The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-10-09

SOCIAL NATURALNEsS.-The oldest con-
sequence of the artificial state in which we
find ourselves obliged to live is that nature
looks like affectation, and that the highest art
is the most like nature OF anything we know.
IL is in drawing r,oms as on the stage. A
thoroughly inartifcia actor would be a mere
dummy, just as in the Greek theatre a man
in his natural face would have seemed mean
and insignificant to the spectators accustomed
to fixed types OF heroic size and set intention.
But he whose acting brings the house down
because of its "truth to nature is he whose
art has been the most profoundly studied.
and with whom the concealmept of art has
therefore been the most perfectly attained.
So in society. A man of thoroughly natural
manners would pass as either niorose or pert
according to his mood-eitber as stupid be-
cause disinclined ii. exert himself, or obtru-
sive because in the humor to talk. He would
mean no offence, but he would make himself
dsa.reeable all the same. Such man is the
pest of his club, and the nuisance of every
drawing room he enters. 1t matters little
whether he is ccnstitutionally boorsh or
goo,lnatured; he is natural; and his natural
ness comes like an ugly patch of fIieze on the
cloth of gold with which the goddess of con-
ventionaty is draped. Natural women, too,
may be found at times-women who demon
strate on small occasions, sincerely, no doubt,
but excessively: women who skip like young
lambs when they are pleased, and pout like
naughty children when they are displeased
who disdain all those little arts of dress
which conceal defects and heighten beauties,
and who are always at war with the fashions
of the day; who despise those conventional
graces of manner which have come to be part
of the religion of society, contradicting point
blank, soiteping no refusal with the express
sion of regret they do not feel, yawning in
the face of the bore, admring with the
ndiuete of a savage whatever is new to them
or pleasing. Such women are not
agreeable companions, however devoid Of
atfectation they may be, however stanch
adherents 70 truth and things as they are,
according to their boast. The woman who
has not a particle of unframed spontaneity
left in her, and who has herself in hand on
all occasions, who gives herself to her COM
pauy, aud who is always collected, graceful,
and at ease, playing her par without tip,
but always playing her par and never letting
herself drop into uncontrolled uaturalness-
this is the woman whom men agree to call,
not only charming, but thoroughly natural as
well. On the other hand, the unframed
woman who speaks just as she thinks, and
who cares more to express her own sensa-
tions than TO study those of her companions,
Is sneered at as silly or underbred, as the cur
rent sets, or perhaps as affected; her trans
parency, to which the world is not accus-
toned, and to which it does not wish TO get
accustomed puzzng the critics OF Their KIND.
Social naturaness, like perfect theatrical rep
reservations is everywhere the result of the
best art; that is, OF the most careful train
ing. 1t siirulaes self-torgetiulness by the
very perfection of its self-control, while un-
trained nature is ;elt:assertion at all corners,
and is founded on the imperous conscious
ness of personality.-The Saturday Rerieac.