The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1881-12-03
Notes from Myra's Portfolio.

Notes from Myra's Portfolio.
The H,stl,etic Craze-Eng1is, and Ameri-
con Girls Contrasted-A Pleasant Sugar.
4 House Party, Etc.
OAK LAWN, La, Nov. 1881.
MY DEAR WILLARD:
If were al aesthetic young lady,
would say that it was "qnite too awf"l'y
utterly lovely" of you to write Myra
that pretty letter which graced the COL
umps of tho CHIEF some weeks ago; but
as am questionable and unpoetical ~
enough not t" have contracted the 50 too
toon fever, shall have to express my
feelings i'll milder language. suppose
Won nave read some of Oscar Wilde's
Intaglios. They are certainly character
istic enough, aud / can we'll imagine
Them to be emanations from a man that
wears flowing locks "a la caralier, and
parades the streets of London with o
huge nosegay on his coat. l have never
quite understood if he were in earnest
or simply burlesquing for his own
amusement. The London world is wor
shipful enough, and il he is playing upon
the credulity Of his votaries, he must be
enjoying many good laugh at their ex-
pense. How gregarious people are in
their opinions How ludicrously they
resemble flock of sheep following
ignorantly and unquestioningly the
bell-wcther into green pastures or quag-
mires, as he may choose to lead! Now
Oscar Wilde affects sunfowers, and SO
beau monde adopts that faunting blossom
as the aesthetic flower, until he or some
mower favorite DEGREES in favor of some
thing else. We were very much amused
while in North Carolina, at seeing two
English girls with immense sunflowers
(the largest they could tind) stuck in
their corsages, at an elegant reception
one evening. Thus they announced
themselves asthetically inclined.
It would be quite. en- regle, you..see,
dear Will, to present this fashionable
flower to any young lady friends you
may chance to visit If she happens to
be an English girl, she will be doubly
appreciative, Of course! But somehow,
think you will prefer to do homage to
your own countrywomen. It may sound
conGeited and arrogant for native-bred
American to say, but I assert in all
humility, that none of the European
girls or women can measure arms with
those of our own Republic. Indeed,
this fact is patent enough, and clearly
demonstrated,b by Che faculty. for indeed
it amounts to a faculty. foreigners have
of falling in love with Anglo-American
girls. An American. gentleman. told me
| that he had visited much among the
families Of tho gentry in England, and
failed to discover any marked attrac-
tivencss in English girls. They expand
into most excellent.lwomen, have very
much sterling worth, but arc innocent
Of "awful winning ways" you know
This gentleman describes the difficulty
he experienced at dinner party, Of
lealing..som fair one into conversation
He declares that all he could extract
from her was, CHOW very odd" and
Indeed" uttered III the peculiar Eng
ligh intonation, at . recital of some OF
| the American customs aud observances
Women are generally accused, and most
unjustly too, of habit of depreciating
their own sex. Surely "a thing Of
beauty is a Joy forever" and have
| fallen in love with graceful, charming
and beautiful women, over and ovel
again, while ever ready to acknowledge
| aud rejoice over the goodness and solid
| worth in others not SO outwardly attrac.
tive. Men are not so clearly discerning
as women, about many things at least
and to their utter and Ii fe-long woe, some
times, are attracted by a merely pretty
| face, aud lose their hearts in the meshes
of golden curl. Physical beauty is a
great power-ne one denies that-but il
is not the best thing. Ear higher, nay
infinitely higher, must be placed the
| graces Of mind and soul. The face is sc
truly an index Of the mind, the eyes are
SO surely windows Of the soul, that
can not conceive Of nature at once
elevated, gentle, noble, with an uuillu.
mined and unlovcly countenance.
| But why should write thus to you
You will never be so discriminating Of
so unminlful of the real graces. You
have more fastidious taste than to bt
dazzled ly the sho,o.fgures of any assem-
bly, in which they are placed, whom Bull
wer denominates "beauty-woman )
who inspire no interest, because they
lack some expression which would make
them seem less like mere beautiful pic
lures.
Imeant TO have told you when began
this rather discursive missive, of the
pleasures of "sugar rolling" and make
you sigh for your native land at thi:
witching season! l can not dwell on it
at any length, as my space is limited
but must tell you what a merry party
we formed for sugar-house picnic, one
day last week. There wore some friend!
visiting US from New Orleans, and w
Joined forces with our friends the W!
in this parish, to mako gala day of it
It would be impossible for me to tell yo1