The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1874-01-08


an ordinary one; she knows, however, he
will allow for feminine weakness. and not
expect too much. If the widow is en-
dowed with ordinary good looks, and her
listener retains that susceptibility which
used 20 be an attribute of youth. how
powerful Is the suggestion that all the I'M
happiness which he begins TO fear is min
gled in the first year of married life NAV
be avoided, if only he can gain a compan-
ion 50 gentle, so sympathetic, so versed
in men, as the cooling creature beside him.
But, after all, she is only little fool
ish, little out of her natu al position
If we laugh, il is with the feeling that
there Is not much TO blame. But there
IS another type Of woman upon which
widowhood has more pleasant effect 1t
Is with girls that one Of this class should
be studied. Their age she entirely ig-
nores- Older or younger than herself,
they are not married, and, Of course,
they know nothing about the great reali-
ties o. life. Many Of Us have known
some boardiug-scho0i chit, neither the
prettiest nor the brightest Of a family,
Who possesses an
INEXPLTCABLE ATTRACTION
for some unluckv man. He dies, per-
haps, q wear or two after marriage, hav-
ing had time enough to appreciate his
mistake, but not enough 10 effect any
change in his wife's character. She APP
pears TO the world as frivolous, as mar
row, as ordinary rs her girlhood promised
to become; but among her family and her
immediate frieads her marriage has in
vested her with dignity and wisdom.
She IS supposed to understand the tricks
and manners Of the creature man, his
tastes, temper and habits, together with
the art Of captivating and managing him.
She is the confidant OF irtationz, and
even Of declared love affairs, and, in her
capacity Of monitress, does more mischief
than one would think possible. The re-
membrance of her own incomplete rie q
deur, Of the sorrow which follows her
giriish dreams, fills her with a certain bit
terness. In those sacred precincts OF the
upper story, where the back hair is let
down, you would scarcely know the sym
pathetic friend of man. She may have
been VIGOROUSLY submissive to her hus-
bands yeriest whims, but her advice is
thoroughly aggressive. Never own
yourself in the wrong, my dear; if you
once do that, YOU may as well give up"
Don't show him you care for him too
much; he'll like you all the better for be-
ing reserved" The sweet natural I'M
pulse which inclines either of the couple
TO give way to the other is sternly dis
couutenanced. If some little dispute ari-
se> between lovers, which they would set
de in ten minutes with a kiss, and she is
unhappily consulted, her voice Is loud for
war. DON'T give up, my dear; you are
preparing a very unhappy life for your
self by letting him have his way So"
Sometimes she causes infinite trouble and
heart burning but ottener the victory is
with almighty love, and she Is discarded
from her notwithstanding post. But it
is amusing to see how thoroughly she be-
lieyes that her Xumpery two years ey-
perience OF a single man has imbued her
with that wonderful knowledge in which
the wIsest are only learncrs-fhe llnowl-
edge OF the human heart.
Upon this narrow foundation, however,
the Young widows idea of matrimony is
solely built. She Is secretly surprised
that her sisters lover should beim any re-
speCt unlike her own. She console, her
self in the conviction that when the hon
eymo0n is over and the necessity for con
cesiment is gone, he viii display all the
foibles and Weaknesses which she found
in her husband For diversity - char
after she makes no allowance. One is
tempted 10 wish Tor her speedy remar
riage, If only that she may discover how
widely men differ Second nuptials, in
deed, are the young widows manifest des-
tiny. ii she tails Of it, the tinge of envy
with which she regards the happiness Of
others may deepen into downright ill-wiIl
Her family and her friends, who lavish
ed upon her 50 much tenderness and pity
in the first years Ct her widoehood,
grow fired Of her Stiffness and discomfort
But at this juncture, let Us nope, she
finds a man 50 unlike his fellows that she
can trust him with her future. She mar
ries again, and her freshness melts away
Idle a cloud in the sunshine Of a happy
life