The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-03-27
Washlngton's Views Of Love.

Philadelphia Weekly Times, prints let
Ter written in January, l765, by George
Washington to Eleanor Parke Gusts, a
grand d-daughtcr Of Martha Washington
and his adopted daughter. In this he
gives her the following advice on tho
subject of love:
Men and women feel the Same incli-
nations to each other now that they al
ways have done, and which they will
continue to do until there 10 n new order
OF things, and you, as others have done,
may find perhaps that the passions OF
your sox are easier raised than allayed.
DO not, therefore, boast too soon or too
strongly of your inSensibility to, or re-
sistanco of. its powers. In the compost
tion Of the human frame there is q good
deal of inilammablc matter, however
dormant it may lie for time, and, like
an intimate acquaintance of yours Ia sis-
ter just married, when tho torch is put
to it, that which is within you may burst
into blaze; for which reason, and espec-
tally, too, as | have entered upon tho
chapter of advices, will read you lee
ture drawn from this text.
"Love is said to be an involuntary
passion, and it is therefore contendcd
that it cannot be resisted. This is true
in part only, for, like all things else,
when nourshcd and supplied plentifully
with aliment, it is rapid in its progress ::
but let these be withdrawn and it may be
s,iflcd in its birth or much stinted in its
growth. For example, n woman (the
same may be said of the other sex) all
beautiful and accomplished, will, while
her hand and heart are undisposed of,
turn the heads and set the circle in
which she moves on fire. Let her marry,
and what is the consequence The mad
ness ceases and all is quiet again. Why7
Not because there is any diminution in
the charms of the lady, but because there
10 nh end OF hope. Hence it follows that
love may and therefore ought to be un-
der the guidance of reason for although
we cannot avoid first impressions,
we may assurcdly place them under
guard and my motives fer treating on
this subject arc to show .'ou, while you
remain Eleanor Parkc CT sits, spinster,
aud retain the resolution to love with
moderation, the proporiety Of adhering
10 the latter resolution, at least until
you have securcd your game and
the way by which it may be accomplish
ed.
"Whcn the fire it beginning to kindle
aud your heart grows warm PROFOUND
lhcse questions to it: Who is the inva-
der? Have l n competent knowledge of
him? Is lie q .nan &C Sco,. character, ~
man OF sense? For, be assured, scnsi-
BILE woman can never be happy with a
fool. What has been his walk in life :?
Is he gambler, spendthrift or drunk
ard? Is his fortune sufficient TO main
tain me in the manner have been accus-
toned TO live and my sisters do live
And is he one to whom my friends can
have no reasonable objection? If these
interrogatorics can bo satisfactorily an
swercd there will remain but one more
to be asked. That, however, is an i'm
portant one. Have 1 sufficient ground
to conclude shat his affections are ell
engaged by ME? Without this the heart
of sensibility will struggle against a
passion that is not reciproce!cd -delica-
cy, custom, or call it by what epithet you
will, having precluded all advances on
your part.
"The declaration, without the most in
direct invitation of yours, must proceed
! from the man to render it permanent
and valuable, and nothing short of good
sense and an easy, unaffected conduct
can draw the line between prudery and
coquetry. 1t would be no great departure
from truth to say that it rarely happens
otherwise than that a thorough paced
coquette dies in celibacy as punishment
for her attempt to mislead others, by en-
couraging looks, words action, given for
no other purpose than to draw men on
to make overtures that they may be re-
jccted."