Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-03-25
NUMBER 10.

and friends are ready and competent to
give them all the help they need. Bu.
there is deal of trial that besets young
girls at the age when they feel allure
ments most keenly, which the best pa.
rents forget to provide against They
ought to recall their own debates of et-
iquette in youth. and teach their children
prudence before they need it. Forewarn-
ed, iorcarmed.
"Nettie. see here" says prudent faith
er TO his girl Of l6, in her tarletan ball
dress, warming her slippers before the
fire, waiting her cscort-if girls ever do
any of the waiting, you're looking
sweetly fresh tonight, and as fresh in
heart rs in dress, hope. You are TO stay
so, do you hear madam. You are not to
let people hold you when you waltz; no.
body has any business to touch you till
you have q lover or husband ofyour own.
don't want my girl talked about. Re-
member, nobody has the least right on
any pretence 10 do more than touch your
fingers. or lay his hand on you 10 the
permitted freedom of the waltz, unless
he is your relative, or going to be-"
And after that she would probably sit
in the conservatory, letting handsome
Jack, the fast flat and lady killer, slip
his arm by degrees from the back Of her
chair, lift her locket from her bare neck,
and Kiss her hand, till hc dared to kiss hs;
lips. which would probably he the sixtn
time they met ut the iarthcst. You see
men and women like such things.
It's right they should. I'm not going
10 belle the blood that beats in this
wrist one instant. TO say they should not.
Only one may have some choice As to
whether one will accept carcsses from
wholesale stock of natural liking, o. the
special reserved fund of precious per-
formance.
Suppose. young warmhearted girl, that
as You lean on that broad shoulder in the
hali-lit parlor 10 night, thinking how
nice il is to have somebody fond an! pro-
tccting and how dear you seem TO be 10
him. suppose you should by some invisi-
ble magnetic sense, be made aware Of
all the checks that had rested on that
shoulder, and all the forms that arm has
oncirclcd. It's fortunate you don. know
these things. 1t might lead you, howe yer.
to keep yourself more sacred for some
one who will love you as entirely as you
love this man, who takes lite rs it
comes" and by force of habit. if not by
man SIX months il his happiness depend
ed on it.
Did you ever read the old fashioned
hook on etiquette called "YCung Lady's
Friend ?" Good Mrs. FarTar will never
guess the benefit that straightforward,
wholesome book of advice has been 10
girls. She knew the class she was writ
ing for, and gave her opinion in such
frank word, As these quote from mem
ory You are TO allow no personal
freedoms from gentlemen of your ac-
quaintance. If a finger is put out to ex-
anime locket or Chain on your dress,
draw back and take it OF for inspection
The reason for this rule is clear To those
who are better acquainted with the wo rid
The reason is perfectly clear to every
one who comes TO twenty. nvc years ot
are outside of reform institution. \
man of society, who dealt in an occas-
sional roughness of speech, said once in
parlor before ladies, that he would
never marry New York gitl OF fashion.
for the class allowed themselves to be
handled too much. a girl who protects
herself from the freedom too much in
vogue in society, increases her own val
ne il she only knew it, with those she
may have to repulse. don't believe in
prudishncss or suspicion, but | do be-
iese that when men and women are not
con,ented with the friendship that can
be expressed by frank, kind eyes, and
cordial. brief hand shakes, and clear
words one is not ashamed the world
should hear, they should know what
ntoxication they are sharing There
is fine, distinct line between the cordial
commerce of good will and heaven
warmed affection, that bind the human
family together, and these leadings of
attraction that with nameless license
destroy the bloom ofretnement.
There is one rule that settles thousand
queries of the nature we are considering.
Whatever is secret may be safely un-
touched. The touch, the look, the init
macy. the spsondencJ! that needs to
be secret, has something wrong about it.
If you are sure there is no evil in your
motives, for Heavens sake come out and
avOw your friendship, your design, what
ever it may be. You make the world
purer and set a precedent by your frank
ness that tears away thousand hypocrl-
cies. The world has keen scent for the
really innocent, and il you cannot face
its first sneers of criticism, you have rca-
son to doubt yourself. From "Shirieys
Dare"
An INFIDEL LYcEUM. Recently Phila-
delpha man died, willing his entire es-
tate for the founding of An Intidel I.yco-
um in that city. The will has been de-
clared null and void by the Pennsylvania