The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-07-03


him crusty, gives vent to his feelings af-
ter the following manner, in the Spring
Blossoms, neat little paper published
during the late "Gonzaga FAIR held in
Washington city. Probably his want
Of clocks to soap" is the reason of his
raid on traits and MICE" Hear him:]
+ ...e GRATIS AND MICE"
A LETTER FROM THE ''oLD BACHELOR"
Mr.. Editor THE other morning, as
Jack andI returned from mass at ST.
Peters, we prolonged our stroll, as in
deed we do every morning, now that
the weather is fine, until we came to
our usual chatting place under the tall
locust tree in the Capitol grounds. My
mind was full of the Fair and the pa
per, so much so that l could hardly keep
my thoughts on my books as Father
Boyle said mass. Finally, having fin
ished his pipe: "Tom,o says Jack,
"won't the people think Rats and Mice
queer subject to write about? Do you
really think the Spring Blossoms will
print any such stuff. Why can't you
write something edifying, to do the
young folks good; Something about in
dustry and economy" Jack" / re-
piled camly, for never get angry with
my old friend, "this subject is chosen
because am sure nobody else will steal
it. You know what little difference it
makes as to the subject, so writer
has really something to say. Dean
Swift claimed that he could make poe
try on broomstick; and you remember
how Sterne sentimentalized on dead
donkey. One of Burns sweetest poems
is about mouse. These writers were
successful because they bad something
to say and said it. Now, think have
something to say, and shall endeavor to
say it." "Have you given your ideas
shape?" eyes," said, "here they are,
roughly written; but l must write them
out palmer, or the compositor can never
make them out" Thereupon, after ask
ing Jack to make any suggestions, I read
as follows:
"You must not be angry, Mr.. Editor,
for making this honely selection for
your paper. l do notpropose to give you
an essay on natural history, but select
my subject from one.pf fhe commonest
phrases of social life. 1fyou willask any
trim little woman that endeavors to be-
guile you into an extra Chance" why
she looks so pretty and bewitching, she
will probably shipper and say traits and
mice" If you ask the young damsel
whom you have promised to escort to
church, why she keeps you so long wait
ing, and only reach church in time to
stand up at the gospel, shewill say traits
and mice" In my early days--oh, long
time ago There was no such follies.
Then the young ladies grouped their hair
in cones, and wore immense combs, and
twisted it into fantastic shapes, and
adorned themselves with immense
jewels. When our grandmothers went
to church, they probably kept the young
gentlemen waiting as long as they do
now. There was, however, something
dignified, stately and impressive in these
old danes. They did not descend to the
flippancy of rats and mice. When Mrs
Madison received her friends in the
White House, she looked like queen.
Can you see anything queenly in rats
adorned! How would Maria Theresa
have looked reviewing her armies as
they arrayed themselves against the in
vader, with her hair crimped and twist
ed, and torn and singed. Think of the
high-born, brave, and unfortunate Marie
Antoinette in rats and mice! No doubt
these women had fashions which we call
absurd. Queen Bess l must confess to
be the ugliest woman in history. + keep
her picture In my chamber for that
reason. To me, whose young affections
have been blighted, the picture of an
ugly woman is a joy and consolation. ]
look at her cold, pinched, and callous
cheeks, and wonder if Mrs. McMurphy,
of McMurphy Hall, gazes with such eyes
upon the potato fields of Ballinsloe."
T"Don't tell us that" interposed Jack,
rathertestily, there's good in all things,
and certainly in rats and MICE" "Just
what I'm coming to-" says 1.
"Now, Mr.. Editor, I would not have
any of my young lady friends imagine
that propose to return to the days of
Queen Elizabeth, or even of Mrs. Madi-
son. Why not study simplicity in this
as in all things. Here are the Madonnas
of Raphael. You have all seen the
Madonna della Seggiola.' I call that
womanly taste. Look at the simplicity
with which her head is dressed. There
are no waterfalls, or puffs, or rolls, or
crimps, or rats and mice The hair is
combed smoothly, and folded over the
ears. In La Vierge aux Painters, you
see it perfectly plain, brushed from the
forehead, and tied in knot at the end.
In the Madonna del Cardellino' you
see the same plainness, with the eXcep-
ton of single braid over the side of the
head, which increases the beauty, for it
shows that this simplicity was the result
of as much care as the twisting and tor
turing OF the present day. If you wish,
however, perfection irr womanly taste.
look at the exquisite Madonna eli San
Sisto.' Compare the attire of our Blessed
Motherwith that of Saint Barbara, who is
at her feet. With allreverence to the Saint
her adornment is strongly suggestive of
rats and MICE This shows how keen
and true were Raphael's conceptions.
He imagined that Saint might venture
upon the ways of fashion and worldly
taste; but in painting the most heavenly
of all women-the perfection of love and
purity and beauty-he could only create
a faultless type by aiming at the most
perfect simplicity. As l stand at my
post, feel sometimes like saying to the
bevy of girls around about: Lady lasses
one and all, let my gray hairs beg the
privilege, and allow me to take liberty.
Let me pull out these rolls of cotton, and
hair, and silk, these nondescript curls
and twists, these rats and MICE as Won
so quantity call them. Let your hair
fall In braids or tresses as nature intend
ed, and instead of copying the hideous
faces of English and French courts, that