Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-12-21
From the Home journal.

CelNc OHeSS COuleSSIOlIS OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
of woman tried almost beyond her
strength. Would that 1 had never
loved! Would that l had never bowed
in white satin and point lace, land a
deliciously-expensivev veil that almost.
touched the floor, toreceive the burden
Of a too hastily concluded marriage.
Amanda, Tmade an appalling mistake;
the mistake of a vivid imagination,
creating an idol outrof mere earthly
clay-a gross, food-consuming man.
But there is a remedy, sovereign one,
thanks to the increasing enlightenment
of the present age, and more especially
to Chicago's benignant legal philan-
thropists; and ever since | received the
intelligence that Serena Murdstone had
married count, | have realized more
fully the hollowness of life, and have
felt more ardent aspirations after a
higher nobility than Frederick STAN
ton can ever attain to. | know that l
promised myself to him for all my life,
but l was very young, and did not real
ize the indiscretion of which [ was gull
ty. The marriage formula, over which
the female participant trembles and
bushes but to which it Is considered
rather necessary that she should re-
spond), is very imperfect, and should be
consummated with more than one saw
ing clause. For instance, Il take thee
Frederick, ION trial, as it were,) to be
my welded husband, for better (if we'll
behaved and docile), but not for worse;
for richer meaning ample allowance
for the personal adornments that first
attracted thy hayward fancy, but not
for poorer; in sickness when not caused
by reckless wine bibbings, far from the
sef-sacrifcing partner of thy bosom),
and in health, to love, cherish, and
obey, when to her it may be seem ad-
advisable and so on.
Fred" | said, one morning after he
had refused to furnish the diamond
buckle that l considered essential to
perfect and beautify an elegant fall cos
tune, Fred, it Will be better for us to
live apart. to say farewell forever .
"Arethusa," he exclaimed rudely,
don't talk like fool''
Foolish, of course" | repeat ed
with infinite sarcasm; lit may appear
to your perverted vision that any wo-
man should fail to appreciate your do
mestic at fractions; but this seems the
only sensible course to me, and am
thoroughly in earnest. | and my
child" and l drew him passionately
to my throbbing heart, will be all in
all to each other"
"The child will go with me, he said.
What. You would presume to tear
this infant from the maternal breast:"
THAT is exactly what l shall do, if
the maternal breast proves itself so ut
terly incapable of all generous and
tender feeling. A woman that will cast
off one husband merely to entrap a
richer one is not the proper guardian
for boy like this
Amanda, scorn to reply; but my
mind is made up. l will not be the
slave of Frederick Stanton, or Of any
other man; and if in severing the con-
jugal bonds those of glorious and
tender maternity must be broken also,
| will nerve myself to the conflict, and,
like the Spartan hero of ancient days,
will allow the metaphorical fox to prey
upon my anguished internal Organiza-
ton. and say; Farewell, my royal
babe. farewell forever!"
1t is painful-it is sad; but then you
know, Amanda, the prejudice against
dismembercd unions is quite obsolete
now, aud | have frequently noticed
that woman is never 50 attractive to
othermcn as when she has just rid her
self of one Of their number. | know
that divorces are expensive, but it is
not an expense one is likely to incur
more than once in lifetime, and we
must expect such luxuries to draw
somewhat severe upon our private ex-
chequer. All the casualties Of life arc
expensive. Piety empties the pocket
faster than it can be filled again, and so
it is with law. But, ArethUsa, my
mother says, eff you get into the way
of being divorced, you Will never
know when to stop, and it is not re-
fined or genteel habit to get into. y
My mother" replied calmly, Il
look upon this little domestic convul-
sion as a moral necessity. Frederick
Stanton does not keep pace with me in
the development of trul y moral and
aesthetic nature, and when wife feels
thus the tones of the matrimonial Tyre
| become harsh and discordant, and the
instrument must be broken; its music
must be hushed forever. Mother, l
am ambitious; | am aspiring. ALI
exalted natures are 50; and II
plain Serena Murdstone could entrad
a count, may not the brilliant Arethusa
Stanton aspire even to royalty itself!
A divorce might kill the first, but the
latter-nevern' The Haunting tulip
may never compete with the spotless
rose: but from amidst the sea of oblo-
guy and idle talk, Arethusa, like the
queenly flower last mentioned, will rise
calmly above such vulgar outside inhu-
ences into a purer atmosphere, where
conscious virtue and integrity will ever
be recognized and appreciated. In the
tender years of early girlhood, l cher
ished a beautiful vision Of my future
husbands man of raven-hued halr,
and eyes to match-a pretty dream, by
] reality rudely shattered, for Frederick
ruddy complexion has ever seemed to
convey reproach and reproyal to my
sensitive heart. But, now that the ele-
ments OF our domestic life are fast as
Stunning the aspect of approaching rup'
ture, those raven locks wave, those dark
eyes flash once more in my gUleless
dreams of future happiness Amanda
| have selected my counsellor, hand
some mana very handsome man-fol
he who holds my fate IN his hands must
be worthy in aspect and manners of Sc
doing. and to woman of artistic tastes
there is something very comforting IL
the ministrations Of truly fine looking
man. Amanda, farewell! Yours, IL
the agitation of a much-tried soul,
ARETHUSA.
TIE patriotic boy in Green Bay is deserv
inc of honorable mention. lie has sold In!
skates, bought a shot gun, and when last
heard from he was in the woods looking
| T., This VoOI lad the news