North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1868-08-05

May time ne'er break the spell,
But the tears fell In her slumber,
And who that dream can tell
Flirting as an Art.
Society bears far too hardly upon hirts.
The majority of these not uninteresting
creatures are simply the victims of Pc
culiar temperament. Filtration, in their
case, is due to physiological, not physical
causes. They coquette with men for thes,
same reason that kittens play with each
other; it is their instinct thus to amuse
themselves. Their pretty wiles are not
the result Of theory, but the quite un-
conscious, unintentlonal, and innocent
play Of natural impulse. The sly looks,
the quaint graces, the airs which seem so
very artificial are no more artificial than
the color of the young PERSONS eyes or the
tapering form Of her fingers. ''Be natur-
al, and abandon these meretricious pre-
tensions and Affections says society; and
the 1rts is natural, but alters neither her
habits nor her manners. The society,
never very logical at the best, becomes
angry. She secs her finest boys being
tortured and turned away from the serious
business of their life, and altogether made
fools of, by this little woman with the
languishing eyes and the shapely mouth.
Eldest sons as well as younger sons are
The prey of the firt; and more sedate
young women, whom it would be highly
advantageous for these boys to marry, sit
unsolicited and alone. Society begins to
call the firt names. She regards the tiny
woman (nearly all girls who are firts by
nature are small in person) with the vir-
tuous indignation of a disappointed moth
er. She thinks it monstrous thing that
the dangerous little creature should be
tolerated and she is amazed to see the at
tentions paid to her by the men. Hence the
name of flirt has become one of dire op-
probrium. Out Of mere selfdelence, So
ciety has been forced to excommunicate
their subtle enemy. Filtration is the Sc
cret poison which, introduced into the So
cial body, disarranges its functions, upsets
its equilibrium, and tends to produce de-
cav and death. For it is the business Of
society to get people to marry. All its in
stitutions have, more or less openly, that
end in view. What are its balls, parties,
pic-nics, and so forth, but so many oppor-
tuities for love making and consequent
match forming? They are as much ruled
by one ultimate aim as are the rustic
games of country villages, which are es-
sentialiy so many ingenious devices for
allowing young people to kiss each other.
Now, Irritation" enters this pretty scheme
as the serpent entered Paradise. 1t is the
! one foreign element. 1t overturns all the
nice calculations of prospective mothers
in-la%. 1t defeats the prospects Of many
very worthy and honest girl. 1t turns
the head and empties the pocket of many
very tolerable young gentleman. Some
times it occasions suicide. Need we
wonder that society regards this thing with
horror? Unfortunately, however, society
refuses to recognize the distinction be-
tween Irritation and the flirt. Filtration
may be-nay, is-bad enough; but if the
hirt only acts in consonance with the un-
ayoidable impulses of her silly little ma
ture how is she to be blamed? We shut
the leper out beyond the gates, or we lock
him up in hospital; but we are not moved
by any ill-will towards him. Why should
we be angry with this gentle creature ol
nineteen, who cannot help looking at you
with her big eyes in a peculiar way; who
cannot help writing in an ingeniously
suggestive manner; who sucked in a ten
dency to Irritation with her mothers
milk? As yet, we have no hospital fol
the cure of Irritation in which we might
shut up this fascinating invalid. Flirta
ton doctors have not yet arisen; and
while we take no precautions to prevent
or cure the disease, we console ourselves
by abusing and vilifying the persons af-
flicted. Such treatment does not accort
very we'll with our generally professed no
tions of benevolence and mutual symPa
thy. 1t may be more or less satisfactory
leo. Int &c nf
If. in this matter, society must direc
its rage against some one, that scapegrac'
should not be the flrt natural, but tht
flirt artistic. The one is victim of /.
poison running through her veins; thu
other is a skiliful elaborator of this pois
on, using it as a charm to produce al
natural is an unfortunate; the nirt artistic
is criminal. One may forgive girl wh'
owes to the chemic action OF her blood I
disposition for indefinitely making love t
everybody; but she who stimulates th'
symptoms Of this ailment in order to pro
cure for herself passing amusement, re,
moves herself into another class. The tlir
natural is not nearly so dangerous a
her artistic sister. The former is yer,
likely to bring her career to close b.
suddenly marrying, and then her husband
acting as keeper, prevents her committln;
ravages upon society to any great extent
But the firt artistic is not caught by an,
of these sudden gusts Of passion. She i
too cool, self-collected, self conscious
She does not firt because she cannot hell
it; she chooses Irritation as her favorit
pastime, und prepares herself for it. MI
Briggs going out fishing with spleDdi'
assortment Of rods, gaffs, landing nets
hooks, feathers, lines, reels, and what not
is but feeble representative of the artist
flirt, when she enters room clothed II
aesthetic armor. She bristles with weapons
She can throw pointed knives with tn
precision Of Chinese juggler. Whcr
the hirt natural draws out her forces s.
clumsily as sometimes to make her an OBJ
iect Of ridicule in the eyes of the person
attacked, the firt artistic manipulate
them with the skill and accuracy of gen
eral. She knows how they will best tell
she is further acquainted with her enc
my's weak points. The natural f1irt
prompted by her innocence, shows her ham
too much. Making love to a widower
she will get into rhapsodies over the beau
ty and angelic temper Of as plain ant
pestiient lot of little brats as ever tor
mented visitor. She will grossly latte
to his face cold -blooded author who j
studying her for "material = or she will
pretend to be hurt by the neglience Of
! man who, instead Of thinking anything
about her, is pondering over some rail
way bridge he is building, VI tho price o
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