The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-03-28

tried, the real purpose of which, nc
matter how it may be disguised, is to
separate the sexes, and to secure for
each the pleasure of being only in its
own society. There is NO sacrifice men
will not make to get this luxury. They
will support the costliest clubs. they
will smoke, they will pretend any sort
of recreation from cards down to bill
| liards, sooner than not be apart from
women portion of their time. The
| like thing holds of the ladies in their
own way. The inability of the men to
stay, at home allows their wives so as
semble mutual clubs in their own draw
| ing-rooms. and they do SO. For one
| club the men have,s the women have
hundreds--just, as many as there are
| houses. '- f''si - 't- - -. "
''The truth is, the tastes of the sexes
radically. differ. At home feminine lik-
ings prevail, and there is no man who
is not more or less aware that the minor
arrangements and wonderful and to him
uprfuous filigree-hke lornamentation
of his house, are not for him nor for
his sex, but for the other. Just as lit
tie can be doubted that men and wor1-
en- dress each for their own sex; that it
is. theadmantion of their own kind, not
of the opposite one, they lay them
selves most out for. Men and women
areIin aperpetual condition of surprise,
and scof at each Others styles, both
always self eomplaeentT lealtogether
omitting criticism of their own.
=" Conversation equally Sbetrays this
natural opposition. If the sexes had
real respect for one another, would they
indulge in these unbelievable compli-
mentsR Neithervdoes it to those of
their own kind whom. they honestly like.
The artificial style of talk which is the
traditionarY custom of the sexes is
plainly that of creatures who do not
understand each other and have mutual
suspicious. Being strange, they betake
themselves to compliments. '~s7 -
Ass"A qualification in reference to the
family relation has to be made. To
man, his mother is not woman-she is
a divinity. The like party holds in a
girl to her father, and brothers and sis
ters are not of any sex. 4 But get out
side of this non-sexual circle, and the
antipathy comes quickly into play.
Boys nearly hate girls, and the feeling
is returned. Old men care nothing for
women of any age, except as nurses
cid women creep together. 1t is only
during the central portion of life that
the sexes can be said to be civil to one
another. In fact,%if nature, had not |
forced men and women to love each
other during that portion willy-nilly,
and given them that incredible and per-
picking bribe of children, it is doubtful
whether they would have any mutual
liking. Love is all that exists between
them. .ra..a
SIT is astonishing, considering what
complete, intricate. long association the
bringing up a family ties a couple to,
that they do not become more really |
intimate than they do even iu the best |
cases. Doubt may well be felt that |
there are few. husbands and wives who, |
in spite of all the trials they have shar-
ed, have not at the bottom of their |
hearts a sense of grievance one against
the other.
cit is all very sad; but it cannot be
helped. The sexes are partial failure,
and somehow has arisen an enormous
of their liking for one
another. Looked at calmly, the inter
est which each has for the other is wo-
fully lacking in versatility; it is alike
and snall-mere love, in
fact" eSz1ssA&ts &. 1