The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-02-09

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be deficient simply in that peculiar art
of fascinating which even silence can
not prevent from being powerful
One of the worst features of this UNI
mitigated silence which is imposed upon
one sex alone is the insincerity and n.y.
pocrisy which if not only inculcates,
but places a premium upon. Nothing
| irritates woman SO much as to have
any ground given for u suggestion that
she has gone n step out of her way to
secure q gentleman's interest or atten-
ton. She would rather be won 10y
q peasant than move the least bit ag-
excessively to win Prince. Her natur-
nj feelings are smothered and sup
pressed, and she accepts the artItice
which she must put on, rs if it were
both reasonable and natural.
l shall hear i'll reply-in fact, / have
heard imagina.ively between every two
lines / have written-some such ques-
tion Us this, in the voice of Mrs. GIun-
dy What, would you have modest
and delicate young lady go to a gen.
tleman's house or office, and ask him to
marry her?"
This question is always supposed to
quash the antagonist and close the dis
cussion. But does it close it? Is there
no such thing in this world as the mid
die grounds an intermediate course ?
May there not be half-dozen footholds
and vacancies between extremes? II
this performance, which is believed to
be the only alternative in the matter, is
an absurdity, on any other than con-
ventional grounds, does it amend it any
to intrench ones self in the shadow of
another absurdity?
My impression is that matters of de-
tail will take care of themselves, and,
especially wherever ladies are con-
cerned, will shape themselves always
into comely and graceful forms. The
tact, the fine feeling, the artistic fitness
of things, one may say, which have had
Il background of centuries for cultiva-
ton under bonds and disadvantages,
will not fall any the less to show them
selves when their field is widened and
extended. | should as soon believe that
water will cease to run down hill, or
that gravitation will some day reverse
the order of motion, as to suppose that
the weakening or abolition of rigid
law of etiquette would transform the
nature of half the human race For,
not in these things, but far deeper, is
the beauty of girlhood and womanhood.
If it were not so, we might indeed de-
SPAR of the continuance of beauty in
the world, and all that belongs with it.
/ do not know whether Thackeray
expressed himself directly on this sub
iect: but, if he had, how he would have
pierced the joints and weak places in
the armor which fashion has incased in
it, With what remorseless irony he
would have penetrated all the futile
pretensions that have reared themselves
around it. If he has given us no
thoughts on this theme, he has at least
III several places jostled almost against
it, On the general disabilities of wom-
men he says, in Henry Esmond:" "Tis
n hard task for women in life, that mask
which the world bids them wear. But
there is no greater crime than for
woman who is ill-used aud unhappy to
show that she is so. The world is quite
relentless about bidding her to keep a
cheerful face; and our women, like the
Malabar wives, are forced to go smiling
aud painted to sacrifice themselves to
their husbands; their relations being
the more eager to push them on to their
duty, and under their shouts and APP
plauscs. to smother and hush their cries
of pain.
1t is not very likely, L admit, that
any such revolution as | have limited Mt
will ever occur in our generation, how
ever gricvonS the disabilities of women
may be; but, when we consider that
some of The civilizations which are not
Puritan and Anglo-Saxon have media
torial methods OF bringing about mar
riage-in which third parties play the
chief par:-it is lao iinacy to suggest
that notifications may be produced in
time in our habits, when we become
more in unison with the rest of the
world 1t is certain that, even now,
the marriage proposal, as it exists
here, is as shocking to French ideas
us any other mode than ours is to us.
Re we can outlive this conviction, it will
doubtless be 10y exceptions, and by de-
grees Let us hope that some day. by
the quiet and delicate intermediary of
some wise tribunal--if not otherwise
young lady or woman may secure
privilege of choice in matters of the
highest consequence that can only now
happen by lucky accident.-DemOr-
eSfS MOnfhIU.