New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-03-26

169e. - p0o6o 80 ~ loy0 Nh -
world = to ~ ezhales T. ftsoEaaee mto
whom she lives rscipe6cats her devotion.
T , RI &N ~ : si 80 essIs ss:
to society as tho bird belongs to the air,
and sings the sweetest when conGenial
spirits respond to her notes.
Woman excels in conversational aptit1des
and tact. A witty Frenchmdn says Ameri-
.eans-eannnt -oaosous9s~-.8 eNin - tolt with
one, and ten to one he will address yOu rs
s'Mr President" or. "Dear Brethren" Had
he seen many American women, he would
said Coleridge excelled in mop0loguc, but
knew nothing OF dialogue. 1t Is SO with
most men. The Chinese say, what woman
has lost in her feet she has more than gained
in her tongue" Emerson says our men are
too busy and prcoccupiel to be friends
They have not time for the growth OF Q plant
% tender and fine - that. But most women
are exempted from the coarse competitions
and drudxeries Of the world, and have time
and opportunity for conversation and friend
ship. They can share the delights OF the
salon, and act upon the world from centres
of social intercourse, quite as effectually, II
less noisily, as from the platform ana the
desk. ~ vs,z siAtt
The element most wanting in American
female society Ia certain courageous ana
fine sincerity, the uprightness Of dignity
and the soul Of character. 1t takes two
parties to make society; and every woman
must he true to herself, must feel tnnc cne
has weight, personality, and responsibility
of her own, with tastes to be respected, aud
convictions to be maintained, aud q con-
science to he obeyed, or she will he ewamped
and Lost in the currents and eddles that
sweep and gurgle about her, dissOlving
whoever Yields to their seductiOns into
pulp To realize any culture from society
and exert any influence upon 1t, q woman
must assert herself, keeping her foot liked
on the firm ground and her eye set on wnat
her eye alone can see.
Too much of our fashionable society is
mere pretense and make-believe. 1t is. a
masquerade in which each person acts u
part, and acts it go poorly that whoever has
| ewes can see through the mask OF the face
| beneath and the heart under the face. We
/ should compliment each other by acting in
our own character, appearing what We are.
| Our society needs nothing more than the
dignity and weight that few persons OF
commanding self-respect and poise Of char
acter would give. We should hasten to
rid ourselves Of the silly custom Of running
after and Mr-Dear-ing people we heartily
despise We should abolish Mrs. Grundy.
| and turn with contempt from what ''they
say" 1t is not the opinion Of every body,
but the opinion Of somebody that is of ac-
count. We must put 80 much knowl-
edge. earncstness, virtue behind our
| opinion that it shall be felt in spite of
| the habbling of all the t0Dgues. Character
must determine companiOnship. Those fine
| sympathies and attractions which. by law
| Of their own % sure as magnetism, as resist.
less ~ grayitation, draw souls together and
establish that beautiful community Of
thought and feeling which almost antici'
pates expression, who shall snalyze their
cOmponents and declare their outgoing
But even these are rooted in the deep sin
| cerities which make the heart true to itself
| and seal the lips when no word asks for ut
terance. Other society than is elected by
these is degradation and Proclamation
We should choose for companions those
wiser and better than ourselves who car
aid as, those who attract by their tastes and
moral at1inities, and those we can aid in any
way. Thus while We sit at the feet Of saget
and saints, like Mary at the feet Of Jesus
learning what they have to teach, we toe
may become ministering spirits to some o.
His disciples, and know the joys Of a noble
friendship.