The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-08-23
A Lnrer,s cnnfden nes

account of the eccentrcities of Mr. Benjamin Riley,
while playing the lover to one he would "elevate:"
From the time of Horace's Xanthias down % our
own day, men have had knack offallng in love with
their servants. Achilles was consumed with passieh
for Brises Tecmessas beauty moved the manly breast
Of Ajax; Agamemnon infamed by the charms OF
Cassandra; and now Mr.. Benjamin Riley Desborough
has conceived ardent love for Mary Ann Paine. As
general rule when this sort of thing happens, the
enamored lover takes the public as little into his con-
fdenee rs possible He rather shuns the busy hum of
men and cities and seeks in the society Of his charme
that consoatory sympathy which is denied by the mer
cenaFy and unfeeling multitude. Our new Xanthias
inspired by lofty moral courage resolves TO face the
world and defy the cynes. Hisaconduct is, indeed
! open to more prosaic explanation. The long and
elaborate letter which he has addressed ito the nhab
tants of Desborough" may possibly be the result of
nervous susceptibility to public opinion, and OF tim
orous desire to conciate the outraged prejudces of
his neighbors. However this may be, Mr.. Benjamin
Riley is ordinary One who thinks it neceSa-
sary publish in the county paper full and accurate
exposition of his feelings towards his Mary Ann, and
to solicit the approval of his townsmen for the pro-
! ceedings to which his feelings have committed him,
may be either an uncommon fool or an uncommon
philosopher but it is certain that he is something
common.
The composition itself is delicous-so elevated in
tone andyet becomngly modest SO broad in princi
! ple and yet minute in detail There is an air of
winning trustfulness about that is truly touching in
! brazen age. "No doubt" Mr. Riley begins Il have
surprised you by my late matrimonial engagement to
Mary Ann Paine young woman lately of my own
factory At first sight this appears extraordinary
foolish and unwise" The eyes of Desborough are
fixed on Mr. Riley; he is conscious, too that his con
duct appears extraordinary and foolish to the cynical
Desboroughites. lie even makes admission: "0f
course unite mysgleto this young woman would
be very foolish indeed; having been favored with
good education and cultiyaton-she uncutured
factory girl" The grammatical construction scarcely
up to the mark Of good education, but, the is
obvious. Mr. Riley is very fine fellow, and it is won
dertuy condescendng in him to bestow his cultivated
affections poor Mary Ann. Still, sefrespect con-
strains graceful sutor to admit that Mary Ann has
her good points-good though little vague 'eNev-
ertheess she has been faithful those duties God gave
her to perform in her sphere of life" But the sphere
is too narrow. You perceive I, with Gods blessings
propose to elevate her to higher position" The
candle be taken from under the bushe and set on
the high hill Of matrimony and culture and Riley
bined. Perceying this "you will grant that by this
elevation, if she the talents well which propose
she shall obtain, she viii become much more useful
member of society than if she had been united TO
workingnan." DEPRESSING for moment our friend
leaves these lofty considerations, and becomes tempo
rariiy introspecve Il became deeply attached to this
young woman; that attachment has since continued"
and then he adds, with prolund skill in psychological
ANALYSIS 'My attachment to her is not mere animal
passion" MIR. Riley understands the S0cratic precept,
and knows himself. He can confidently declare that
he prompted by no animal passion, but by esteem
and respect and the value hereafter, with Gods bless
ing we shall be to each other" The repetition of the
phrase within dozen lines might make the skeptical
suppose that with Gods blessing" is common form
in Mr. Rleys mouth. However, he soon comes to |
business and reveals to the curious world of Desbor-
ough what he calls "the terms of our engagements
These terms are numerous and are placed before |
her in extensive correspondence my part" They
all on side for reasons too plain to need stating
For the present it must be obvious that she do
than follow my directions implicitly for it is
~. H. 4 .I--.
cultivated young lady of the future design uniting
myself to-" Without knowing it, Mr.. Riley holds the
Postvst doctrine OF the prepostereusuesS of allowing
the foolish to make laws for the wise. fVe ouly
hope that he viii take the precaution Of having his
terms and laws specially forth and agreed to- and
signed and sealed by the uncultivated factory girl lest
the young lady of the future should prove contuma
cious 1t is just possible that increased cultivation
may not bring along with it increased reverence for
Mr. Benjamin Riley. The only specific term Mr.. Riley
favors us with is that "she is to visit her family as
often as she pleases bnt it is understood they
to visit her unless asked" Meantime Mr. Riley wishes
her to see that Desborough is only small portion of
the world" In order to h her mind with other IDEAS
she passed through London and also through large
railway station i1he south of w olthing, on tina
coast under the charge Of kind friends, Rev. S.
Dfakeford and Mrs Drabeford." Hencetorth, tnere-
fore Mary Aun will be aware that besides DesboFopgh
the globe contains London and large railway station.
She is now living in a home where "She will get little
Her devoted suitor bears the painful parting with the
resignation Of philosopher and christian. 81 do
not suppose shall her for few months to come,
not till she gets little grounded in general iuforma-
ton and becomes moderately refined" Yet she will
Hot " lefo "tsl7at $3.50 0v'"eo - 1T -
very voluminous correspondence from myself De-
lightful! Blessed is Mary Ann Paine among women /
First she has ian extensive correspondence settling
the terms; then che is soothed by very voluuinous
correspondence things in general. Uneasy lies the
head that a crown, or that Riley dehgteth to
honor. During these few months, besides reading and
dgesting her future lords epstles the young lady of
the future "w have to learn to play fairly on the
harmonum also to read the French language with ease
write itfary, and to speak it with olerable auency
As the philosophc lover compacently observes 'You
see she has her work before her, though OF different
nature to what she has been used to-" She viii
be left unaided. Her guide philosopher, patron and
lover has advertised for "a Lady, member of chris
tan church. to instruct n various branches of useful
knowledge young lady whose education has been
neglected" The terms announced liber.l, and
Mr. Riley is now perpexed by no less than nine appli
cations for the post Of taking charge of my intended
and giving her the necessary information render her
well informed, besides getting her into way OF speak
ing with correctness in whatever society she may be
taken The composition of this beautiful paragraph
would in itself have proved even if the writer had not
already told us that he has been Favored with good
education and cultivation" with so much prepara-
ton on my ntehded'S part, do think it likely the
wedding can take place before May 1866" Some HI
fend in human shape otherwise, seems to have
suggested Mr.. Riley that the young lady might be-
come bored by the correspondence, and the French,
and the harrnonium as throw off his sken feters
Mr., Riley repes the insinuadon with grave dignity
ave are both sufficiently well known among you to
satisfy you that now we have given each other the
word, we consider it solemnly binding" "You will
think am placing great confidence in this young wo-
man, have Inyreasons for so doing, which reasons,
however, shall not state here" This silence upon
the reasons for his confidence is rather disappointing
And it is inconsistent If the public thus gener
ously taken in to council the whole Of the materials
for judgment ought surely to be laid before them.
But towards the conclusion Of his tremendous mani
fcso. the writer wakes more defiant He perhaps sus