Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-09-06

is q subtitle essence in wldowhood whose
delicate aroma surrounds and betrays
the person of the widow, rendering her
the object of masuline attraction as she
is the subject OF feminine suspicion and
envy. Neither maid nor wife, she COM
bines the mesmeric influence of both
estates, while she is free from the res
traint of the conventionalities by which
each is hedged about.
Why does the widow ever surrender
this high vantage ground by conseEting
again to the yoke of matrimony? The
Widow Hicks was an American queen
in London society. She was ravlshingly
beautiful. She cast spell of enchant-
ment over circle only step beneath
royalty. Her entertainments were mag
niticent, and Prime Ministers were proud
to kiss her hand. Suddenly she closed
her mansion, recrossed the Atlantic, and
threw herself In the path of plain Mr..
Lord, gentleman OF feurscore years who
possessed fortune of some millions.
To look upon Mrs. Hicks was to love
her. Mr.. Lord dreamed that he had
taken draught OF the elixir of life.
HIS heart was fired anew with the rest
less emotions and feverish passions of
w
Hicks, offered her his palsled hand. and
threw his fortune into her lap! No
maiden, no wife. only woman in the
pride of the invlncible power of widow
hood, could have wrought this trans.
formation. There is a vulgar impress
sion that the Widow Hicks married Mr..
Lord for his money. Is it not far more
probable that her unsurpassed attrac-
tions, the indefinable charm of her wid-
owhood, inspired reflex passion in the
heart OF the venerable old lover which
rendered his wooing irresistible?
Although we by no means agree with
MIR. Weller the elder in his general esti-
mate of the character of widows, we
cannot forbear quoting his opinion as to
their superiority over maids and wives.
'vidders. Sammy said Mr.. Weller,
slightly changing color, .vidders are
'ceptlons to ev'ry rule. I have heerd
how many ordinary women one widder's
equal to in pint o. comm over you.
think it's fve-and-twenty, but I don't
rightly know vether 1t amt more Mr..
Weller's conception of the increased in
1uence of woman over man by reason
of her widowhood was very just. But
his stereotyed injunction to his son Sam,
to Beware of vidders," and his Caution
ary remark as to property interests
"Mind that no vidder gets inkin' o.
your tortun' or you're done" these
sneers show prejudice, and warrant us
IN declining to consider the otherwise
excellent and learned old gentleman as
an authority in philosophical investi-
CATION of this character. Dismlssing
the case of Mr.. Weller as one of preju-
dice, and as complicated by Stiggins and
the red-nosed man. and regarding the
case of Mr.. Pickwick as impossible,
mere fiction of Dickens Imagination
we conclude that wars are mercitul
dispensation of providence devised to
supply society with widows.
We frankly admit that, in entering
upon the discussion of this subject. we
thought to indulge in pleasantly at the
expense of the great fraternity of wi
dows. But as we proceeded we became
impressed with Its gravity and its pathos.
and we conclude with feeling of en-
thusiasm beyond the power OF language
| to eXDreSs.