Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1874-09-24

Mrs. Proper Canning herself) III IN
acquaipted With her-yes. ;.
You-l have met her. She seems q
me TO be very entertaining. s-
Mrs. Propper-I believe she i . great
favorite with gentlemen. y. y. -.
You-Not With the ladiesi 3.ssl
Mrs. Propper-Well. .you see. there
are certain men whom you would call
dispariugly ladies' men; and % suppose
there are ladies who are-vho are-e
You (savagely determining not to helr
her out)---Who are vhatf -.
| Mrs. Propper-Don't you undeestand
Weil--more q home in mems sOcisly ~.
Yos-Ah! Abd l. tbss q. 'nssGfl
Of the word Hirt. which heard just nov
applied to our friend Mrs. Threestars Z
Mrs. Propper-Psrhaps it is. .e.f s..
You-Then We ought to feel deeply in
deb.ed to firts. aud highly honored BY
their preference. I sincerely hope tha,
you are firt. Mrs. Proper. %. !;
You say this with an innocent look and
q genial laugh. and Mrs. Proper. so far
from regarding you as . impudent young
man. is evidently much pleased with you;
begins to talk to you vOlubly. having
hitherto somewhat disregarded you; and
you are quite satisfied that. as far as you
understand the word, Mrs. Proper is
quite as worthy Of the name Of firt as
Mrs. Threestars. or Miss Blank herself.
So you 90 on. eudeavoriug By an exhaus-
tive process of experimental inquiries to
find out the diferentia Of the species
firt.
1t may be said that the only person
who has ever succeeded in accurately de-
scribing firt is Mr.. Tennyson in bis poem
Lady Clara We're de Vere.' But then
she was flirt Of truly portentous type;
Ter pastime was put an end to by the
coarse suicide of an excellent youth, and
she laid herself open to being called a
very bad name by the youths mother.
But then it must be remembered that
Lady Clara de We're was great heiress;
and it is quite possible that young Lau-
renee cut his throat as much out of dis
appointment at not becoming lord and
master of the halls aud towers as at be-
ing met with a vacant stare aud there
for We are not quite satisfied that it was
the Irritation alone that induced the mis-
guided youth to put an end to what, un-
der more favorable circumstances. might
have been useful career. Aud 50 the mo-
raj Of the tale is lost in obscurity. or at least
is doubtful. For If young Laurence.
after all, as is quite possible. only sought
Lady Clara for her wealth. We cannot but
feel that the simple yoeman.' who took
upon himself to rebuke her ladyship SC
scornfully, INDUCED in undeserved invec-
tive. Besides, might not this same simple
yeoman' have been somewhat conceited.
or at leas. hasty. in presuming that Lady
Clara was endeavoring to get up firta-
ton with him? Even the Poet Laureate
has not succeeded in clearing away the
nebulosity that surrounds the nature ol
the fiirt.
Dr. johnson defines flirt a pert hus.
sey.' and very likely this is the definition
which would be selected by Mrs. Prop.
per, and middle aged ladies o. her way o
thinking. as correctly describing young
ladies whose conduct they choose to quail.
ify as forward and who in the result
have the advantage over the Misses Prop
per in the matter of matrimonial ALLAN
ces. But men generally have a very diff
ferent notice of firt. and frequently the
girl who is called firt in the smoking
room would never be suspected Of any
such propensi,ies BY matronly gossips a
FIVE o'clock tea. No. the laughing. live,
ly. talkative girl and perhaps somewha
boisterous girl. whose animal spirits ant
innocent beliefs and delights stir the biit
of dowagers who know their youth ha,
gone forever. and possibly pinch them
selves with remorse for not having enjoy
ed it more while it was theirs to enjoy
are never regarded by the male as dan.
serous characters 1t is only the very
very young man who does not know wheu
girlish spirits are natural and when they
are forced. and who cannot distinguish
between the allurements Of the experien
ced siren and the natural destinations o
the light-hearted vestal-be.ween Venu
and Diana. The fatal fiirt. who alone i
to be dreaded. does not attempt to assume
the ar,lessness of blossoming girlhood.
On the contrary, she assumes the expert
ence of tried woman who knows some
thing Of the sin and sorrows Of life. How
much or how little she knows she careful
" wells in sighs aud mournful looks
Vanity she possesses in an inordinat,
degree. but she hides it scrupulously be
meath an appearance Of astonishment whe,
her victim first gives her to understand
that be likes her rather better than he
sisters. What is there abou, her. Sd,
asks with admirable feigued simplicity
that any ybody should take such a fancy 4
her? Oh no, he must be mistaken O
worse. he is trying to deceive her. ant
that is not kind. For she has suffered
ah! yes, she has suffered. She has learned
to her cost, that man is dreadfully selfish
aud is it possible that any man can be Al
exception to the rule And so. with sof
voice and expressive eyes. she adds an
other fool to hcr long list. She possesse
more worldly wisdom than Lady Clara
and does not fix a vacant stare on the low
er she wants to be off as the new on,
is coming on. She is clever at eou,riv
ing quarrels. but she is especially care
} full no, to put herself in the wrong. Sh,
plays the sad and disappointed role. ant
tears. i think it better for both that ",
should forget all that has passed; but.
she adds 'enderly. let Us pars friends.
She has certainly the wisdom Of the ser
pent. il nature has detied her the iuue
eenee Of the dove. Her heart is. doubt
hess. = passionate one. but very little a,
isles il. and she never lets it get the Be,
her of her head She hal ouite made u