Sharp County record., 1878-02-01

Neither does an engagement consist IN
auvof those preliminary steps which are
soimportant. I'm order to q Just estimate
of the character and qualifications Of the
peason with whom You would be united
for life. Many persons, however ina
gipe that every such step is q step OF
committal. While the individualis is only
forming that wise estimate, and max
ing those iudicious investigations
which every one is bound to make in
this affair bya regard to his own hap
piness and that Of others, he is consid-
cred as fairly committed without the
possibility of honorable retreat. But
this is all wrong, whether it be the sem
timent of individuals, or public sentl-
ment. Without such investigation %
man might as well commit his interest
I'm this matter to a lady whom he never
beheld He might as well be betrOthed,
as heather children by their parents,
without his consent or knowledge He
might as we'll bliudfOld himself, and
rush into q crowd Of females and select
a companion at random. Parents must
suppose their daughters little less than
angels, if they expect to betroth them in
this manner. And if young ladies are
so superficial in character and accom-
pIishments as not to admit of such hon
0rable and wise scrutiny, they had bet
ter give up the idea of marriage life,
and become nuns at once.
Neither does an engagement consist
in the most unqualified declaration OF
love on the part of either the gentleman
OF the lady. This may all be, yet no
obligations are assumed-nO contract is
formed. And yet there are those who
suppose that such declarations Of attach
ment impose an obligation on their
friend which can not be resisted or ViO-
lated 1T is true such disclosure on
the part of the gentleman imposes GER
tain duties on the part of the female. II
her circumstances are such as to render
an engagement impossible, she is bound
by every principle to acquaint him I'M
mediatelv with the fact, and keep the
transaction o secret. If her circum-
stances are such as to render it proper
for her to enter into a matrimonial en-
gagement, it is proper then that she
make his proposal matter Of lmmedl-
ate and serious consideration III shels
satisfied with his character, and enter
tains the requisite amount of affection
to make their union happy, she has
nothing left but to make known TO him
her acceptance of his proposal But if,
after due consideration, and inquiry and
deiiberation, she is conducted TO a con-
trarv conclusion. she should lose no
time in informing him of the
fact, and in a way least likely to
wound his sensibilities or mOrtify
his pride. She win consider it, too, both
dictate of modesty, and prudence, and
honor, to disclose the circumstance to
no living being. There are many men
who make q point Of paying particular
attentions indiscriminately to several
ladies, and when their marked observ-
ances have exposed them to misrepre-
sentation and calumny wonder how such
could be the result not meaning any
harm and only intending to amuse them
selves. There are people whose minds
areso strangely constituted that thevtake
no pleasure but in mischief and delight
in torturing the feelings of a husband or
father by singing out their female con-
nections as the object Of their public
homage, and who care not about the
to which they subject
their helpless victims provided they can
crafty their whims and malevolence
From whatever cause it proceeds the
effects are the same, and the person who
exposes a woman to unmerited sbliquv,
is as contemplate az he is depraved and
foolish. The character Of a female CO.
quette is sufficiently odious and repul-
sive, but when the gentlemen think
proper to initiate the weaknesses and
vices Of the ladies', they become alto
gether disgusting.--B0sto'2 Su15doy
Courier