Weekly Trinity journal., 1861-08-10
a Great Mans Advice 90 Young Lady.

II was in the year 1853, long before the war of
Independence, that Colonel Washington, as he
who was to be the founder of the American Re-
public was then called, crossing on bust ness
ferry at Pemuca, branch of the York river, was
stopped by request to partake of the hospitality
of Mr.. Chamberlayne the owner of a domain in
Virginia whore the name of the Colonel was
honored The strict Washington insisted on
pressing forward, but the Virginia Amphitron
would take no denial urging, among other tempt
ations, that he would introduce his friend to
charming widow, then beneath his roof This
was Mrs. Gusts, (nee Dandridge) aged twenty
six, who had married gentleman who was both
colonel and an eminently successful painter
By his premature death Mrs. Custis " found her
self at once a very young widow, and among the
wealthies in tae colony"
Col Washington came to dine, and remained
to WOO. He was fascinated by the widow, and
marrying her, lived never to repent the step. The
new Mrs. Washington had n step son, whose son
Mr. George Washington Parke Custls- is the
author of certain memoirs' OF the great man,
Just issued, and he and hs sister were adopted 10y
Washngton This young lady, Nelly Gusts,
when sixteen, and after her first ball. had told
her reverend guardian that she cared nothing Tor
youth of the present day" The sound sensible
advice then given by Washington, at that time
President of the United States, to his adopted
daughter is of universal application to those who,
rs she then was, are unengaged;
Love is said to be an Involuntary passion
and it is therefore contended that it cannot be
resisted. This Is true In part only, Tor, ike all
things else, when nourished aud supplied pentl-
fully with aliment, ii is rapid in its progress
but let these be withdrawn, and, IL may be stlied
in its birth or much stnted in its growth. For
example, u woman (the same may be said OF the
other sex) all beautiful and accomplished, Will
while her hand and heart are undlsposed ot turn
the heads and sets the circle in which she moves
on fire Let her marry aud what Is the conse-
quence? The madness ceases, and all Is quiet
again Why? Not because there is any diminu-
ton in the charms of the lady, but because there
is an end Of hope. Hence 1t follows that love
may, and therefore ought to be, under the guld.
ance of reason for although we cannot avoid
first IMPRESSIONS we may assuredly place them
under guard; and my motives for treating on the
subject are to show you while you remain Eleaner
Parke Cusis. spinster, and retain the resolution
to love with moderation the propriety oil adher-
ing to the latter resolution ut least until you
have secured your game, and by tue way ny
which it may be accomplished.
"When the fire Is beginning to kindle and your
heart growing warm, PROFOUND these questions to
it: Who is the invader? Have | II competent
knowledge of him? IL he u man OF good charac'
ter "a man of sense 2 For, be assured, a sensi-
ble woman can never be happy with fool
What has been his walk of lifc2 Is he gambler.
a spendthrift, or drunkard Is his fortune suf-
!
accustomed to live, and my sisters do live and
one to whom my friends can have no reasonable
objection 2 If these nterrogations can satisfac-
torily be answered, there will be but one more to
be asked. That however, is an important one.
Have | sufficient ground to conclude that his
affections are engaged by me?' Without this.
the heart of scnsibility will struggle against
passion that is not reciprooated -delicaoy, Gus
tom, or call It by any epithet you will, having
precluded all advances on your part. The de-
claration, without the most Indirect invitation
of yours, must proceed from the gentleman to
render it permanent and valuable; and nothing
short of good sense and an easy, unaffected con-
duet can draw the line between prudery and CO.
quetry. 1t would be no great departure from
the truth to say that it rarely happens otherwise
than that thoroughbred ooquette dies in oeliba-
cy, as a punishment for her attempts to mslead
Others by encouraging looks, words, or actions
given for no other purpose than to draw men on
to make overtures that they may be rejected"