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


eyes at the curate, are never heartily adopted
by the local magnates. though vouched for by
some tar-away b:cker; and the doves always
and out Of their rlghtful element somehow. II
| things go quietly without an explosion, well
and good; but If the truth bursts to the sur
face in the shape Of q 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 so much
efrontery and villany in their atmosphere
create an impression which no >timo effaces.
The first clash oi 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 are somewhat mOped; but even then
they have the church to decorate, and the SEN
timent OF Christmas to enllven them. The ab-
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 so
strong, the Visits Of the absent bring moral
| sunshine. But they do not all assemble. For
many of the doves marry men whose work lies
abroad; these quiet country houses being the
nss and Angoind"ns So that some e1n core aee
always absent, whose healths are drunk in the
traditional punch, with eyes that grow moist
as the names are said. Doves are not disln-
clined 70 marry men who have to 90 abroad,
for all the passionate family love common to
them. Travel is golden dream to them in
their, still homes; but travel properly compan-
Toned. 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
ever humble. The family is everything to
them, and they are utterly unfit for the soli-
| tude which 80 many OF our sef.supporting
Won Women 1,,o,s can accept quite resignedly. Not
breadwinners. They could work if pushed
to 1T; but IL must be in quiet, womanly
way, with the mother. the sister, the husband
rest and the refuge. Their whole lines are laid
10 love and quielness; not necessarily in mac
| ton, but their wishes aud their aims are all
they find the love Of their husband enough for
| them, and have no desire for other mems adj
rniration; their babies are all the world to them,
and they do not think maternity an in Fiction
| as so many QY the mieeIably fashionable think
| it; they like the occupation Of Housekeeping,
and feel PRIDE in their 6ne linen and clean SER
vice, in their well-ordered table ana neatly bal
wants, who generally come from the old home
| and whose families they therefore know; but
they keep up certain dignity and tone or su-
Perlorlty towards them in the midst Of all their
can keep to town-bred maids. They have al
ways been the aristocracy in their native place.
and they carry through life the inefiaceable
stamp which being ''the best" gives. They are
essentially mild and gentle women; not queens
OF society even. when they are pretty, because
not caring tor social success. and Therefore not
oACtAEcLVoc out LOr IL CQey please
at home that is all they care tor, holding love
before admiration, and the esteem Of one high
or than the praise Of many. If a fault is to
be found with them it is that they have
not perhaps quite enough 'ssalt' for the general
taste, used as it is to such highly seasoned
social food; but do We really want our women
to have sovery much character? Do not our
splendid passionate creatures lead madly
wretchaa lives and make mlserably uncomtort-
abe homes and are not our glorious hero
ines better in pictures and IN fiction than seat
ed by the nursery FIRE, or checking the bakers
bill No doubt the quiet home-stsying dov ,s
seem tame enough when we think Of the cor-
geous beings made familiar to us by romance
and history. which is more romantic still: but
as our daily lives run chiefly IN prose. they are
better fitted for thing rs they are; and to mon
Sae EFaas Fof a9h ha na Hho
ty Of home, 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 uaob-
trusive doves; AMI though they do spoil men
most monstrouslv, they know where to draw
the line, 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 gentle
women are respected by men.