The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-07-17

pared to preside gracefully or success.
fully oycri it, nor to make it the sWeetest
place in all the world to those who call
it home.
The influence Of true woman iS
greatly enlarged by SUCH culture OF the
mind as supplies the resources and the
skill of charming conyersationallst.
And here, young ladies, the value of
collegiate education is very evident.
Study. by their exercise strengthens the
mental faculties, and furnishes them
with information to enrich conversation.
TO converse with a pedant proudly pa
rading the essences and ologies, the OBJ
jective and the subjective in swelling
sentences OF sesquipedalian proportions
is to be placed in the predicament of the
simple Individual who replied to pre-
tentious declailucr of Johnsonian lati-
nisms, that he did not understand Dutch.
Pedantry wrinkles the smooth brow,
and spoils the expression OF sweet
mouth, but o whata treat to converse
with q lady of fine culture, whose learn
ing is managed by feminine taste, and
is modestly employed in the interest of
truth and goodness! Let the womanly
heart with all its pure and precious IN
stincts guide the well-trained and fur
furnished mind, and in conversation as
in letter-writing, woman commands the
field, and wins from her brother the
homage of his delighted attention.
Compare the refining, strengthening III
luence pervading q parlor where men
and women of good sense, good taste
and liberal culture meet, the woman
contributing the inspiration and the
music of "the feast OF reason and the
flow Of SOUL" compare the atmosphere
Of such circle with that of the draw
ing-room where beauX and bellies pelt
each other with the sugar plum of fiirta-
ton, batteries as lightas foam, and false
as the bubble that floats in the air like
O round and beautiful world, but van
ishes into nothing at the touch. 1t Is
like the passage from a room full OF
fresh, pure air, with pleasant odor OF
roses to q close apartment filled with the
sickening perfume of decaying gardenia
blossoms, mixed with carbonic-acid-gas
from human lungs. Now the admission
that sentiment, pleasantly, the spark
ling speech and the gay repartee are ell
enents of refreshing conversation, does
not establish the propriety of discardlng
everything else. 10 feast forever upon
swcetmeats would be destructive to
health, if it were possible to appetite.
Bread, wholesome, nourishing bread Of
truth is the food for the mind. Let us
have bread first and bon bons afterwards.
Conversation receives vast damage from
the tendency to seek for mental slim
ulants. Reading, that excludes every
solid treatise, and eagerly pursues sto-
ries and exciting narratives, vitiates the
taste and enfeebles the faculties of the
mind. One who examines the pulse OF
society is struck by its feverish beat. The
undue exercise and developement of
one faculty is at the expense OF others,
and disease results. But young ladies
you have been better taught. We are
delighted to believe that you are prepar-
cd to go from these peaceful groves to
make glad the hearts Of those who love
YOU, to brighten the homes God has
given you. There is q glorious work
for every one Of you at home. Carry
there your learning and your accom-
plishments, your gifts and your graces
and lay them upon the altar OF love and
duty.
Live in deeds, not years,in thoughts
not breatns;
In feelings, not in figures on q dial.
$50 shalt thou make life, death and
that vast forever,
One grand sweet song.
How pure, how angelic is the love Of
q sister land how gentle, and yet how
mighty is her influence. Its memory is
4 precious talisman to hold steady the
amidst the currents of temptation and
the storms of the world. Out upon the
waves of adventure, far from the OLD
oak tree that sheltered his childhood,
the thought Of her is like a purifying
presence, dispensing all unworthy aims
and inspiring the high resolve to 90
noble things.
How beautiful is the daughters de-
votiou. See that cottage! The vine
that SO gracefully shades the porch was
trained by her fingers. The flowers
that grow in the window are hers. Her
hands have arranged the furniture. Her
bright form graces the board. She is
the old mans only child Her mother
is in Heaven. She Is his mocking bird
singing morning and evening to cheer
his heart See them in the twilight
happy parent! darling daughter! She
sits by his side, and smooths tenderly
his thin gray hair. He holds her dear
head on his breast. It's the sweet flower
blooming in the cleft of q hoary old
rock. A tear of exquisite rapture fills
his eye and falls upon her tresses.
"Some feelings are to mortals given,
With less Of earth in them than heaven,
And if there be human tear,
From passions dross refined and clear,
A tear so limpid and so meek,
1t would not stain an angels check,
'Tis that which pious fathers shed
Upon duteous daughters head.