Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1867-11-02
CouTtIBg.

AfIer a more or less extended observa-
lion Of some twenty odd years. we give
it as our deliberate opinion that a good
courIist, like good poet, is Lorn,-not
made. There are some young people Of
both sexes that take 10 il as naturally as at
an earlier sge they take TO kittens, doll
babies, marbles and Kites. They need
no training. At the proper time they fall
right into line like an old cavalry horse at
the sound OF The buge. Whether in the
fashionable ballroom, the family parlor,
or in The sw eet secusion beneath the lilac
bush. they know exactly what to say and
what not 10 say; what to DO and what not
10 do; where 10 put their hands, how 10
dispose Of their feet, how 10 look the
charmingest and in what a particular
pucker their lips will LOOK the tempting
esI. Anywhere, everywhere they are al
ease. They arc an fait in the whole
art Of pleasing. Often With a very limit.
ed stock OF conversational capital to deal
in they are the most entertaining Of com
panions, and again by some secret power,
manage TO give eloquence and charm to
silence itself These arc tie people
whom God loves, and consequently they
marry young. When two such OF oppo-
site sexes, cross each others pathways,
they fall in love as matter OF course.
Can't help il. Requires no effort. The
whole thing does itself, like The boys
whisIliDg. lis easy as The road-con.
frmed bachelors would say, as any other
rosd'-lo perdilion.
Then there's another class-uhfortunaie
mortal, commonly known as 'bashlul peo'
ple,' who are never graceful, never charm
ing, never agreeable, never at ease. Il
there is anything calculated 10 wiring one s
soul with pity, it is TO see a 'bashful
young man trying 10 make himself agree
able 10 company Of young ladies at an
evening party, painfully conscious all The
time that he is only making himself ride
ulous. He is in agony. Each pair OF
eyes pierces him through. His feet look
TO him like models for new gun-boat
stuck on the ends OF pair OF broom
sticks. His hands remind him OF 'lhe
awful pause Of which Milton speaks.
lie crosses his arms devoutly over his
stomach for a moment, then drop them by
his side. Then he lays one on the back
OF his chair and thrusls the hand OF the
other into his pocket. Then he puts
them uice versa. lie lmsglnes there's
spot on his face and tries 10 remove II by
a violent application Of his pocket hand
kerchief. He knows his cravst is awry
and tries TO adjust it. He imsgines bis
hair s all on ends and tries 10 smooth II
down with his clumsy fingers. His col
lar chokes him; his coat cuts lin under
the arms; his boots pinch his feet; cold
perspirsuOn starts from bis brow; his
mind becomes bewiIdered; he makes in
coherent and Inappropriate replies 10 The
sslies OF those roguish girls who he
knows are enjoying his embsrassmenis,
until he profoundly wishes himself al home
and the girls in H-aIifsx.
Such youth can never learn TO be a
greeable. He can never get the hang.
o. genuine courtin', though he lived and
tried thousand yesrs. The girls avoid
him unless il is TO make sport Of him. He
never gets married unless kind Providence
throws some one in hi, way who taxes
tup with him out Of pity-snd really lis
wonder he gets through the ordeal even
then.