Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-01-09
THE VAGARlES OF LOVE.

the stage. The love-sick heroes and he
roines of certain comedies when they
are represented by clever and agreeable
actors and actresses, rarely fail to make
people sympathze with them. The
assumption is that their billings and
cooings and caressings pleasantly re-
mind those of mature years of old times,
and excite spirit of emulation, and a
desire to become slaves of the tender
passion in the young. But it is only on
the stage that most persons care to con-
template pronounced love. making. This
is not surprising, for on the stage it be.
comes very different and, things con-
sdered, much less agreeable proceed
ing-at least so far aa spectators are
concerned. Perhaps the actors them
selves think differently, albeit that their
appearance and demeanor lead to the
conclusion that they are often in a state
of what may be best described in the
contradictory term, delightful misery" !"
AS a matter of fact, the love. making Of
most ind siduals is very commonplace
and stupid proceedings, if it is not
something worse. Many men never
appear to less advantage than when they
are in love. Graceful posturing and
flowing rhetoric do not come naturally
to them at such time. 1t is true that
the heroes who figure on the stage, laboS
ing under the wounds inflicted by Cupid S
honey-tipped arrows, are the personi6-
cations of easy confidence and ele-
gance, but to this they are true to an
ideal. not q reality; and the probability
ia that when these selfsame nonohalant
customers retire into private life and
endeayor to do a little business OF a
similar character on their own account,
they do not appear to so much adyan-
taoe. If an actor weFe to venture to
represent commonplace loyemGklng eX-
actly as it is, With its intervals of Yacuity
and its periods Of clumsy boldness, he
would very soon discover that 1t does
not nav to be patural, and that if he
wishes to succeed he must content him
self with presenting q faRcltnl and
highly.colored portrait and speak bus
authors carefully rounded and eloquent
eentences in that manner which he has
reason TO imagine will render them
most acceptable History affords many
examples of tina fact that love-making
Ia not an edifying thing to gaze upon.
A very large proportion OF our greet
men. for instance, have seriously marred
their regulations by the yagaries and
acts of idioey into which they were led
whilst suffering from the tender passion.
We're il not q proftless task, many eele-
brated names might be cited to prove
the truth of this.
All things considered, then, It is evil
dent that actual love-making should bs
conducted on the principle OF the right
hand not knowing what the left hand
doeth. The amorous swain, sho is
longing to initiate the successful and
talented wooer whom be bas seen at the
theatre, would DO well to make the at
tempt in as unestentatious a manner as
possible. The probability is that when
he comes to offer his hand and fortune
10 her for whom bic soul is withering,
he will succeed in getting into quan-
Diary and making a sad mess oi the
whole affair; and it is certain
that the preliminary business" in
which he will, preSably, deem 1t
NECESSARY 10 indulge before tax
ing the final plunge, will compare mos
II qfayorably with the preliminary busis
ness i-dulged in by the individual whose
lot IL is TO 1nburdeH his mind, in o gen.
eral way. at least once q day. But
many amorous swains have not the good
sense to refrain from obtruding upon
public notice There is a stealthy open
ness about their ogles and murmurlngs
which never fails to command attention.
I heir bushes, their awkwardness, their
leers Of triumph when they
imagine that they have, as their Amer
leans say, struck lie" are neither
amusing, artistic, ner clever, but they
are very apparent. Their IN
attention 10 everything but one
special object is toe well known
.as is also the mystery in which
they try to enshroud themselves-to be
upon. Sulice 1t TO remark
that they can be seen through as easily
AS can piece Of crystal, and that Il IS
the reverse of diyerting to watch their
as it is, unhappily, the tate
of a few people some time during the
eoursa of their lives to be compelled to
do. There is, however, some excuse tor
the unpleasant line Of conduct adopted
by the class under notice. However
disagreeable are the doings, It cannot be
forgotten that they are, probably tes
result Of real feeling, and that they wlH
cease to be practioei after the lapse OF
certain time. .,
The case is different however, With
another who 60 in very extensively tor
the uystery os love. u is composed
almost entirely Of young ladies Who have
not entered upon the real business OF
lie These young ladies make a point
of contracting with one another what