The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-06-10
Flashes OF Home society FOfbIes.
rNot Tin Heaven makes man orsone other metal.

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upon my nature; their rugged heights
towering above he retiring valleys lifts
my soul to the grand and beautifu the
majestic Mississippi flowing at their base,
bearing upon its broad bosom the com
merce Of this great valley, reaching on
and on for exchange ANA fellowship,
stamps upon my soul the grand lesson
that all Of Adams sons are brethren, and
that our charities should reach out giving
and receiving kindnesses; these hoilows,
these wales, these grottoes, formed by the
circling hills and rooted by the arehing
trees, are God own church houses--eNch
tree and bower q sermon, aud the soft
winds hymns of their Creators praise.
You scott at sentiment All, think Of
WORLD WITHOUT SENTIMENT
and you will have world
Without music,
Without poetry,
Without oratory,
Without religion,
and who is so matter-of-fact ms 10 desire
such an existeuce2 And this brings US
to contemplate the
WHITE SINS OF HOME SOCIETY.
Hickman society needs more life, more
music, more poetry, more sentiment. We
have builded around our homes great
prison walls of propriety aud prudence,
shutting ont the sunlight of mirth and
joy which comes from the freedom of
mind and manners. Virtue is no captive
seeking to make her escape, unless kept
under lock and key; nor is gentility a
slave to be whipped into submission by
arbitrary masters; but, TO be healthy
must have recreation and freedom, pre-
cisely as the mind aud physical being
must have relief and recreation. Ii too
much abandon is the soy la of cur society,
then too much constraint is it's charybdis
tie strike against either brings wreck
and disaster. Let the moralist open up
his soul to the music of life and drink in
its Inspirations through the harmouies
which life enjoying society presents
Away with that shad3wy gloom which
canting hypocricy hangs like fu neral
pail over society entertainments, parties.
dances, and places Of amusement; and let
the moralist be as free in action as in
intent, mixing, mingling, aud shaping
these pleasures. IL is q
VICTORY FOR THE DEVIL,
when other than moralists only offer these
enjoyments. They are aids 10 a happier
lite, morally, socially, physically and re
iigiously. and the puritanism that objects
estrangcs the best part Of life from the
moral and religious iucljnations because
Of the teaching that such eujoyments are
at war with higher morals aud religion
Our ladies are the mouliers aud Goa
trslers OF that
INVISIBLE FORCE CALLED SOCIETY,
and by rules and ediets az viewless as the
air, but as absolute as the Gar OF Bussia,
direct how We are 10 walk, talk, dance,
eat, drink, dress, with whom we are 10
associate, and when, where, and all tie
attending circumstances and details Of
every movement in life. Aud who is
there so strong as not 90 boy 90 this sub
tie force2 There is in every community
an Undesirable something which makes
each and every one adopt pcculiariries.
whims, or prejudices, lei these PECULIAR
ties appear never SO ridicuisus 10 others.
Ii is not the Divinity within that so
shapes our manuerisms, bat the ape-ish-
ness of the weak striving TO initiate the
lead. For instance, there Is in Hickman
society a most abominable courtesy Of
LADIES GIGGLISG AND STAGGERING,
when saluted or addressed in the most
ordinary courtesy. Address the same re-
marks to a gentleman, and he replies
without even a smirk or smile; and why
society should compel lady to accompany
her replies with that inevitable 'gigghng,
passes all understanding If il is intend
ed to show a nature brimful and ripping
over with good humor-stop it, for strang-
ers viii mistake IL for idiocy. II is a
part of the beautiful gift of intuition,
which is ours, dear ladies, 10 kRoic how TO
behave, but the ediets, the unwritten law
of Hickman society, says women shall
simper," and simper they must and will.
On, Society, what silly eccentricitles are
peirated in thy namei Society," What
is ii2 Who can stand before it-so meas
ureless, so incomprehensibl so arbitrary,
so whimsical, and yet so essential to the
well being of cultivated life. IL IS
said that women are the natural enemies
of each other, but | protest, / write ~
the spirit of sisterly love and charity,
when | beg them to stop this ill-timed,
silly manner of gigeling at any ana
everything gentleman may say.
This 'giggling" runs the full measure
Of the gamut, from the softly musical
bird like twitter TO the shrill, dissonani
goose like sQuawk, squawk, squawk! II
may be that If the offender could always
be young, beautiful and fresh. rendering
her "giggle" in the harmenies Of tbs
bird like twitter, the ofense might 81
condoued as the innocent cadence of ex-
uberant youth, but if We are to have "a
accompaniments, the wearied and worn
cracked, Jared and tangled, it becomes
harsh. disagreeable and intolerant.
The happiest gift to woman is
SELF POSSESSION IN COMPANY,
commanding respect by dignity, and as.
sorting authority by - modest reserve.
Suppiementing these characteristics by q
vivacity of sympathy and tender con-
sideration for the enjoyment of others
she leads and rules society. Occupying
such high and holy sphere, why should
intelligent women weak ly yield to such
silly mannerisms, which the best iudg-
ment of US all condemn. Lets l=ave this
'giggling' to the happy, thrice happy
little girls, who can ''twitter' naturally
mATrER-oF FACT PEOPLE
are of indispensable utility in business,
but in society they are campers on health.
full enjoyment. Their influence is prosy.
dull, sluggish, and lifeless. Herein is the
real incubus on Hickman society. These
ever present probabilities dominate
everything, chilling hospitality, incul.
eating, instead of genial fellowship, en-
w, jealousy. chickering's, and exclusive
ness. II is a sublime pleasure to hate the
contemplate and ill-bred in society, but
this hate has become SO common. eacl
should candidly analyze his or her own
heart, and see how much Of narrowness
and selfshness is represented therein
What this community needs, socially, is
relief from the plain, plodding, matter
of-fact ways OF society. When you leave
your Office, store, or shop, also leave you,
bargaining manners ;here--under loci
and key--no more to bother you unit
you return to "business;' and in the in
term go in with zest of children to enjoy
yourselves and to make others EMO,
themselves. Work work, work. for tn,
man, and stitch, stitch, stitch for the wo
men. is the prison house in which we ar,
all incarcerated. Less be freel Nor