Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-06-14
The Rising Generation Of the South

The Rising GenerafiOn OF the South.
When people are poor they are foolish to
attempt to live as if they were rich. The old
and young, the males and females, Of every
family which has the misfortune to be poor,
ought to bear the burden together, and ought
10 work together to increase the common store.
If there is but one working person IN the taml-
", and he is generally the father. his nose will
be kept at the grindstone from one year $ end
TO another, unless he has well ordered house
hold. The wife can greatly aid him by. her
sympathy, by frugal management, b% a cheer
full temper and by iustilling into the young
people lessons of economy and industry. 10
attempt to live as rich people do, when a taml-
" is poor, is not only sham and cheat but
it makes the head OF such family a hopeless
slave and drudge, and absolutely perpetuates
the poverty 50 seduously sought to be con-
realed.
We are, with few exceptions, all poor alike
in the South Let us not be ashamed OF 1t,
and not commit the folly Of increasing and con
tinuing it By contemplate shifts to hide it. 1t
is an evil, but the way to conquer it Is to look
it in the face to 60 10 work, and to practice
economy fall that ~ over-worked father
makes is consumed in supporting sons IN idle
ness and daughters in all the extravaganza OF
fashionable dressing and display, what earthly
prospect will there he of an improvement in
circumstances IF the overwOr ked head OF
the family lives under all his burdens, he lives
to see increasing hcl plessness all around him in
that family which ought to be L source of COM
fort to him. If he dies, a victim to his heavy
burdens, he leaves behind him sens unframed
to work-possibly Of expensive it not dlsslpa-
ted habits, and daughters without any resour-
ces whatever, and miserable because they can
not continue to keep up the poordelusion that
they are part and parcel Of the fashionable
world
No situation in life can be more CALLING
than that ola poor family striving to hide Its
poverty by aping the fashions. II the efforts
made by its members to keep up a false show
were but directed to useful ends, the result
would be most propitious. As it is, all they
can do is to keep their heads above water and
be tolerated in the world of fashion To com-
pass this pitiful end they pass through purga-
tory. They sacrifice Sclf-reSpect, solid comfort
and all the sacred duties of domestic life in or
der to get an uncertain and very humble posi-
tion in that society which is called fashionable.
This is unworthy people who have aspark
Of intellect, 1t will, if it becomes prevalent
among U.s. be more disastrous even than the
war was. Il will fasten poverty upon us tor
successive generations and MAKE us set or So
cal cheats and humbugs.
IF thoughtlcss boys and glddy misses arc a.
lowed their way, they vii, of course, keep away
from the tasks Of life and seek only its plea
sures. But they ought not to be allowed to
have their way They should be controlled
The boys should be brought up with the idea O.:
that life has its serious duties and responsible
ties, and that chief among them is the courage
to work and the girls should be taught that
lhey cease to be the ornaments OF domestic life
when they sacrifice every thing to fashion and
Real gentility is something higher and no.
bier than mere fashion and genteel poverty Is
far more respectable than the vulgar snebbery;
that 50 many weak minded and white hIooded
people cultivate all their lives long:
1t will be an evil day for Virginia when she
becomes prey to snobbery. The high repute
in which she has so long been held WAS the re-
suit of the solid virtues and the true refine
ment Of her men and women. Mere fashion
had nothing to do with it. Her position vii!
be anv thing but proud one when she has to
point to the puppets of fashion as her best
Claims to consideration. n.-Rtch. Eng
4 CORRESPONDENCE Fairfax News
ays:-TAe following are exact copies oftwo let
ters picked up on the road folded together:
few days ago. The first breathes the warnlest
love but the latter shows that 4 few days has
turned all the passionate love into lccieS
Here they are
FAIRFAX, April %.
Ny dear Jonncy. it is with plesurel seat my
self to ansear your kind and well come Letter
which I reseav late wensday. | was glad to
hear YOU was we'll My Dear John you wanted
me to meat you next sunday, it is out OF my
pour NV Dear But will Bee shore to meat
you sunday AFTER you sed you was goen to OHIO
nv Dear YOU out not hurt my feallns as Will
Rec shore to stick to my promas L | am glad to
hear that YOU don't think hard of me, wish
Won low me as I Low you | am shore you void
not forget me if you was to 60 away am sure
I void not live week no not too days. hope
we will be mared soon and then Can See you
all the time, I wish | had my arms around
your sweet mex how hapy would Bee. wish
had one sweet Kiss from your sweet Llps:you
said in your Letter YOU wanted me to send YOU
word whearther void hay you yeas will If L
don't wont kno Body else in the world, am
ready any time you say SO you mead not mind
nv pearrents for when git redy shant ask
them,
lfyou Low me rs Low you,
No nife void cut our lInv in too"
NV Dear Jonney pleas Keep me in Your
mind Won don't Know how much | Low YOU,
Won must not give my Misses away we arc
amany amile apart But still we are Joined in
heart. when shall I see that hapy time when
will Bee yours and you will Bee myne. Dear
Jonney take kear of yourself good BY Dear
Jonney from your Dear Anna
Here follows her next.
..Nr Sir l want you not to send me
spv more Letters for hav changed my mind
ait geether hear is your rings will try and
git your other ring from Mr.. D.. and send
t to YOU, I hope you wont speak to me eny
more and will doc the same l am very much
obge to you for sendin me your heair, take il
don't want it so keep your distenc from me
hone when you send another letter to girl you
want seal it with soap so good By for ever
The motto pref1ed to the above interesting
correspondence is the following