The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-11-06

lcmen hence have something passive sbou
hem, ike ladies among ourselves, and the
may often he seen retiring, exhausted an
lroOping from ladies' society, 70 sink int
silence aud indifference in the drinking 50
looms.
THE WORD "ELEoANr."
The American ladies have also received
into their every day English l,nerac
many other French expressions which tn
English emplov rarely, or give very dif
iertnt meaning to: Thus. they have re
markable propensity for the term elegant.
1t has grown one Of their favorite words
which they inccssantly repeat, and whos'
broad and various application is ne littl'
characteristic # them. English ladies
generally apply this word, borrowed from
the French, to articles Of luxury, to pro
ducts Of the lower branches Of art, where j
is in it's place, and means so much as pleas
ing in exterior and FORM" English ladies
would never think Of expressing thei
pleasure with things Of greater interna
value, which must he gaugeh by a highr'
by employing the trivial exn-a~
sion Every elegant" Only American Ia dies
do this; they describe as elegant the toilet
and amiable behavior Of their beaux, equal
ly with the garish furniture Of room al
g'istening pith ormolu and enamel. Fo,
the pretty verses an admirer lays at their
feet, they have, too, no higher praise than
that they are Every elegant, very elegant
inied." They also call the speech Of a
high standing political orator very elegant.
A A,wer in garden. bed. the fragrant lily
or the regal rose. is only called by them ian
Elegant flower" Even picture by Raphael.
H. or Corregio receives in tho outburst of
their enthusiasm, no other attribute; il
they return from Switzerland, and are ask
ed what they have seen amid the Alps,
they praise the elegant scenery" Of the
This unl"cky word, and the
more unlucky predilection for the elegant,
which Is met with at every step among
American ladies', is so deeply rooted in
them, that they have extended the territory
Of the word to extraordinary lengths, both
upwards and downwaris. For instance,
going downward>, they will talk of an "ele.
grnt dish they have eaten; and going up.
wards, what We call q good or classical
taste, is generally characterized by them
as an elegant taste"
LADIES IN PUBLIC.
The Americans, comparing themselves
with other natinns, are very proud Of the
fact that ladies hold so his gh a position
among them. But to obtain this reputa
ton and praise for their country is often
attended with very unpleasant consequen
ces. The ladies' tyrannize over the Who'll
land, and interfere in everything. They
can in no way b. escaped, aud man can
scarce ever dispense with their protection
Everywhere they take the first and best
places for themselves and their proteges -
That they should play the prominent part
in social circles, and parade like birds of
paradise by IT,. side Of their husbands,
whom they cast into the shade, is only na
tural, and they cannot b. blamed for it,
hut they extend their influence far beyond
their their natural and domestic circle
Unluckily, th.y are very curious, and
hence fond Of being present at the sittingS
If the scientific, geological, geographical.
and historical societies, where they do
no good, and merely tend t"
render the discussions Of the sncietirs Shal
ow, aud distract the earn,stneSs Of their
|abors. In the public popular lectures,
which are SO admired in all the cities of
America, the ladies almost entirely set the
fashion. a lecturer who displcas.s them
IS ruined man, even though ne were back
I'd up by an army Of men il, on the other
hand, a handsome, SMART lecturer, full ot
anecdotes, gains their favor, he can max,
mis- fortune with few courses. For what
he fashionable ladies Of one place hav,
''eari those Of another also wish to hear,
aud such a lecturer receives invitations
from the most remote towns.
TnE PRIVILEGED SEX.
On board the steamers, aud in other
modes Of communication throughout tn.
country, they la,iics have every sort OF
privilege. Tn the railways they exert a
vigorous right Of appropriation over the
gentleman, even should he have taken his
scat at u previous station. On many other
occasions, such as-at theatres, in the gale
ries of the House, or wherever there may
be any thing to be seen or heard, the "lord
of creation can never focl safe in his seat,
however early he may have taken possession
of it. Ii any one tap him on the shoulder
and whisper in his eur the words Of terror,
"A lady," be must 81 ring up at once, anu
is swept aside like dust by the crinoline,
to seek another seat where he can.
And yet 1t would be possible to endure
all this, and more, if the ladies united with
their authority, graciousncss and pleasant
show OF gratitude, and # they-the pettsd
and the bLls.es-did not regard all the SER
vices and indulgence ot the nen with such
and as tribute necessarily
theirs. Generally, however they behave as
if the men did nothing but their duty
You may dislOcatc your spine in picking
up any thing n lady has let fall. or, like Ra-
leigh. lay down your coat before her, so
that she may pass dryshOd over q puddle,
and rarely will you be rewarded even by a
smile. And all thus robs the weaker sex of
its sweetest charm, the gentle and irresist-
ible power by which it elsewhere enchains
and thralls the heart Of man. Among uS
the stronger being bows to woman, and the
weak darling, conscious Of her need anu
support, rewards him with her gratitude. =
But, in America, Frldolin does his duty like
4 negro slave, aud, OF course, now then
grows weary Of the affair. 1t is not un-
frequent to hear the chivalouS Americans,
when out Of their wives earshot, indulge in
the most awful declarations vi rebellion.
tue POOR HUSBANDS.
In America this terribly degenerated re-
verenc. foI women, which might be called
more truly pa,np, ring and sp''iling., is Ha
turally felt most by thehu>bands, who have
entered upon life long slavery. liza love-
|y American Girl sinks INTO the arms Of n
man, to be bound to him for life, she does
so much in thu same way as she throws
herself into her easy chair. Marriage is
her pillow, her sofa, on which she intends
to repOse. Upon it she conf
dcntly throws all TIE burden If her cares
and troubles; sh.' regards the husband as
her factotun, who has to provid. for all
her wants. lie must procure her . house
according to her fancy, he must furnish
This house exactly as she wishes it, he must
arrange and administer kitchen and cellar,
and even 60 every morning before break.