The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-05-10
UPER SONALS."
The Manner Correspondence is Carried ON
In Ciiy Papers.

i III WY
New York S,wsl
Tho Advertisements which newspapers
publish in the column devoted TO " Per-
sonals" are decidedly miscellaneous, but
frequently mysterious and revolving.
Through this medium negotiations are
conducted involving matrimony and
sensuality, finance and crime. Ladies'
seek 10 recover hidcOus pug.dogs, bril-
liant diamonds and hayward lovers;
bankers angle for the return Of stolen
bonds, and the very thieves for immunity
and reward worthless spendthrifts be-
come candidates for rich heiresses; and
artful women for confidential and con-
venient friends; destitute and deserving
families, onCe opulent, appeal for aims;
mothers propose to surrender their first
born; police detectives employ ingenious
decoys to entrap criminals; libidinous
wretches advertise with the design of in
weighing thoughtlesss girls that they
have ogled in street cars or jostled III
stages; and ghouls, that have pillaged
the grave, bargain for the restoration OF
tho fostering corpse. Some weeks since
our attention was directed to the follow
ing advertisement:
~ A N ATTRACTIVE young lady Of the first
N family desires IN need lriond indeed q re-
inel gentleman Of means may address, "hNlCk-
ERBlOCkER"
Bang unfortunately Invested OF the
indispensable qualifications required, we
did not respond 10 tho invitation, but II
especially invoked our sympathy We
are naturally anxious to know ii this at
tractIye young lady was promptly and
SUITABLY accommodated; and to which of
the numerous first families Of New York
she was actually allied. The melancholy
fact, that Notwithstanding iilustrious
pedigree and unquestioned cultivation,
she was constrained to issue such a gen"
eral solicitation TO the scions OF nristoc-
racy, must have done violence to her
sensbilities and hereditary pride, es-
pecially if destitute Of previous expert
ence in such delicate affairs.
That the discerning advertiser was
less concerned about the age and reputa-
ton Of respondents than their aesthetic
refinement ahd ABUNDANT resources
should not occasion distrust. Men 81
advanced age are proyerbialIy and cred
ulously susceptible to female blandish-
ment, while they are ordinarily content
with the graccs OF department and the
affcclation of lively gratitude. Sexa-
genariaDs, if they cannot command af-
lection, can purchase complaisance; and
many women, we fear, consult their
pockets rather than their hearts and
consciences.
1t would be exceedingly interesting TO
the public aud indirectly profitable to
tho press ii all tie incidents and circum-
stances connected with and resulting
from such advertisements could be faith
fully collected and published. Though
perhaps occasionally offending social
propriety and disagreeablo to dupes and
knavos, the revelations would be emf
nently valuable. Such information, il
circulated, would render the acts of the
designing more repulsve and unsnccess-
full, while the just apprehension of pop
ular scorn would have reformatory in
1uence upon the conduct Of the deluded
and depraved.
manly VI ptll tliJ'llbB wealth.
and social position, shrink from forming
alliances or engaging in business opera
tons in tho sphere in which they move
and understand, and consequently be.
come the prey Of con.pirators and the
instruments OF Adventures. Attracted
by the mysterious, they possess only the
courage and curiosity to indulge il
speculations, and even liasons, that seen
invested with secrecy aud romance.
Tho Knickerbocker residents OF tn,
Fifth avenue, responsible for the neglec
of their charming relative, in our iudg
ment, have made a serious mistake
They should have realized the fact tina
the notoriety given to her condition
would have INSPIRED among their fash
iouablo neighbours at least as much curl
osily as charity, and il not promptly re
lievod Of pecuniary suff, ring. would b.
of family secrets and domestic scandal