Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-01-29
oHARLEsToWN VIRGINIAI TUEsD AY41ssENUAR4 20 S


q Tue Isady,e
'sGraco was in all her tepsAf5saych ltssreye,.
A true ladyis nnniatak a B
though not so easIl described She segs
in her every ACT, a gully, grace. a -;
which vul:surity cata6t hope TO cpantei ft.f
nor the most nrevefent iaf 10 adnire.-4
Whether she be- e5teaad IN sflsvel of onss
throne. there is tiat in he; 5ia1actek ( " sss
VIII inspire respgetF atie 81 her posit
uuassailab!e. GGssandef htiding Osyn,sSla ~
tile mother of Aexauder, an. obstuele ia his.
approach to the throne of Alacedau; which
ambition coveted seat a bard off,a ..sssins, to
put her to deatl9 Bat whom these hardened
wrctchcs found tteni Ives IN the pfeae nee Of
this daughters 4 it.ass such
was the lofty majesty OF her nffen that they
could not raise an arm to strike the fatal blow.
With such defense every la;!y is supplied.
Villains who have long reyeIIed in crime as
1t 1t were pastime. will stand abashed in her
presence. Like the fabled Una, she will
move in her aTmor purity unliarred amid all
that could coutaulinate and all that could i'm
peril.
We may not, as we have said describe a
true lady; but VIC NAV name u few of the
characteristics by which she is most promi-
nently distinguished. First among these is
genuine refinement both Of sentiment and
manners. This will display itself in the IT,
diness Of her household arrangements. in the
neatness of hCr dress, and in tie elegance of
her language. Many shrew indeed, keeps
house with scrupulOus nicely; many wo>
man, with not one attribute of the lady,
dresses with brilliant splendor and bouhdIess
n Y t.aN
so utterly refined that she will employ the
most heightened pcriphraScs to avoid vul-
gar expression. But in all these Instances
there Is little danger of Il mistake, We can
tell the home of lauy almost so soon as we
have put foot on the threshold \ woman
OF truly refined tastes will make herself
known as such even to Il casual observer
She will impart to the simplest details f her
household arrangements touches that will pro
claim her appreciation of the beautiful. All
things will bespeak ueatncss and comfort but
III nothing will there be seen effort at display.
Her dress will always be appropriate to the
occasion, or so bccmmln" to her station that
1t will appear well. whether it he OF calico or
silk. Her conversation Will be chaste. but
not falsely modest. She will nevcr shrink
from speaking right out in good plain Eng
l'Sh "ny'hin" that ought tn be spoken ut all
She will never think of saying very wicked
things in rcuch or Italian. and think their
unhecomingncss lesscucd by this use Of an
other tongue.
The lady is always transformations in her
manners, avUidin" RAJ her than cuurtimg pub
iic observation. She is polite 70 all not
that stii, cold poljtcness Which lnakes it's ub-
J"ct icei quite aS unpleasant Us rudcnrsS would
do, but that genuine poliicncs> which springs
from beHCticCnt heart. There is in her
n ID: =.
some to treat with di: dan those who arc more
plainly dressed or less highly educated than
themselves. On the contrary, her deport-
ment toward those who are inferior to her in
wealth or position is especially kind. without
being opPre Ssivc!y pMtronizing. 1t is her
ilrSt 'im To render all who come under her iu-
tucncc pleased with themselves This TACT
Will enable her to do withuu, either talsehuod
or Eattory. Muny bashful y"ung man who.
III general society, is silent to the point of
stupidity, has been surprised at fnding his
tlmIdIty entirely baniShcd and his tongue
looscned into ready flow, by the potent spell
OF an elegant lady, with whom. for The first
time, he has venturcd to converse. Such
great power Can be cxertcd only by those who
have brilliant i"tc!lccts, as well as noble
hearts; but the desire to make others happy
exists i'll every true lady.
Hence she will be actively bencvoIent.-
w hafevcr good she finds to Go, she will enter
into with all the energy of her nature Her
efforts VIII be made without the sounding of
trumpet; but they will not. therefore. be
the less cficciuai in the accomplishment Of
their ends. Wherever she finds one suffer
ing under the lash Of adverse Fortune or un-
der the far more cruel fortunes which slam
derous tongues ihEiCt. she finds an object Of
charity, aud Ties with ready zeal 70 succor
and to save. Evcnthe "orfc m' re Fortunate"
who comcs like the Peri at the gate of Eden,
with tear bedewCd face and heavy heart leg.
SinS to be rcadmitted to society, receives
from her words of encouragement and hone
The enterprises which aim at amcliorating
Inc condition or elevuting the dignity Of her
sex, she supports with within" heart and ready
hahd. But, however deep an interest she
may 1ccl III extending schemes Of bcncvO-
ience the true lady will never ioI get her home
or neglect her duty to its inmates She will
never. ike Mrs. Jcllaby. render her house.
hold scene Of confusion and misery. in or
der that she may benefit the savagcs of Bonr-
laboIa Ghah. On Tie contrary. if she be
raised to the sublime dignity of wife and
mother, she viii deem her husband and chill
dren the most precious of her levels and
feel that ID them she exhibits to the world
the noblest results of her labor, and the
wOrthiest monuments of her virtues.
Not only is she benevolent in deed-she is
likewise charitable in her opinions
She is not given TO SANDER, to jealousy.
nor to envy. In the petty intrigucs for So
eldi position and advantageous matches. she
takes no part. Though not naughty. nor IN.
duly proud. she is still too proud to contend
with the vulgar and groveIing about matters
which seem vastly momentous to their Tttlo
minds. If assaiied. as she very likely will
be, she. moves steadily on and lets the siapder
die. The tenor of her lie proclaims her pu,
rity. She needs no ot!er defense The