Litchfield enquirer., 1861-11-28
AlisfeIla,1p.
HOW SHE MANAGED.
BY -RENA LILA HAYS.

Pelsondi CndlIi-d IoFeiv cOmple&lOn :; her hail is tiaxen and her eyes light gray her form and features are only tolerable, and her foot and hand decidedly large; her face ill repose is cold and impassive, and her manner repellipg but when interested, the dimpng smile that lights it up makes it for the moment almost bewitch. ing. She is not accomplished, only moderately amiable and has in truth no prominent points
 ou think her peculiar but can never remark a pecuarlty about her you cannot for your life tell whether you love her or not. At times YOU are provoked by her indifference and can think of a thousand faults she has, and again YOU think that whatever others may think to you she is the dearest little girl in the world. You always love her under protest {; she is caprcious as an April day, she is by no meansIpopnlar yet some think her perfection; she is the devoted nurse of an invalid mother and the most judi ciously indulgent of sisters to her little brothers No lnclemency of weather or place of amusc- ment keeps her from the services of her church. She IS selfsacrificing without thinking of it, and does her lavors in way that no one else observes 1t. She is sincere to bluntness and often speaks her mind when it is decidedly none of her busi- ness. She won't entertain you unless she likes you; though always civil, she laughngly remarks that she Is to selfish to converse with unconge- nal persons; that she chooses neither to bore them or herself"
 And yet she is "belle ;"not indeed, in the ballroom sense of tie word but respecting sub- stantial offers. At party you never see her under the full blaze of q chandelier chatting with half dozen fops; She never dances and II you look, you will See her in modest yet ami mated discourse with one of the most eligible men Tn the room. Her success is mystery to all. She is never without some special case on hand, some one who fora month or two will be always with hor in 1;o Lo. and brings her books and flowers then unnoted ceases his attentions, and acquantauces say sneernsly, yet with secret envy, What do you think? Alicine Elliott has another beau !- Walter Goodwin, now. We'll, do wonder what the men sec in her!'
 As her old bachelor uncle, we keep secrets" together. It was only last evening on the bal cony as sat smoking my cigar, that she told me Harry Van Vert had done her the "distin- gulshed honor of offering himself--N ow, this same Harry is the most unimpresbe and withal unexceptionalle young man know, considered prize by all our country society. stared at her in surprise then slowly removing my cigar, I said :-
 I'll give you that dirmonl ring you wanted Alicne, if you will only tell me how yoa man ase.'
 "A bargan' she cried. eay|v ''only you must keep my n1et!ns '1o',.ooi d profound se cret."
 "Agree!
 "We then, I'll cali ,..ten vu Nv personal charms as yoa well khow l:i,y be politely s.y!- (" inbtlt Fate no :ils latpns. Was c:i"l an an gel only last -niclt As d child. was painfully cocloH.i ot ;Iie fact tie more st that nly cousin whom Niy parents n,lo.ted was unculnmonly beautiful she is married now Fu"n as 6 cllii,l she had 'nany vvils: l w;,s 70 cl,srussttt in my books to care or tll'n!k much of them, You know promised to lc blue" in those days. wrote rhymes and had literary as,irations !u ki- ly common sense las driven all <uci, nouscnse out Of me. l was ltfcr .ealous-- in fact never troubled ny head with such niatters-uutiI one evening overheard a conversation between a lady friend and yourself. You were my oracle in those days. and your opinion was my guide in everything.-fou were praising Mays lovely face and other attractions and speaking of the admiration which she already excited. As for Ailclne," you said. she's an odd little thing ug- ly and literary and only agreeable to her int- mate friends; doubt if she ever has an admir- er.' The wcrls impressed, but did not offend me they only suggested a new train ofthought. My literary aspirations were only that others might be proud of me you most of all. Your words showed me that my object was unattaina- ble by such means; that you like the rest of man. kind only valued q women in propo. tion to the power she Weldcd over your sex. l surveyed myself in the mirror, and found but little to en- courage mo; your words still sounded in my cars, Il doubt Ii she ever has an admirer," and l said to myself aneW sec From that moment pursued the idea with steady persis .ence through many discouragements- here is no commenting the mental and physical experi- ments made. l tried the language; perversely enough, know Latin and Greek thoroughly, ana can scarcely pronounce correct French phrase. eau paint passably but have only an appreciative genius for music-ju fact never trust myself to play; my voice is too uncertain for singing; my strict ideas prohibit dancing In short, after most earnest endeavors, have failed in every branch that can give pleasure to auy one beyond myself.
 admire beauty passionately I believe would have painted my eyes, if had thought the color would adhere; 1 gave them up in despair My comple xion had the good sense to leave alone My teeth were good, but even the unlimited amount ot rubbing gave them failed to make them white. As for my poor hair, it suffered greatly with nightly curl-papcrs, but it IS straight as ever. Nothing but the caressing I received at home preserved my expression; the fondness Of relatives secured me sufici nt self-compla- cency to keep my face amiable, and chance compliment to my smile made me animated- When untiring exertions have not made in my own behalf to no purpose
 And now formy secret. A steady resolution to be admired did me little good, for my charac- ter is one that is onl ly drawn cut by a congen,al person. General admiration could not hope to achieve; :; must devote myself to special objects. And now, to enlighten you, let me remove lit tie delusion your sex labors under on the subject of making love. May be your think you have some little share in it; but most of it is in your imagination. hold that any sensible girl can bring any man she pleases to her feet, let her be as ugly or anything else as she pleases, except silly; and, with little tact she can secure him. But there are so many ways of acting that can scarcely explain to you; every case requires a modification of the rules. A girl who has even a moderate share of beauty should be thankful, for the great initiatory step to attract him, is half of the battle. If her appearance will do that for her, little tact will secure the rest but an ugly girl has double task, poor thing! But after all, there is even an advantage in being ugly, though you would scarcely think it. You never affect the little airs and graces to lure gentlemen on, which are so urimistakable and defeat their own object. For instance, you couldn't we'll make eyes at any one. with such i palr as have. Nor would you coquettishly ralse your dress to reveal my foot, As for snoWlng oH my hand-wouldn' a person be de- mented?
 Imagine yourself at party-gentlemen wea- ry of beauties and showy girls, early in the eyen- ing And now consider me as speakino of sol;oi be men ; 1 wouldn't waste my breath talk;no fo dandies; they have scarcely more ideas than a