Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-09-15
18o1o0 b9To82 bnaIB

to be; If she really holds those artless
and beautiful beliefs in human nature;
if her manner toward her parents and
brothers and sisters be the same when
visitors are absent as when they arc pres
ent; if her interest in literature and the
arts be not assumed; and if she is, in
brief, an angel in disposition and o
soundly-cultivated woman in attain
ments; no study of the brothers charac-
ter will destroy or alter ones regard for
her. On the contrary, when he sees ell
these good qualities displayed in their
raw material--when theyouth of ingen-
uous pndor betrays the same fine attrl-
butes, trias less harmonizsd aud pol
ished, which his sister exhibits-the lover
feels assured of the wisdom of his choice.
He goes forward to the inevitable goal
with courage and hope. The period of
hesitation is over; and rivals are hidden
to beware. N n
On the other band, the brother may
unwittingly tell tales of the most disas-
trous kind. One Of the chief tests of q
character is its regard for truth and
| veracity is so much matter of hebit-so
much dependent on education--that all
the members of family are likely to
| have notions on the subject more or less
similar. Of we do not mean that
Intentional lying is likely to accrue from
certain kind of bringing up, however
much it may help toward il; but that Q
habit of uttering inaccurate statements
whether through q transient wish OF
making matters look pleasant to ones
companion, or whether through certain
| intellectual fascination for dramatic
points which misplaccs what 10 for what
| might be---is one of the commonest of
human failings. The brother will show
you whether that tendency has been
largely developed in the family. He has
| not the skill to be consistent in his inno-
cent misrepresentation. Toplease you,
perhaps, be will profess an ardent admi-
ration for some mutual acquaintance,
and say how much that acquaintance is
admired and liked by his (tne brother's)
family, and then, next day, having for
gotten all about the matter, he will call
The acquaintance tiresome old fool,
whom his sisters detest Another related
point on which he will yield much i'm
portant information to the anxious lover
is the extent to which the family has
| beea 55TTSo;u:Sh:. 5TTSo;u: gh:. up !. fer chow "-whether
that exceeding courtesy and perfect
amiability of the sister is a natural or
acquired product. He, too, it may be
presumed, has been taught, if his sister
has been taught, that the chief duty in
life ia to look well in the estimation OF
friends, and he will display in the most
ingenious fashion the means which the
family traditions have thought requisite
for that purpose. He will profess a love
for intellectual and artistic pursuits
which You see he does not feel, merely
because it is right and proper that he
should do so. If be has been taught to
assume sincerity as virtue, he will be-
tray the conflict between his own nature
and the assumption. Play with him at
billiards, and in fits and starts he will
exhibit m astonishing csndor in confess
ing to "hukes "-obviously priding him
self on his honesty, and hoping that yoa
admire it; and the next minute You will
find him relapsipg into his real self, and
making statements about Intended
"caroms" which are calculated to strike
you with awe and wonder. In many
similar directions the brother may be led
to give evidence upon family qualities,
irrespective of those chance lights which
you may obtain from his direct assertions.
Bat the grand point, in which be is an
almost infallible guide, is temper. We
know Of few more interesting amqse-
ments-eveu for those who are long past
the age at which copjugal results could
hang upon the pursuit--than the noting
of the strange resepblances and differ
euces between the FAM. disposition as
il is exhibited in son, and the same as
il is exhibited In q daughter, These
minute shades of discrepancy, tempered
by all the varying conditions of sex, age,
and opportunity, form sort of physical
Kaleidoscope perpetually eferng new
combinations. And when it is your
brother -inlew whom you are regarding,
the i.terest ia indefinitely increased.
There is not it Of querulous wayward-
ness in the brother that does not beget q
sualm in the heart Of the sisters suitor
and there is nothing which rejoices the
latter so much as TO observe courage
ously consderste attitude in the temper
aud disposition OF the ooy or man, ln
the case Of the brother there are no petty
feminine disgsises 10 CONCEAL the true
state of affairs, aud the lover rapidly
forms an intimacy which is full Of SUR
prise fer him. Auxiously does be inquire
whether this his possible brOther-in law
is always governed by the absolute inde-
cision Of Judgment aud vsyward temper
which he sometimes exhibits. De looks
with dismay upon the brothers peevish
irritabiIity, and is 50 shocked by his IN
trnetshle and obstinate folly as scarcely
70 be able 10 remoustrgte. Perhaps there
are two or three brothers, all gifted wiih
she irascibie and childish temperament;
and, perhaps, both father aud mother are
dangerous subjects TO deal with v ben the
ssup is cold or the dressmaker dilaiory.
With all these indications, il is pessi.
hle that his faith 10 bis own sweet friend
should not be troubled HoS, he asks
himself, could such perfect flower have
sprung up ia this hoi-house Of angry pas
sionsf Angels do not consort With
devils; and in such a pandemonium the
appearance Of an iacongruous visitor
-.