Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-12-20
ENGAGED PEOPLE.
An Amusing StGdy--HOw u
FeeIs--gghat the ROand Ta-
bIe' saws OF Et--So More POST
Office, StC.

At ball or soeiable, at conversations
or eroquet, at wedding or funeral, at any
other Of those festive occasions wherein
society disports itself, it not unirequently
happens to a young man, after having been
lavish of his attentions, his admiration
and his heels for the sole behoof and
benefit Of some particular young woman,
whose ewes or hair or toilette may have
hit his fancy. TO be told by a disinter-
ested female friend, with the least possi-
BILE soupcoa Of malicious triumph, that
the object Of his devotion is engaged.
All meu who have at any time mingled
in the diversions of the salon can recall
some such experience, and with 1t, too,
the unmistakable feeling of wasted op-
portunity, the chagrin of love > labor
lost. which the information brought with
It. Even We, whose silvering hairs have
scarcely softened the fires of youth, can
remember the pretty blonde OF the fas-
einating brunette we danced with vainly
for one entire evening (ehHe tHgaces) so
LONG ago: we can remember heB name,
the dimple in her lovely cheek, the Co
nuettish alIurement of her sidelOng eye /;
and we renew again, after all these years,
the tempest of rage and lOathing that
tore our manly bosom and threatened
the serenity Of our unrufied shirt front
as we learned that she was engaged to
that puppy Jones, or that seoundrel Rob
inson. as the case may have been. But
We did not then what We propose to do
now We did not pause to morallze on
and. if possible, to analyze the curious
eonveutionalities which this triumph and
DESPAIR presupposed and indicated.
The fact is that that peculiar social re-
lstiou which is known as an engagement
is among the most abusing studies TO
which the philosophical student of so
eietv can apply himself. To appreciate
| thoroughly, however, he ought himself
TO have been engaged at least once, and
/ not more than twice. For repeated en-
oagements will have confused the sccu-
raey of his recolleetions and blunted the
delicaey Of his perception to an extent
I 80 srl,tot
experience would otherwise have shed
upon his inquiry. But to man, whC
has been once or twice engaged who L
neither a eynic nor an enthusiast. ther'
is never-failing fund of entertainment
in watching the antics OF hrs neighbour
struggling in the net from which SOM
friendly rodent of circumstance has re
leased him. He will observe, IN the hrs
!, place. that for both parties the sltuatlol
i sinpularly disagreeable. For both l
involves nearly all the privatiens, with
out any of the privileges Of matrimony
AUGUSTUS must leave his club, and aoan
don his cigar he must exchange thos
COSY little dinners trois ptats at the cat
for dreary and ill-eooked banquets at nj
! intended father-in-law' he mustput a
: with no end of chatting from his bsche
l lor friends. and he must sacrifice the al
feetionate and Platonie regard OF all hl
female acouantance. OF course, wheT
a man is really in love, greater sacrifice
q than these should be gladly made bq
; sfter all the sineerest affection IN tn
: world viii not prevent an engaged ma
{ from feeling that his position IS false an
9 irkso1ne in the extreme. Arabelia Is,
n Jonbt the best girl in the world, az
n loves ySu very dearly, though no bett'
I than YOU love her; yet there are TINT
G when Lucinda, for example, who doesn
care a button for you, and for whom yc
II care even less, would be much mo-
/ agreeable companion. At a danelr
e marty. let us say, where Lucinda waltz
IS ike a sylph, and Arabells, dear ereatu
le that she Is, like-well, unlike Lueind
and vet your engagement forbids You
he eollow the inclination which would a
'e YOU a good partner instead OF po
ID one and delight instead of torture
e, toe at the opera, where, despite your
IS feetion. YOU cannot help contrasting I
It, cold indifference Of Arabella, who WI
OF all her amiability and goodness has We
ID little taste for music, with Lnelnd
O. charming enthusiasm and appreciate
sil eestacies. Then again at the picture g
no lerv, YOU remember how Lucinda fan
b, vibrated with artistic pleasure over eh
Tanrrc which the darling Of your 81
masses with most provoking nonchalan
lis Now. profound as is your attachment
tic vour betrothed, and firmly as you
he convinced that she of all women IS
he one destined to make you happy, y
NO cannot deny to yourself that on all tn
est occasions Lucinda's company would
: vastly more agreeable. After you
ur. married YOU can enjoy this pleas
he which is now denied you; you can dal
* and firt with Lucinda then to y
ne. hearts content; YOU can invite her
me ioin your wife in little parties to
n a tbeater, or the opera, or the coneE
ybt Won can 20 so far as to kiss her
40. every other pretty girl that will let
cad and nobody minds it bit. It Is
an vour way; you always were Wild,
nil. his ia but the innocent freedom Of an
Benedict, But just try one OF these