The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1860-02-16

batteries and insncerilies, proceeding from
her wish to have everybody pleased. But
in spite of her faults, we love her; she is
human, and we sympathize with and for
give her, and when David Dodd, 4be
rejected suitor, at Hast wins the prize he so
we'll deserved, and "curls his powerful arm
around her." we feel disposed, like Asmo-
deus in the play of the ".Little Devil" to
demand "our SHARE"
The author of that strong, rich book
"Adam Bede," has eviaced capability Of
drawing lovablo haracter-having just
missed it in Dinah aud Hetty Sorel. Di-
nah's pure, oval, 1ower-like face, with its
delicate touches of color on lips and
brows, is sweet picture; and even her
cant is so quantity simple and earnest, that
ii enhances the interest with which we re-
gard her; but she is trifle too eyangeli
cal, and there is not enough of piquantness
or rich warmth in her nature to quicken
our admiring respect into love; while
poor, sweet, pretty Hetty with her dimpled
pink limbs, her childIike vanity and weak
ness, and her winning, kitten-like ways J.
if it were not that the bligh! of sin falls so
soon upon her beauty, we could almost
love her, notwithstanding her shallow
ness.
But after all, it is the great master artist
the Michael Angelo of literature, whose
clear'seeiug genius read the most folded and
delicate leaves Of the human heart, and
whose knowledge of men, and more espe-
clally of women, seems nspiration-after
all, it is Shakespeare himself who has be-
queathed to us the most life-like portrait
of fascinating woman. Not his artless
Miranda, his tender Perdita, his gifted Por-
tia, his high-spirited Katharine, his impas-
stoned Juliet; but ono who combines all
the qualities OF these-the piquant, charm.
ing, witty, noble minded and warm-bearted
Rosalind," of Gas you Like it," Was
ever true woman Qruc in the sense of natu,
raD so truly portrayed See how irge-
mousl y she conceals her own feelings in
those masqurading interviews with Orlando
in the forests of Ardens, and how preltily
her wit plays battleIoor and shu!tlecock
with his in good humored retoN! With
what wonany artifce she conrives-under
cover of her boys dress assumed for the
protection Of herself and her cousin-to
make Orlando repeat the story of his love
for her (whom he supposes to be far away.
and thus enjoys all the pleasure Of hearing
&" that tale, to every womau's ear so sweet"
without the embarrassment Which would at
tend such declaration, were she in her own
proper person and petticoats /! And when,
in spite Of male attire and assumed manli-
ness, the loving; anxious woman makes it
self manifest, and she swoons on suddenly
hearing of Orlando's wound, how c!evcrly
and quickly she turns it off by exclaiming,
lleigho! a body would think this well
counterfeited; l pray you tell your brother
how well counterftited."
Can our story writers give US occasionally
by way of variety, some such sprightly,
captivating, flesh and blood heroines as this
Rosalind "a heroine with little ani,na
ton, and spice Of humor about her,
though by no means the female monkey,
which Mrs. Southwood manages to intro
duce into all her novels-being merely a
disgusting and comparatively harmless lit.
tie ape in "Jacqulina" "Cap" and half
a dozen besides, but coming out regular
Gorilla, with full grown teeth, in the " Lii
onne" of her last Ledger production
Not such extravagant creations rs these,
OH any account, but such heroine as
Wordsworth has described ~
"a creature, not too bright or good
For human natures duly food, ,
For simple pleasures, harmless wiles, s ! 5:
Praise, blame, love, kisses, tears and smiles, ri
with an ample fund of good sense. ard
good humor, a warm heart5and qpiek ksen:
sibilitics, and why may I not add, "a rosy
cheek and brightege- -albeit tho pale
and plain heroine iissall the, fashion ~
Why should l,eroines be made sail ON and
ugly, when it is obvioulys contrary to na-s;
ture' Health should ! wait ON youth;
and to. youth, health, and ehssg nll6sss, !
beauty is most frequently lie hand
while these austere, strong willedi person;
ages, whose acquaintance we max ID mod.
ern stories, are usually pale taciiturn; said
far toe. often in the habit Of fmekipg theiu.s
selves miserable about something of i6,ths 6thss.s
The popularity Of Mrs. sonahwotth
has proved that even such iiea
caricasares of woman, =. afssabsss
those grave petticoated philosopk b, sss
"Withloads Of learned lumber In. their EsssSs
and with aims, hopes, and sorrows bsYsdpa
our sympalhies. ~ ! 6: