The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-06-15
Damon and Pythia.

1t is one of the Oldest Of philosophical
speculations whether a true friendship, in
the usual sense Of the word, can exist
between Man and Woman. 1t is easy to
see that there must be certain elements in
such affections as we are discussing, not
referable directly to love, and yet distinct
from anything to be observed in ordinary
friendships Of men for men or women for
women. 1t is impossible for gentleman
to be fond of a woman and forget that he
is gentleman. He carries the gallantry
of all his grand!athers in his mind and
heart aud manner. No more than Don
Quixote can he divcst himself of a certain
Difference toward the sex. He wears
cloth and not iron, carries cane instead
Of lance, goes in hat and not a helmet,
does not know gules from "A fesse, plays
upon no instrumen. of music, reads no ro-
mances. irequents no tourneys--yet he is
a knight still, and knightly in all his
ways. We wonder sometimes whether
the idea Of the protection by the stronger
OF the weaker will ever utterly disappear
from our social arrangements. 1t shows
itself in the street, the street.car, the
drawing room, to day, as plainly as it was
seen OF old in Spain or in Provence. As
a last "reminiscences of careful manners,
man still takes off his hat to woman,
and all women, though they may deny it,
are pleased with the attention. And so
in mans friendly intercourse with
ladies', fair or not fair, is he not meta
phorically speaking, always taking off his
hat? The platforms have not reformed
us out Of that petty custom yet But
there are so many pure aud innocent
pleasures out OF which the fright of
great scandal may cheat us that il seems
really worth while to revise our judgment,
and to inquire if hereafter we IN ust 90
about in mail of perpetual prccaution, as
courtly and stately as Sir Charles Grandi-
son, as appreheusive and viglant as Pa.
mela, thus making the dance of life one
long minuet?
Now, let us at cnce eliminate from this
discussion all fools, knaves, blackguards,
firts, ravagins wolves, and silly little
lambs Let US put ourselves upon our
honor, and remember that we are respons.
iblc to God and our own souls for our
good behavior. Several things in this
age Of general disbelief We continue to
believe in, aud among them are the purity
OF woman and the honor of man. We are
d-fashioned enough to think that not
only is it best to be right aud to do right,
but that a considerable portion Of our
fellow creatures are of the same mind,
both in theory and practice, so far as
natural iufrmity of will aud ofconscience
may permit.
We have heretofore discussed the
friendship Of men for men. That which
they may entertain for women must, of
course, be modified by obvious consider.
ations; and, as to many matters. it must
be divested Of extreme familiarity. Still.
We are not sure that this does not give to
it one OF its charms. To man tired of
the toll aud hustle of lile's endless collis.
ions, good woman offers new atmos-
phcre, and the ministry of her soltness
and quiet, Of her selfabnegation and sym.
pathy. She is outside the fields of battle.
She proffers change of association, and a
change for the better. Her voice, man
ners, gentle ways her wonderfully intel
ligent sympathies and community of
tastes her feminine methods Of thought,
and intultions which are perpetual sur
Prise her confiding and uncontaminated
nature-all these make her friendship
such as mans cannot be and ought not
to hc. 1t is different, but for that reason
it is not less but more delightful. Its
value in the economy of life is incomput-
albeit Is recreation, rest encouragement,
and stimulus. A great many Of these
honorable associations are never formed
and many Of them are reluctantly aban'
doncd, because the world pleases to be
talkative. When shall we begin to have
q little more confidence in the virtue
seli.respect, religion, and forbearance o.
one another? Why should Damon be
forced to give up his pleasant evening"
with Pythia, because silly people wal
their heads and look wise, and whisper
ave could an We would ?" Is it, then
concluded and settled that there is moth
ing true and honorable left on earth ? |
those who affirm this did but know hal
the mischief which they are thus doing
not only to themselves but others, nigh
they not possibly stop talking for at leas
a quarter OF an hour IN. Y. TriJsne