Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-06-21
MISCELLANEOUS.
Presence of Mind.

Presence of mind is the popular term to
express the mental equilibrium.
The question has been frequently discussed
in social circles, whether men or women are
most prone to lose their presence of mind
Lucy, just seventeen, says: "Oh; men to be
sure. Why, selfpossession is au attribute
almost peculiar to women young girl en-
tering society is quite at ease, while young
man is sure to be awkward and nervous
Sec how we get out of scrape; never at
loss for an answer. \ man would stutter and
mutter, and get deeper into the mire" eyes,
but" says Tom, who is just home from school,
and not much troubled with nerves-"iust
look at you girls how you scream if your
life depended on silence. you'd betray your
selves by a scream" Then the ladies reply:
''Oh we don't pretend to be as brave as men,"
And so the question remains unsettled. Luz
cy, no doubt, is correct nor is Tom less so.
Perhaps the fairest arrangement would be to
grant the weaker sex pre-eminence in the ab-
sence of physical danger; and yet, on the
other hand, instances of calm thought and
deliberate action of women under trying cir
cumstances are so numerous, that they can
scarcely be held as merely exceptions to the
rule. Among the tales of shipwreek are re-
corded noble instances of presence of mind
among women in mostappalling danger. What
could be more heroic, for instance, than the
conduct of the women on board the ll-fated
London =? Indeed it is generally in circum-
stances of comparatively trifing peril that the
balance of the female mind is disturbed
when, as Tom says, they shrek.
The following story, exemplifying remark
able presence Of mind in an old lady, has
never been in print. 1t is perfectly true
This old lady-But STAY; she shall tell the
tale herself as she used to tell it TO me, her
little nephew.
'You know, my dear, was living in the
country at the time, my little grand-daugh~
ter being my only companion. We had two
female servants and man servant, but he
did not sleep in the house, but in loft over
the stable. One night late in the autumn, l
went to bed at my usual hour-nine o'clock
| was early, yon see, for Fanny was only seven
years old, aud L did not care to sit up alone
after she was in bed besides, by the time L
had read my chapter, and said my prayers
and undresscd myself, it was fully ten o clock.
Well, on this particular night, went up as
usual. / first undressed the child, and put
her into bed then made myself comforta>
bic and got my Bible, and sat by the fire
it was very cold for the season, and [ kept
fire in my room-and after I had finished my
chapter, knelt down to my prayers my po-
sition as I knelt was with my back to the
fire, and my face toward the bed. 1 had
scarcely got on my knees, when I caught
sight of something unusual under the bed
on looking more attentively, I could see that
it was a mans foot. My first impulse was to
scream, but fortunately restrained myself;
and the first shock over I was able to think
] had no doubt that it was robber, and that
if he found that he was discovered, he might
not stop short of murder. I dared not 90 TO
bed, and pretend did not know he was there;
and yet, how to get the child and myself out
of the room without exciting suspicion, I could
not imagine. These thoughts passed through
my mind in half the time I have taken to tell
you and l was about to rise from MY knees
when l suddenly recolIected that my doing
so at once night in itself excite suspicion
for aught [ knew, it might be some one who
knew my habits, perhaps even my own man
servant, though had no reason to suspect
him. At all events, determined to remain
some time longer, as if engaged in my devo.
tions. I need not tell you that I could not
give much heed to my prayers, but did ask
for protection and guidance. You know,
dear, that l am a slow methodical old woman,
and that l seldom get through my prayers in
less than quarter Of an hour so l now de-
termined not to stir for at least ten minutes
What an age those ten minutes seemed /
never took my eyes off the foot until just be-
fore 1 arose, when it was slowly withdrawn
out of my sight. When l saw it move. felt
faint with fright, for l. feared lest the man
had suspected, and was to come out how
ever, he remained quiet, and then l got up
from my knees. The next thing TO be done
was to get the child out of bed without caus-
ing any alarm. Speaking as calmly as l was
able, l asked her if sh ewas awake she an
swered in rather a sleepy tone, but aroused
herself as l continued speaking. Fanny,
dear" I said, 81 have left my keys below
stairs''-I felt little uneasy at the false
hood, but l hope it was not wrong-"and l
cannot undress without them; I don't like
going down by myself; would you mind get
ting up, my love, and coming with me y
She jumped out of bed in a moment, aude
having wrapped shawl round her, pushed
her before me; then, when opening the door,
l managed to take ont the key and put it in
on the other side. then shut the door. and
locked it; and then. my dear. 1 could no
longer control myself shrieked several
times at the top of my voice, and fainted-
After all, poor Joseph the coaehman was
faithful, for one of the maids called him in,
and armed with pitchfork, he secured the
robber, who was trying to get out Of the win
dow Chambers Journal