Natchitoches spectator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1867-18??, 1868-04-09
Friendship Between the Sexes.

Friendship Between the Sexes.
1t has been asserted that Woman is
not capab,y of cEerishing pure, unalloy-
ed friendship. We do not believe the
assertion. Grant that woman can love
to absolute devotion, land all will grant
tive contend that she also can cherish
simply, earnest, thoroughly nnseihsli
friendship, such as ennobleS its object,
and carries with it real blessing. There
is much false intercourse between the
sexes. BY the very peculiar notions
which that bug-bear Society holds, wo-
man is placed in position which fall
sites her character to a great degree.
BY these notions she is compelled to a
systematic course of deceit. She must
not be herself frank, friendly and
agreeable-toward man, for Society will
say she is forward and lacks modesty,
or is angling for hearts. She must smile
without any soul in it, and say pleasant
things with no meaning, and so conduct
herself at all times and in all places as
to appear supremacy Indifferent concern
ing man, individual and collective. We
speak now of woman unmarried.
Popular ideas concerning this matter
need O. reform. The young woman NOV
ing about in social circles should be per-
mitted to entertain young men charm
| ingly as she may, with no insinuations
from Mrs. Grundy as to her motives
She should be allowed manifestations
of friendly regard, without sneer from
some prim- faced spinster; or frown
| from an over. judicious mamma. Were
such latitude freely yielded to her, the
young men would cease misconstruing
her manner as they now do. Herein
would be found the results for the good.
Each sex would understand the other.
Now there is only misunderstanding,
mutual and constant. 'ta
Our young friend Simon Tenor goes
to spend an evening with GeorgTana
Alto. He has met her frequently, and
Ipresumes upon q further acquaintance.
IGeorgiana is good girl,-really intell-
igent, sensible and womanly. Society
has imbued her mind with some of its
false teachings, however, and she is ter
ribly fearful of being misunderstood by
Simon in particular, and all other
young men in general. Therefore she
lleaves herself in the kitchen, (where we
are happy to say she is "at home,' and
q. Simon meets in the parlor an affected
brilliant young lady, who seems to pos
sess little heart and no depth of woman
illness. Simon properly desires that
the young lady shall not deem his atten
tions .'serious." chats the word when
marriage is implied, we believe and en-
ldeavors to be also brilliant and heart
less. Thus their acquaintance goes on
and meanwhile neither knows the othel
in the least. ~"
Il Al simple, straight forward association
between young men and young womeI
generally, would inure greatly to. the
profit of both. Fewer lessons woult
need to be unlearned in after life; Their
: would be greater respect shown eacl
other; stiff and studied constraint woul'
give way to plain uuaffectedness of man
r, ner,-and friendships would be forme'
mutually beneficial, in their tendencies
and Astounding in influences most excel
IS lent. There are thousands of youni
d men to-day, going down to degradation
and ruin, whom a sisterly FRIENDSHIP
= might save. For there is a subtle some
thing in woman's warm regard tina
clings to men, and draws them ava
from vice and crime. He whose inter
. course with woman has shown him he
real nature,-pure, loving and strong,A
g is stronger, with refinement of strength
. and better, with depth of bitterness
q than is lie who sees in woman only
concrete mass of LddyeSmS. Mans frienC
e. ship for man will do much for him, bU
woman's friendship for man, and Ii
respect and friendly regard for her, WI
do almost infinitely more. 1t will Civ
better tone to his thoughts, and col
frequently to his character. 1t will refr
3, his mentality, and beautify his speed
70 and give him a clearer insight into h
y own life. In his brother man he will 81
n mirror, truly, but so dark that h
faults are not half reflected. She WI
u- reflect him as he is, if she be true W
ce man and her friendship as true as herse
There may be cited notable instance
- in which woman's friendship has borI
rich fruit in the lives and works of me
A book observation-disclosures ''Frien
ships of Women'-speaks of many
these. We quote one paragraph rela
ling to Goethe:
Goethe, in the course of his lii
"a stood in the most intimate relation
us with a large number of the rare
: women. Few men have ever appreci
ted female character so well. No o
has exhibited their virtues and plead
their cause with more impressi
. combination of insight, sympathy Al
. vaneratiou His many sins tOwaf