The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-09-14
ONE OF THE SIsTEE!
Woman.


Is it, then, the Involuntary sense of some
thing untrue which makes the world distrrst-
FIJI and incredulous of the genuinepess of ten
der emotions and deep fee1ingsf Or is it from
general incapacity to understand what they are,
that they are generally ridiculed, and never
mentioned but with sort of trivial irony, the
vulgarity of which is almost greater than its
offensivenessf The answer / leave. At all
events there is nothing which 30 cramps every
fight of the sonl as the mocking doubt OF ali
begets falsehood, what is as bad that hard
pride which contemns public opinion. Offend
ed earnestness, which can never tolerate or
forgive frivolous and empty jests, avenges
titude of hearty defiance.
The great world or, it is called, polite
society, has put on connterance of such use-
full gayety that the smallest cloud of q deeper
emotion necessarily disturbs it. There is no.
thing by which a man makes himself more
tiresome more ridiculous than By allowing
what passes within to appear on the surface !;
by suffering his real nature to CLEAN through
the forms of society. Now any interference,
whether kindly Extensively interded, with
o mans personal relations, causes sudden
to truth it cannot remain mute. it Getrays
itself. In order to avoid the ridicule conse-
quent upon this, he must laugh at his own
want of self-comnaud. According that is
done with good sense or with grace, social
hypocrisy acquires tinge either of the hnrpor-
GUS or the attractive. But if timidity and
awkwardncss are mingled with false shame,
and he endeavors to explain away aud to
apologize for what was perhaps a solitary in
dication of something really good, nothing re-
mains bat the aattest commonplace. of the
--LATEST persihage.
Is it to be wondered that men Of profound
minds withdraw with coptemptuous smile
from fashionable society,"
Must this be soi Mus. the higher classes
thus detach themselves from all others, like an
isolated piece of merely external life, which
knows nothing, and must know nothing of the
| in ternalf To wrest things out of their con-
nection and series, is to destroy them. When
the fbres that unite q being are broken, it
breathes no living breath-it becomes carri-
cature or lie.
This state of things every body has an inter
est III preventing, but especially woman, whose
vocation is to breathe over society a wary and
vivifying breath, and to render all isolation in
it impossible. This breath of apprehensive-
ness and enthusiasm, which discovers and fans
| every congenial spirit before it is conscious OF
its own existence, ought to pervade society,
and to form moro genial atmosphere. in which
every bud and flower of feeling is not doomed
to Instant death. If the influence of the fe-
male sex is negative, it is yet of immense
reality and strength, from tho mere fact that
it acts by moving the barriers opposed to the
positive display of the intellectual nature Of
man.
! Woman might at least tolerate the aspira.
| tions of lofty spirit the development of en-
larged and generous opinions, the Kindness OF
a living, vigorous will. At least they might
abstain from throwing ridicule on the enth usi
asm which is possible-at least they nigh,
| forgive youth if its quick Gre flames up above
the low enclosures of the conventional. They
| know not their own power; they know moi
| how and whence they can elevate existence
they commonly know it not even in detail
| they might, it should seem, observe how pow
erfully one single intelligent glance of sympa
| thy-the silent accompaniment and completion
| of halfformed thoughts-may act on the gen
| eral direction of the mind and character hoV
| the conviction of being understood and appre
ciated gives wings to thought and eager pinion
| to exertioRs; what it is to be able to look for
! ward to praise and honor q reward for every
victory over low desires.
| There are eyes which need only to look NJ
! to touch every chord of . breast choked b.
| the sitting atmosphere of stiff and stsgnan
| society, and to call forth tones which nigh
become the accompanying masic of life.
| This gentle TRANSMISSION of mind into rinc
| is the secret of sympathy. Ii is never under
| stood but ever felt and where it is allowed K
| exert it's powers, it Ellis and extends idtellec
tual life far beyond the measure OF ordinary
conception.
How many have known and forgot Instance.
of such awakeningf Why do wonea present
an attitude of cold fashiooab!euess to a work.
which they might win by their sweetEe=s-aec
| inspire by their virtuef Their light foot steps
ought to touch the earth only ID mark IN.
track which leads to heaTen.-1GdgB's &c Il
Note Fouque.