The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1872-12-26
A PLEA FOR THE "SOFTIES." ]

everybody must sometimes meet, known
aud stigmatized as Solties. This class
admits of subdivision, aud as only Que
division is herein understood, it is well
to discriminate. For instance, this plea
makes 10 preteuce of Including that
peculiar, but not unfamiliar, section known
in common parlance as spooues. Nor
does it cover the fiippant coxcomb, who,
made up by tailor, hair dresser, and Jewe
Ter. aud wrapped 10 the iuvulnerable man
tie of his own self couceit pours out his
Iatuous sweetness especially upon ladies
The Softy who really deserves com
niseration is the man or woman who, in
the estimation of our shrewdlywise genera
ton, commits the most ubcon ceivable yet
utterly puerile folly, of supposing people
good until they prove themselves or are
proved the reverse. This much derded
individual usually gets himseif-ior
though the class comprlSes both sexes we
use one for convenience-iuto various
difficulties before his eyes are opened, il
indeed they ever get opened. He helps
young friend out of tight place, not
simply from pity and kind feeling, but
because he sympathizes with an irregular
life, and does not know how soon he may
need a like favor. He considers all wo
men, not manifestly vile, straight forward
anl pure ike his mother, until he has
been Tilted by some heartless 1irt, and ad
ded to her list of triumphs or, worse yet,
inyeigled into the tolls Of some Potiphar :
wife, and in either case made a subject Of
deriSive mirth, because he was so sOlt.-
lie thinks that men whose names stand
in good, perhaps high, repute on some
church roll, are Of course upright, and
parctce the religion they profess [; until
he discovers his mistake, at his own cost
Ii his own principles OF integrity are on
ly the effect of greenness, he soon passes
this stage aud learns to lock back sneer
insly on his former self. If, however,
his nobility is genuine, if his integrity is
an integral part Of his character, he prob
ably becomes more wary and reticent,
never less honorable-a sadder but wiser
man He will, of necessity, learn to
guard his purse, or it would be torn from
him By frieuds who would laugh in his
face as they before it away. But if OF a
confding disposition, his unfortunate and
often too senitve heart will sometimes
stumble out of his breast and perch itself
on his coat-sleeves, aud the DAVIS will
peek at it. Unless he be fortunate en-
ough TO fall in with some woman of suf
fcient sense to appreciate him, aud with
responsive integrity, which shall not
disappoint him, the sex is likely to remain
in his mind, a life long puzzle. One
thing however, is certain, the ring Of the
true metal may be known in this he never
dwindies into a sniveling seutimeptalist,
uor turns sour and morose lie knows
some human beings with faults and 10
frmities, Of course, but good aud true
nevertheless ; and his heart dwells upon
aud refreshes itself among them, as a
over sandy deserts braces him
self amid the scorching sands with thought
-,
ing fields and forests A great deal OF
what is sneered at as soltness grows out
a true and trnth loving nature and it is
"A SAD comment on our nineteenth century
morality, not to say Christianity, that it
should be sneered at.
1t is not every man that is endow wed
with the wisdom of the serpent ard the
harmlessness of the dove ; said wisdom
usually comes through intimate acquaint-
auce with the willy, oily serpent. Lovely
woman too, is much addicted to persecut
ing the Softy, or sighting him for some
a9roit, unblundering man Of the world i
she has a strong penchant for the wisdom
of the serpent; forgetting that it is seldom
allied to the cleanliness of the dove Il
Sometimes, indeed not unfrequently these
Softies turn out men Of mark, making
their way lairly and honorabIy to high
places aud esteem then my Lady Dis
dainful, now IA neglected, downtrodden
wife or an enameled, painted, aud padded
spinister, says to herself with groau.-I
"What fool | was" Yes, aud what
fools parents are In fact what fools we
all are, when we set sharpness. which
generally means successful cunning. on
pedestal, and speer at unsuspecting limo
ceuce. Verify it becomes us to animad.