The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-05-07


eyes at the curate, are never heartily adopted
by the locll magnates, though vouched for by
some 1ar-away backer; and the doves always
feel them to be strange bodies among them,
and out of their rightful element somehow. y
things 20 quietly without an explosion, well
and good; bdt if the truth bursts to the sur.
face in the shape Of London detective, and
the Highly ers are found to be no better than
they should be, the CONSERVATION and half
awed wonderment at the existence OF 30 much
effrontery and villany in their atmosphere
create an impression which no tirue efaces.
The first clash OF innocence with evil Is an
event in the life Of the innocent which nothing
ever destroys.
The dovecot is rather dull in the winter, and
the doves arc somewhat moped; but even then
they have the church to decorate, and the sem
timent Of Christmas to enliven them. The abb
sent ones Of the family, too, gather round the
old hearth while they can; and as the great JOY
of the dovecot lies in the family union that is
kept up, and in the family love which is 80
strong, the visits Of the absent bring moral
summer as warm and cheering as the physical
sunshine. But they do not all assemble. For
many OF the doves marry men whose work lies
abroad; these quiet country houses being the
favorite matrimonial hunting ds for colo
nists and Anglo-Indians. So that some are
always absent, whose healths are drunk in the
traditional punch, with ewes that grow moist
as the names are said. Doves are not disln-
clined 10 marry men who have TO go abroad,
for all the passionate family love common to
them. Travel is a golden dream to them in
thsir still homes; but travel properly compan-
ioned. For even the most adventurous among
them are not independent, as we mean when
we speak of independence in women. They
are essentially home girls, family girls, doves
who cannot exist at all withouta dovecot, how
ever humble. The family is. everything to
them, and they are utterly unfit for the coli
tude which so many OF our sef.supporting
women can accept quite resignedly. Not
that they are necessarily useless even as
breadwlnners. They could work il pushed
to 1t; but il must be in quiet, wonanly
way, with the mother, the. sister, the husband
as the helper. with the home as the place OF
rest and the refuge. Their whole lines are laid
in love and qulelness; not necessarily 10 1nac.
ton, but their wishes and their aims are all
centred within the home circle. II they marry,
they find the love Of their husband enough for
them, and have no desire for other mems ad-
miration; their babies are all the world to them,
apd they do not think maternity an infiiction
as so many Of the miserably fashionable think
it; they like the occupation Of housekeeping,
and feel pride in their fine linen and clean SER
vice, in their Well-ordered table AMI neatly bal
anced accounts. They are kind to their SER
wants, who generally come from the old home,
and whose families they therefore know; bu.
they keep up certain dignity aud tone Of su-
periority towards them in the midst Of all their
kindness, which very few town-bred mlstresses
can keep to town-bred maids. They have al
ways been the arlstocracy in their native place,
aud they carry through life the Ineffaceable
stamp which being ''the best" gives. They are
essentially mild spd gentle women; not queens
OF society even when they are pretty, because
not caring for social success, and Therefore not
laying themselves out for 1t; for il they please
at homo that is all they care tor, holding love
before admiration, and tho esteem OF one high
er than the praise Of many. If fault ls to
bo found with them it is that they have
not perhaps quite enough ''salt" for tho general
taste, used as 1t is to such highly seasoned
social food; but do We really want our women
to have 30 very much character Do not our
splendid passionate creatures load madly
wretchcd lives and make mlserably uncomtort-
abe homes and are uot our glorious hero
ines better III pictures and IN fiction than seat
ed by the nursery fire, or checking the bakers
bill No doubt the quiet home-staying doy :s
sesr, tc...c - sen,,liar to us by romance
and history, which il more romantic Still; but
as our daily lives run chiefly in prose, they are
better fitted for thing as they are; and to men
who want wives and not paything5, and who
care for the peace Of family life and tho digni-
ty OF nome, they are beyond price when they
can be found and secured. So that on the
whole We can dispense with the splendid crea.
lures of character and the magnificent queens OF
society sooner than with the quiet and uiob-
trusiye doves; AMI though they do spoil men
most monstrouslv, they know where to draw
the Inc, and while petting their OWN at hom }
AS women should-know how to keep strang
ers abroad at distance, and to make them
selves respected as only modest and gentie
women are respected by men.