The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1883-09-26
Flirting set Down Upon Heavily


The ostensible object Of courtship i
the choice of a companion. For no
other object should any intercourse hay-
me the appearance of court>llp be per-
mitted or INDUCED in. 1t i = species
of high-handel fraud upon an nnSuspect-
ING heart. worthy of the heaviest penal
tv of public opinion or law. The atiec-
tions are too tender aud s,cred TO be
triflcd with. He who does it is wretch
He should be ranked among thieves.
robbers. williams and murdercrs He
who steals money steals trash: hut lie
who steals affections without "a return
of similar affections. steals that which
| is dearer than life and more precious
/ than wealth His THEFT is a robbery of
/ the he lrt.
/ Flirting is a horrid outrage upon the
most molly and exalted feelings Of the
I human soul. and the most sacred and
| important relation Of life 1t Is vul-
oarism and wickncss to be compared
only to blasphemy. 1t had. and still
has. its origin in the ba>est lust. Tie
refined soul is ALWAYS DISCUS ted with it.
I 1t is awfully demoralizing in lis tenden-
cv. and low and base in its character.
1t is true. many handy their low Jokes
upon this matter III thOughtlessneSs
I but if they should take one moments
sober reflection upon il. they would see
the improperly of testing about the
most delicate. serious and sacred feel
ingS and relations in human existence.
/ The whole tendency OF such lightnesS is
\ to cause the marriage relation to be
/ lightly esteemed. and courtship to be
made round Of low fun end trolic, in
which every species of deception is en-
deavored to be played of. until it is
viewed in lis true light. in that sober
earnestness which the subject demands.
how can courtship be ANYTHING else than
a grand game Of hypocrisy. resulting III
wickcdness and misery the most ruin
Gus and deplorable?
There is much trifiing com ting amon@
| the young in some portions Of the coun-
| try that results in such calamitOus con-
! sequences carried on sometime when
\ the Young man means nothing tut pres
ent pleasure. and sometimes when the
Young woman has no other object in
view Such intercourse is confined
mostly to Young men and women he
/ fore they are of age. 1t is a crying evil.
wCrthy of the severest censme. \ case
was recently tried in Rutland. Vermont.
/ in which Miss Munson recovered four
teen hundred and twenty-five dollars OF
Mr.. Hastings for breach of marriage
contract. The curiosity of the thing !
| this: The Vermont Judge charged the
Jury that no explicit promise was nee
essary to bind the parties to marriage
contract. bet that long continued atten-
| tions or intimacy with female was as
| good evidence of intended matrimouy as
special contract. The principle OF the
| case undoubtedly is. that if Hastings
/ did not promise. he ought to have done
so-the law holds him responsible Tor
the non-periormance of his duty. y
most excellent decision. We think II
| there were more such cases there would
1 be less flirting. One of the meancSt
| things a young man can do (and 1t l.
not at all OF uncommon occurrence j.
to monopolize the time and attention OF
young girl for a year or more. without
anv definite object. and to the exclusion
Of other gentlemen, who. Supposing him
to have matrimonial intentions. absent
themselves from her society. This sci
! fish ''dog-in -the-manger way of pro-
ceeding should be discounteuanCed and
forbidden by all parents and guardians
\ 1t prevents the reception of eligible Of
fers of marriage. and tastenS upon The
Young lady, when the acquaintance i
finally dissolved, the uncnviable anc
unmerfed appellation OF "tlirt." Let
all your dealings with women. young
man. he frank, honest and ntilr. Thai
many whose education and position IL
life would warrant our looking for better
things. are culpably criminal on thes,
points. is no excuse for your short
comm9s.
That woman is Often injured O
wronged through her holiest feelings
adds but blacker dye 10 your meaness
One rule is always safe: IreH ercrl
,coDto" yoH meet as you 'conld ,cish oHoth
en- man to h'ef your innocent, confdin.
Sister.