The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-03-16
MIsCELLANY
Precepts for Young NIcn-By an Oc-
t0Senarimn.


Precepts for Young Nen-By an Oc-
t0gennrfnn.
On the score of age, I have no
modesty at all, and I do not scruple
to acknowledge that I was eighty
years old, on the 10th of February
last OF course, am slightly deaf,
and my sight is little dim, my walk
is feeble, and my grand children joke
me because I cannot hear the prattle
of their isping tongues. But my
tongue is still free enough, and, al
though four-score years have made
me forget all who have wronged and
injured me, I have a perfect memory
still for every kind word, every gene
rous act, every happy moment, which
has thrown JOY upon my life.
It would be useless for me to speak
of the old Revolution, the war of
1912, or the fiery enthusiasm Of the
war with Mexico, for have we not in
our memories the pains and sorrows
of a later and more terrible struggle,
ended now in disappointment, hu-
initiation and defeat ? Old times are
sadly altered, and, in speech and
dress and manner, there have been so
many changes that my head fairly
turns as endeavor to record them !;
but whether in pigtails and furbe-
lows, or broadcloth and braided
tresses, human nature is pretty much
the same When 1 was young, train
ing and hard work were indispensable
to success, but now, we are all born
presidents, generals, poets and states
men. The young men of the day are
wise in their generation; they have
exhausted the well of knowledge, and,
if you will but believe them, you will
come to the conclusion that. if there
is one thing which they do under
stand, it is the nature, habits and in
stincts of woman. All me, the world
was not SO wise in my, young days,
and women, then, were always loved,
honored and respected. The young
men say they loue them now; but how
about the respect and honor, my chill
,dren? One STRIPPING, with the faint
down of adolescence yet upon his
lips, says that he has studied the
ladies save the. mark He may
have done this, for, my word for it,
he has not studied anything else.
Jeering, joking and sarcasm will not
do, if we wish to see this dear old State
again the mother of warriors and
statesmen. Think of George Wash
lngton, Monroe, Jefferson or Madi-
son, at fifteen years of age, smoking
short pipes, talking ribald nonsense,
making morning calls, leaving ena-
melled cards with the grinning ser
want. swinging tiny canes, and sigh
ing for the ladies Why, the mothers
of the venerable dead would have
birched them soundly, if they had
dared to think of such q thing; but
then those noble mothers were not so
wise as the mothers and sons of this
progressive age.
OF one thing am certain, and that
is. that q mans true character can be
always truly OWNED from tLe uluuue4
in which he behaves when in the So
ciety of gentle, loving women. Those
who are boys now will become fathers,
and perhaps grandfathers, if they
don't kill themselves prematurely by
smoking bad cigars, or die of mani
tion; and it is one of my last desires
to see these youngmen appreciate the
high and noble work that lies before
them. Let them think of what Vir-
ginia has been, and that they are the
Virginians who, in the future, must
make her name among nations, or
else by-word and reproach. If
they will but give up affectation, and
remember that their mothers and sis
ters are qconaeaa, there is still more
hope left. I want to see the boys all
happily married, and, ifthey will allow
me, and not laugh at the old-timey
ways of the old man, I will teach
them the way to matrimony in few
short and easy lessons.
PREcEpT LIN all that you say and
do concerning ladies, be honest and
sincere! They can tell the ring of
= trutlfs and they like it better than the
ring of gold, to which it usually leads.
Never mind about smooth words and
rounded periods; only be sincere, and
you are sure of respect and friendship,
If you cannot always obtain love.
PREcEpT 2.-Do not make q lady
contemplate in her own eyes by over
whelming her with fattery and pane
gyric. Too much honey viii Kill the
stoutest fly, and confidence and re-
gard, which flourish best in adversity,
are easily killed by an excess of sweet
talk. A woman of sense knows her
own value, and yon can best show
that you appreciate the purity of her
mind and the brightness of her intel