Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-02-29
oourtsAip and matrimony-A Reply to
"Terrell."

public, and since your correspondent
Terrell "'has obtained leave to express
bis views upon a topic Of so absorbing an
interest as Courtship and Matrimony,"
/ trust that you, in behalf ofmy sex, will
allow me the same privilege.
The subject, though not entirely new,
is treated 10 quite norel style. and has,
doubtless, attracted the attention Of
many outside the class to whom II is ad-
dressed. 'rlrI tI. .rE
The picture is we'll drawn. The ideal
wife of Terrell" though not, perhaps,
the embodiment Of an artists or poets
dream, is yet perfect woman, nobly
planned" Not too faulty faultless,"
she is woman fitted to give and to cure
the heartache. Now, is not that honest
praise from woman, herself the an
tipodes Of the one described2 They say,
that is, men say, that women never praise
each other, but / am not like anybody
else; therefore make your deduction from
that proposition. rt
We women have our ideals also-each
and all Of us-and though many Of us
give up the search altogether, or cloth
ing some favorite sutton with the golden
veil of our fine imagiuings, make to our
selves "idols and find them clay" deep
in our heart Of hearts the ideal never
loses place. present one, my own, for
the consideration Of Terrell " and his
fellow bachelors. j would not ask, nor
need /, that any one of my fair sisters
should fashion hers after my model.
Did l wish to show my familiarity with
the ideals of the old masters, l should,
in order to match the Venus" refer to
the world-renowned Apollo Belvidere,
but since this noble representation Of o
divine conception is to me, personally, q
stranger, will avoid the classic shades
of the Vatican, and paint you, from
memory, my old acquaintance.
Be it known that abhor mediocrity in
anything; therefore, he, ranonyme, is
above the medium hight, and say about
six feet in stature. His forehead is high
and broad his head we'll proportional,
the development being chiefly at the
front yet the back isrounded rather than
Aattened; his eyes = the distinctive
feature of his face are large and
of dark gray color. In their
depths one reads the reflex of q
pure and honorable nature; one can
meet them steadily, feeling that beneath
them lie true and noble thoughts, His
hair is of golden brown, and being
neither cropped short like a pauper's,
nor worn flowing on his shoulders in the
pseudo-poetic style, clusters around his
face in graceful waves, forming an
agreeable relief to the features. His
eyebrows are rather square and heavy,
and when his countenance is at rest are
about half an inch apart at their inner
extremities, but, when contracted in
perplexity and anger, they meet and
form a beetling arch over those dark
eyes, which can, upon occasion, flash
forth the fires of Indignation. His
cheeks are not inflated with the
"adipose )" indeed, are slightly hollow,
but not enough so to give too great
prominence to the cheek bones. His
mouth, being rather small, with
short upper lip, expressing firm
ness, gives certain cast of stern
ness to the whole countenance; but
when wreathed by smile, lends to all
the features an indescribable gayety.
There is no moustache to conceal the
stamp of nature here, but the beard, the
glory of the man as tine hair is of the
woman, is worn in all natures lux
uriance; it is brown, fine, and slightly
curled in length about six inches below
the chin, yet not covering nor hiding the
rather long and thick neck. His COM
plexion is not horid, the usual excuse
for brandy blossoms, but naturally fair,
is painted, by exposure to the sun, that
rich brown indicative of health, Natures
best gift to her sons as well as to her
daughters.
His frame is muscular and well pro-
portioned; his shoulders broad and
square, but not high; his limbs are long
and we'll developed; his feet not small,
but we'll shaped. (Who ever saw sensi-
BILE man with small foot?)
In carriage he is erect, and his step is
firm, quick and elastic. Never foppish,
his style of dress is always neat aud suit
able to his station. He is characterized
by great personal cleanliness, especially
in the matter of teeth and finger nails.
Though not a protested tetotaller, he
never drinks ardent splits nor uses to-
bacco in any other form than that of
social cigar" Though sociable in his
nature, his friends are few and select, yet
be is ever a welcome guest at the social
reunions Of his male acquaintances; and
though not ladies man so.called,
few men have greater powers of fascina-
ton for the softer sex" than he.
His moral character is unimpeachable.
His intellectual qualities are rare; these
constitute his chief charm; these it is
that impart the charm to his conversa-
ton, the fascination to his manners;