The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-08
"And the Army SWOre Terribly
i'm FRamdePSo''
Roundabout in New Orleans Times.

Poor Uncle TOby's sayings have
passed into proverbs with some people.
They had the virtue of being catholic in
their application. Now comes "Diana"
as spokesman of an army-nOt such as
blasphemed upon the Flemish plains,
perhaps, nor yet like that which came
to grief on the banks of the Thermidon
four dozen centuries ago; but rather
speaking for the fearful band of nymphs
whose wounds are made by weapons
less tangible than the Grecian jaw
elm, and whose complaints find vent in
softer sounds than curses.
Roundabout is no cOntemptuOusT Their
sites to scOff at grief like this. Some
day he hopes to cheer one mourner's
heart, and in the interim his sympathy
more outside of Utah?
But here is what Diana" says about
it:
DEAR ROUNDABOUT-We have fallen
upon gloomy days, and as one who has
often, in brighter hours, had her enjoy
ments enhanced byyOur delightful page,
l now resort to it to pour out my repin-
lngs, and suggest WOman's notion OF
the best way to remove their causes.
These men! these men! / am losing
all patience with them, they make such
whimpering after the split milk that
my French fables taught me was ire
coverable. Pm really sick to death of
the cry, mo matter; the times will soon
improve;" and l almost begin to wish
at the bottom ofmy heart that they new
er will improve. What is the difference
ifthey don't? WhynOt only wO-story
instead of a three-stOry house, and just
half the number of visits to the opera !;
to dispense at once with the luxurious
| mode of living, and to make ourselves
as happy as We were before we became
the slaves of these hab bits.
Let the men, then, but give up some
of their fOllies, as we can our furniture.
shopping and music, and learn to lead
down the dance of life after a more
homely fashion. Our hearts are not the
baubles they think them-let them
prove the genuine worth of their own.
As the matter now stands, | do not see
what is to become of unmarried girls
like myself. Proposing seems to be at
an end, for awhile, and fear shall no
longer be young when the revival of
former prosperity brings suitOrs to my
sisters that are still in the nursery.
Moreover, I have lately heard OF so
many matches being broken off by
those who generally plead 'the state of
the times" as cause for mot involving
the lady, taking her from the style of
life in which she was so accustomed to
move, etc." that am losing all patience
both with "the tines and the men of
the times. What paltry excuse for
not fulfilling an engagement. What an
opinion must that man ling have of our
sex, who believes that we marry carpet
| mirror and pier table! Pray do not let
our rights be attacked without blow
in return from your graceful pen. We
all expect it, sir. Shall we be diSap-
pointed? If not, you will lose forever
| the respect and regard of your cores
pondent, DIANA.
And yet, my dear 'Diana," is it not
your fault? Can you look fairly at the
society of the day and deny that its van
| ity, its extravagances, it's artificiality
are all your own sweet work ? Why
does Adolphus, with his poor little
monthly pittanGe, pinch and starve al
| most to im1nolatiOn, so that at least one
| toilet acceptable to wOman's eyes may
grace his luckless back? That second
rate dress suit is his cross, and he won
it through Via D0lOT0SG, as veritable
| in it's way as that which led among the
Syrian hills long, long ago. He
knows that beauty's glance will hardly
linger on an ill-made coat, no matter
how true the heart that beats beneath it,
and society is Gear to him. He has
| heaFd-iust as Roundabout has heard
| the accepted vernacular OF fashion, and
| he knows, with foolish sinking at his
! heart, that it rambles only in the paths OF
/ pleasure and by the running brooks
and shady grOttOes of luxury. He must
| talk of balls and parties which rob hlE
very life of days; of operas, OF seaside
gaieties, of rOuts, and all the regular
routine which is to him at once phan'
tom and a terror.
How can he ponder all this, and the1
ask one of those pretty birds to leave
tifu, and oh ! he loves with @ strength
can he accomplish all those gew- -gaws
and laces, and silks? Can he give hel
The things which, according to her OWL
confessions, are the prime necessities o.
her existence-and he not able to lOOl
his tailor in the face?
Come, now, "Diana"; you and you
sisters have this matter in your owl
hands. If you are better than yol
seem, why say so to the stricken wretch
who sniyeIs at your elbow because yOl
seem so far away. Talk of something
besides mere dissipation; show tina
some sacrifices are contemplated in you
scheme of life prove your ability Il
see through the coat a man wears, ant
your willingness to think Of existence
as something nObler than round O
gaiety.
is not imaginative.
l.