free from
such frisky damsels, whilst Egypt possessed
Rost Of them in the person of her fair Queen
There is something about the species both het-
erocIincal and anamalous. They possess an
ldiosyncracy peculiar to themselves. Their
tastes stfer from the main body of their sex.-
Their bOldeSt trait is levIty, and wantOnness is
their prominent charaC erlstlc. SO restless, so
sportlye, so alluring, and 50 coy, that the un-
wary rustic is frequently their victim. Always
watchful, never dormant, they are ever on the
wing, and perpetually in quest of fresh victo-
rles. Arts and snares are their weapons,
which they constantly brandlsh with sklll aud
address. They concoct their lans and devise
their schemes with wonderful facility, and use
the most ingenious tactics to insure success.
They adopts to dssembe, and vary in
thought like the spots of the camceOn. Con-
ceited, crotchety, whimsical, the coquetIe's mind
is a whirlpool, and she is prover0lally capri
ciOus
Always occupying the most conspicuous po-
sitiou, ever obtrusively in tie van, and painting
for nutoriety, she is lavish of her wiles to gull
the credulous and trepan the simpleton. Vain
of her charms, she seeks every occasion 10 prod
gally display them. lnstinctiyely sly and insld-
Gus, her sole aim is to entrap and begulle. In
ordinately elated at every trltlng and transient
conquest, with renewed ardor she resumes the
warfare. She winks at one, she ogles at ano-
ther, ard annihllates some hapless cavalier
with an amorous look or u furtive glance. She
possesses, in no ordinary degree, the gift of vcr
satlliiy, and her Elasticity Is only equalled by
her facility to allsre. What singular phe-
nomenon! What rare combination of antago-
nistic and incongrUous elements. What hy-
brid, nondescript libel on her sex. Superficial
in many respects, she magnes herself a sage,
and in imposing upon others she is duped her.
SELF DIvested Of lesiy, stranger to virtue,
she is necessarily unscrupulous, unFrinclpled,
and impure. lTrevocaby engrossed by the
sensual pleasures alone, she is constantly a
prey to her own morbid fancy. Her glowing
foibles she artfuly endeavors to conceal. Now
the flrt, anon demure, then pert, next mild,
now displaying garruHus loquaclty, soon after
affecting an air of sanctity, size is the very en-
bodIment of contrarlety, deception, and imPos-
! ture!
Yet for all that, she artfully endeavors to ap-
pear untainted by guile to wear the robe of pu-
/ riiy and innocence. But in this effort her cir
cumspecton betrays her. She throws the bait,
and is caught in her own net. In aiming TO Sc
duce others, she frequently fails, and in turn
becomes the victim Of her own conspiracy. In
the plenitude of folly she forgets the prudent
maxim: The art is TO conceal the heart" Such
! is brief outline of her internal operations. Ii
remains TO give faint sketch of the expedi-
euts most frequently adopted to realize her
aims and secure her ends. And this is by no
means The easiest part of the subject. 1t is a
] frui ~ nd la Of pY
If time and space permitted, we might stretch
its elasticity to its utmost tension. But the ta-
bed story of the poetica desert-bird sinks into
insgnificance before the actual wonders OF this
living prodigy. This decoy.bird is more than
u myth-she Is yielding, plastic, plant reall-
ty. She is decked in lnnumerable hues-shs
is blazoned in an infinite variety of cOlors. HeI
main object is to attract, and this seems to en-
gross all powers of her soul. All the qualities
of her mind are concentrated in this focus.
To accomplish this one great end, no labor
is spared, no effort is left unlred. To realize
this cherished wish, she exerts all the tenta
q tive means at her disposal. Attred in all tht
trapping OF gayety, she energies from her abode
like the sun from a cloud intoxicated witt
vanity she struts abroad like the peacock, in
vested with the most magnificent plumage.-
She IS adorned with the most exquisite art Il
brighten her charms on occasions. Loade
with superfuity of hounce and furbelows an
all the paraphernalia Of meretrlcious tlnsel, tn
I peerless Ducnea goes forward to kill. Ever
3, look has its spell, and every motion its charm
With profUsion of rings and collars and brace
let's, and buckles and golden appendage O
watch and chain, with massive stomacber
boot, she fancies herself the richest, the faires
= the most suburb creation. She treats he
Is equals with scorn, affects dlsdain for her be
v ters, and drunk with the imaginary glory OF th
:, hour, she is the beau ideal of perfection, al
proximating closely to divinity itself.
II Nor is the toilet exclusively confined TO nt
h lher parts of her graceful. delicate, alternate
a frame. 4" The dome of thought, the palace
the soul" receives its due share of care and a
tention. The cofeure seemingly tried to in
y prove upon the art. Her golden tresses OF
D. spiral rnglets fall gracefully over her shou
a. ders, like the gossamer wings Of an angel.
huge comb constitutes crest and towers abo,
all, rendering the whole singularly roma ntic.-
nS II is adorned with wreaths and the air is pre-
ns mated with balmy odors from the vast amou
IL of powders, oils, cosmetics poured upon b
n head, rendering it far more valuable outsI
than inside. Such, genlle reader, is but
VI faint picture of this precious specimen of h
Of maniiy, usually termed coqueue." De
Mt, bachelor! you may know her at a glance.
!, When you first behold her, retire. Should s
advance, run, if not so swift as the telegraI
'' at least with the speed of a grayhound.
re.
'fy II you fall into misfortune, disengage yo
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