The Republican journal., 1871-05-04
NUMBER 43.

considered, fortunately. Griselda's hus-
band was prosperous merchant, instinct
lively generous and sympathetic, knowing
little of the world and less of women
Statira was mated with worthy and
wealthy gentleman who had Travelled far
and seen much; was cynical in speech be-
cause tender in feeling; called skeptical
because he had such ample faith. Their
first year was as if all the months had
been May and June, and then as usually
happens. there came change Griselda
ceased to appear in pdblic with her leige,
and soon the most devoted of lovers SEEM
cd the most Indifferent of husbands. He
cultivated new tastes and found new
pleasures. Billiards and whist became
passions, and he a regular habitue of the
club to which in his bachelor days he was
almost unknown. During the third year
of wedlock Griselda no longer looked like
herself. Her freshness and roundness
were gone, and those tyrants of feminine
nature, the nerves, ruled her mercilessly
If Napoleon's rude speech to De Stael be
correct, Griselda is likely to be one of the
greatest of women. Everybody deplored
her decline but him who had most reason
to deplore it. To-day hardly anyone
could be persuaded that Griselda could
ever have laid the smallest claim to beau
ty, or that elegance and brilliancy had
even been remotely acquainted with her
Barely thirty, she seems five and forty.
and all the brightness Of her life is dim
med forever.
Statira's first year was like her sisters;
but when her husband showed signs of
WEAKNESS she hercsolved to charm that Wea-
riness away.
you would be q well-bred truant,"
she said Gas you have been before, but
l shall not let you. You have thought it
well to tlirt with other women, but with
your wife your intentions must be serious.
You have vowed to love me, and | shall
make you keep your word by always ap-
pearing lovely. am young and fair and
accomplished, and what is more, intend
to remain so. You have not exhausted
me, and you shall not for every day |
shall unfold 4 new leaf of beauty, and,
sentimental botanist as you are, you can
not fail to be Interested. | shall be 4 true
wife, but | shall be charming woman al
So When you come home | shall read
and play and talk to you; and it will be
strange if Your affection grows languld
y
out in The evening, | shall 90 with you.
No more clubs o. bachelor dinners if |
can wean you from them by such means
as are at my command. My quiver has
not begun to be emptied yet of Cupid's ar
rows, and the boy god is, | am sure, my
irmest friend. | shall SO show my love
that you cannot help but love me in re-
turn; and even when we have grown old
| shall expect from you the courtesies and
gallantries you showered upon me on our
bridal morning."
Statira was true to her word. She con-
edlovely in every outward detail no less
thanin the inward spirit, and she was fondly
loved. The years that have passed since her
wedding find her fresh and bright, for
her heart is happy as in her girlhood, and
her husband falls newly in love with her
every radient morning and every blessed
night She has made the name of wife
sacred to him who was wont to jest at
and all the swallows Of his fan
cy have flown home to rest.
Statira has wrought a miracle by the
means. She has kept her hus-
bands heart by the tender tyranny to
which strong and chvalrous men are
prone to submit. Statira does not know
what the ''Revoution' or the 'Woman's
Journal means, and she is TO much occu-
pied with her own happiness even to in
quirc.
1t is said that men lose their hearts
their eyes and women through
their ears This is certainly creditabe to
the ecntler sex, for it makes them appear
wholly intellectual and our sex simply
sensuous. Women believe the statement
true and net on the belief; but ohserva-
ton and experience while they often con
tradict the aphorsm, so far as men are
ton in fact A pretty simpleton has of
ten captured u hero, blind to the worth
and attractions of u superb woman with
Il plain face. A bright eye and a lair
complexion have lured to insipidity con
noisseurs who have escaped from the tas
citations of an irregularteaturod en-
chantress. But, after all, the women
whom men visit Satan for are seldom
strikingly handsome; are often homely
indeed, judged by the common canons of
criticism. Beauty draws but not to hold;
fires. but does not melt; pleases but does
not fix. Behind the tair face and beneath
the fine form must be q quick brain and
animating spirit if lasting conquests are
to be gained Women born to comeliness
and graceful form have no clear concep-
ton Of this, and wonder when they lose
the triumphs they had deemed secure.
They see that mind is more magnetic
than matter; but they do not take the les
son to themselves They fail to compre-
hcnd that beauty to be truly such must
have Il harmonious whole, not mere an
Gle of vision Grave therefore the mis-
takes they make, though by their mis-
takes they are never taught.
Girls are frequently stultifed by the
conscious possession Of an agreeable per-
son. Having such, they fancy they have
all, and let what should be the correspond
cnt parts run to waste. Quite spoiled by
shallow ilattery, they giggle men out of
all optical illusions. When pretty women
are welded, they forget how likely their
prettiness is to fade. If mindful to pre-
serve their external bloom, which too of
tent they are not, they calolc themselves
with the notion that it will be lasting.
They seek not to develop other and rich
er resources and so when the flower has
fallen, there is no promise OF fruit. Heed
less of graces of mind and spirit, and the
serene sweetness which good sense and
good heartedness unvaryingly yield, they
wax sour with disappointment and shriv-
el with discomfort. Deprived of their
natural rights by lack of intelligence and
liberality, they look for the cause of their
grievances beyond themselves, and fret
the tranquil hours with proclamation of
imaginary wrongs. They believe it hard
ship and injustise that they are not loved
when the first principles of loveliness,
sympathy, has no residence IN their cold
and calculating breast.
Logic may convince, but lovliness per-
suades, and persuasion leads to act and
sacrifice when convictions stops this side
of deeds. All the arguments coined from
the feminine brain have less weight and
less influence with men-so weak and
shallow is our sex in its relation to the
other-than q handsome throat or dulcet.
voice. Novella d. Andrea, in her famous
lectures at Bologna, won more renown
by her beauty than her erudition, and
students who listened to her acquired a
love of law through the law OF love. Ma
tilda Tambroni's knowledge of Greek
was rare and deep; but her dark eyes re-
yealed mysteries her professional tongue