Smyrna times., 1875-08-04
Married Flirts.

Is it right for married man or woman
to flirt is question which has been asked
so often, and answered so variously, that it
still remains open for discussion. |, for
one, confess to small belief in right and
wrong in the abstract, for so completely
are our lives guided by circumstances and
governed by chance, that what would be
another; and yet, in some exceptional
cases, as, for instance, the question before
us, surely it seems, even judging merely by
appearances, that wrong has more to do
with it than right. Bad as is the married
woman flirt, think the married man has
vet far more to answer for. Byron's lines,
Mans love is of mans life a thing apart,
'Tis woman's whole existence"
shows us that the cares Of the merchant,
the many calls of the professional man, the
| physician, the lawyer, and the clergyman,
| do not withhold them from indulgence in
dalliance and intrigue. Perhaps | should
! beg pardon of the class last mentioned.
Surely, the holy man who Sunday after
Sunday reads in solemn tones the Ten
Commandments to the l1neeling sinners
looking to him to lead them Alright; whose
earnest voice pleads so eloquently the
beauty of virtue, purity, and holiness ;
whose hands dare touch the sacred symbols
as he solemnly declares, $50 is the danger
great if we receive the same unworthily =
surely such man is exempt from all
shadow of participation in the sinful folly
under consideration. But to return to the
quotation, which shows us the lovemaking
forms but the merest item in mans long
life, yet comprises all the thoughts, and
dreams, and entire time of a woman. This
is the fact which clearly proves thatvictims
of the latter class call for greater sympathy
What perfect faith we have in the upright
ness, and honor, and chivalry of man, unit
the married flirt comes and destroys the
old-fashioned belief, even as a child would
blow away thistle.down. He chooses a
, the pastime of his leisure hour some brigh
q young girl not wanting in charms sufiicien
, to attract many more honest man. Tn,
: foolish thing at first flattered by the atten
+ tions of one older, and, as she supposes
d wiser than herself, naturally neglects man
a true and sincere aspirant to her affections
o who is trife diffident perhaps, because s
4 much in earnest, in order to please tn
o ever-ready and charming married schemes
q Time passes, the girl is bewitched by ter
Ie der tones and gentle reverence, by thol
# sand little acts denoting admiration an
i, affection, which never fail to please, pa
O. ticularly when proftered by one she herse
" has hitherto looked up to, and her who
q heart goes out in love to him who can civ
y TO lawful return. And the MANI Wort
m and actions he would never have dared
o . utter and perform, were he free and u
of fettcrcd, he now unhesitatingly indulges i
~ knowing his marriage is his defence, ar
At that nothing can be expected from hin
on The strong, brave, chivalrous man, boui
ed to protect every weaker, Trailer thing,
no now himself protected, by what? BY t
nv knowledge that pride and fear for hers
bIe will be his sure safety, and that the hol
;of less disgrace and scorn, which is all $
org can expect if her infatuation becon
uld known, is the assurance he may safely tr
no. to, to cover all the evil pleasure and anu
eat ment he may now quietly prosecute dur
the spare moments when his Office,
clients, or his church (again beg pardo
rec do not call for his time or attenti
SO Should proposal in every way suita
dol and proper now come to the woman
the such circumstances many one we
.ch, hesitate to perjure herself before Gc
ing altar, and, dismissing the chance of post
way and honor before the world, remain ia
e Of full to the wretched love which can give
IDLY nothing in return; or else she accepts
II Is hand of the man who offers all he Ina
600. give, and defrauds him Of what ho h
con- right to look for in return, an honest, 10y
$ an heart. In either case it Is the married
old who has blasted her existence, ana ia