Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-05-01
For tho Shenandoah Herald
Fine Feelings.


Of what it pleases them to call tine
feelings. Perhaps these same fine feel
lngs might come under another head, it
we were careful to call them by their
proper name, but as this age is covered
with the soft glaze ofour language, so
we are compelled to call them by a
pretty name with the rest.
What we mean BY fine feelings is,
that characteristic found in people who
are chiefly remarkable, for the ease
with which they take offence. it being
even for the most wary OF
their associates to avoid giving umbrage
in some form, and generally when least
intending it, and most innocently
minded. Nothing satisfies them. No
amount OF attention short of absolute
devotion, and giving them "the upper.
most seat" Of honor everywhere, set
them at ease or keep them in good
humor. Ifyou ask them to Your house,
you must not think Of mixing them
with the common herd" but you must
give them high seat, and bear them
on hands the whole time. They must
be introduced to the incest people
made 4 fuss over. taken care of like 80
many children, else they feel they have
been sighted. Ii they are your intimate
friends. you have to ask them on every
occasion on which YOU receive company;
and if you make dinner.party and do
not invite them. th0Rgh Your space is
they will make it a point to
give you lecture on good breeding sc.
If they are Of the franker kind. and ii Of
the sullen sort, they will meet you
coldly, Or pass you by without seeing
you; and will either Drift into a perma-
nent arrangement or will come around
after time. according to the hexibility
of their character-especially when
they want favor done.
They are as punclilious, too. as they
are exacting. Though you may be over
whelmed with serious duties, while they
have no weightier burden strapped TO
their shoulders than their 5ociSl duties,
and social .fneries, yet they demand
visit for visit, invitation for invitation,
or else you hurt their fine feelings. They
suffer no liberties to be taken with them.
and they take none with others. Many
OF our weuld be ladies count all trOck-
coat fondliness as taking liberties
which shock their fine feelings. They
do not understand heartiness and family
s0clability-open houses are not in thei'
line-their lives are coOped up in self
selhshness. Women, remarkable for
fine feelings, are also remarkable for
that uneasy distrust which continually
requires reassurins. They can never
take mans love once expressed and
Loyalty acted on as certainty, unless
constantly repeated; hence they are
always pouting about their loyeless con-
dition, which at first may have GER
tam charm to a man as dattery to his
vanity, but which pail on him after a
time, and end in disgusting him.
Another characteristic with women ol
fine feeling is their inability to bear the
gentlest rcmonstrance-the most
shadowy fault-fnding. The best re
buke throws them into a rage, which
generally ends with tears, enough to
soften the heart of any man. In fac
YOU must live with them in the fools
paradise Of perfectness," or you are
made to feel yourself an unmitigated
brute. Indeed women may be divided
generally into classes-those who re-
tort, an1 those who cry, when they are
found fault with; which, with side
section of those who don't care,
leaves very small percentage indeed
of those who can accept rebuke COED
naturedly, and simply try to amend q
failing. or break OF an unpleasant
habit by kissing the rod with aggravat'
inc meekness. For there arc women
who can make their meekness more
potent weapon Of offence than any pas
sion or violence could possibly give
They do not cry, neither do they com
plain. but they exaggerate submission
until you are driven half mad under the
slow tJrtue they iuhict. They look a
you so humbly they speak TO you il
such an injured tone they avoid you st
pointedly; they are so osten1auousl.
careful that the same thing may neye
again happen under the same circum
stances, that you are finally forced ou
of your entrenchment and obliged tc
make an explanation. You ask then
what is amiss, and they turn you ava,
with the soft answer! Nothing" will
an injured air, or an affected surprise a
your query. What have they done il
the question they ask themselves, tina
YOU should speak to them so harshly
They have done they are sure, all they
could to please you. They have KEEP
out Of your way: they have tried to b
obedient, and still you are not satisfied
The only way you can restore peace il
the family"-following the example o
OF some active volcanoes to &,
through the process of disruption whicl
generally ends in kissing and making
up. Nothing else, save a sudden dis
aster or an unexpected pleasure OF larg
dimensions, will save you; but as w
cannot always command cataclysms o
yodsends, and as the first are dangerou
! a.. Let coafiv tho shorf and pas