Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-01-11
Another Feminine Novelist.

AhOInGF FEMININE NOVGAlBGS
Our readers have not forgotten Louisa
NJ AlcOtt, whose piquant "Hospital
Sketches" gathered from the journals
Of the day, formed an interesting and
instructive book. These sketches were
not only rich in personal experience and
patriotic feeling, but displayed consider
able literary ability, which has since
produced a novel with the brief title of
Moods. This novel, otherwise Of fair
degree of merit, is chiefly remarkable
as prOpOunding theory with regard to
marriage which appears to be gaining
ground; according to the new philosophy,
marriage is an experiment; if the love
that drew the parties together is not
genuine and lasting, separation is the nat
Ural and appropriate remedy. 1t will be
remembered that in the "New Atmos-
phere," by Gail Hamilton, this idea is
advanced and defended. Now VIC do not
question the sincerity Of these maiden
retOrmers, who, knowing nothing of mar
riage by experience, are eager in defense
of Il fancied remedy for acknowledged So
clal evils. But we regard them as mis-
taken none the less They are prone to
fOrg& that every human connection
has its drawbacks and Disqualification,
that there is no such thing in life as a
perfect union between man and woman,
and that the delightful interblending of
tho souls of lovers must always give place
on closer acquaintance to the mutual
recognition OF imperfect sympathies and
defects that call for candOr and forbear-
ance. The knowledge that the step is If
recoverable acts in two ways, by making
the unmarried cautious and thoughtful
in their choice, and by checking tho rash
and impatient rupture of ties already
formed Much Of the richest experience
of the most valuable discipline oflife, ii
to be found in the loyalty, candor and
patience by which two partially discord-
ant natures are uttuued to ultimate har
mOny.
la almost all cases the welded pair art
farther apart than they suppose, aud car
only approach by AoW and perhaps pain.
iul steps. Doubtless the parties TO Wha
have AT length proved among the happies
marriages, have in many cases during thu
early years OF wedlOck been startled by a
least one apparRtiOn OF the terrible doub
lest the union upon which they had riskel
their happiness should prove lamentabl
mistake, Ii in that dark hour they hat
seen before them an open door, how man,
HDutu uuNb pho5Gu through IL 10 tue NOR
rItIAble mistake beyond. In Miss AlCott'
novel Sylvia should never have marrie
GeOHreJ, bat when she had done SO tn
conduct of Adam was inexCusable in con
tinuiug his presence and attentions. Whe
at length he saw clearly that she loved hiu
far more than her husband, her Confidaut
pains her by pointing out to her that eve
the marriage she would now choose woul
be a mistake. Adam loves her no bette
than GeOtiCey, and is less fitted to max
her happy.
"ln him the head rules, in Godfrey tn
heart The one CTiIclses, the other love
mankind. Godfrey Is proud and privat
10 ali that lies nearest him, CliDgs to per.
sons, and is as faithful us u woman. Adam
has only the pride of an intellect which
tests all things, and abides by its own in
sight. He olingS to principles; person
ARE but animated facts or ideas; he seiEes
searches, uses them, and when they havr
no more for him, drops them like the husk
whose kernel he has secured; passing or
10 Ind and study other samples without re
greet, but with unabAted zeal. For life lc
him is perpetual progress, aud he obeys
the law OF his nature AS steadily as suu OF
sea. Few women, it wise, would dare "a
marry this man, noble and love. worthy ss
he Is, till time has tanned aud experience
developed him. Even then the risk is great
tor he demands and uucousciousIy Rbsorhs
Into himself the personality OF others.
making large returns, but OF IA kiad " bicb
only those as strong, sagacious, and stead.
last AS himself can receive and adam tn
their individual uses, without being over
come and possessed. That none of us
should be, except by the Spirit, stronger
tdan man, purer than woman. You feel.
though you do not understand this power.
You know that his presence excites, vet
weAFies you; that, while you love, you fear
Nun, and even when you long to be all in
all 10 him, you doubt your ability TO make
his happiness"
The result is that the poor young woman
loses both her lovers, aud dies soon
after, which was all that was left for her
to do. Bat We would not advise those who
are not sure OF dying At the right time 10
follow her example. Such course would
hardly tend TO diminish the number of
those whom the authorizes thus describes .
Ahat sad slSleThoOd called disappointed
women; larger class than many deem il
10 De- tGouEh there are few of Us who have
not seen members of il Unhappy wives !:
mistaken or torsaken lovers; meek souIs
who make life long penAnce for the ain =
OF ot6ers; gifted creatures kindled into
IL! b:iIiiaUcy by some inward Ere that
Consumes but cannot warm. These are the
women who ny 10 converts, write bitter
books, sing songs tull OF heartbreak, act
spIend'dly the passion they have lost or
never w0ni who smile, aud try to lead
nFAVa accomplishing lives, but whose
tragic eyes oe'Eay them, whose voices,
however sweet or gay, contain an under
tone of hopeIessness, whose faces so11e :
times sISrtle one with an expression vzhjcb
EAuuLS the obserYer limo atIs. l. :, .,.- ,,