Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-02-20

Miss Dawes assertions are based upon
the mistaken assumption that AmeIis
| hives' characters are actual portraisures:
from such false premises she must neces.
sarily deduce false conclusions. It would
seem scarely worth while to answer such =
priori reasoning, only that such wholesale
misconception ought not to be allowed to
stand nrchallenged.
To the southerner il seems manifsstly
absurd to call Amelie Rives' novels or her
creations peculiarly southern; or to affirm
that, being tropical in their nature, they.
therefore, correctly represent southern life.
Neither southern life nor southern char
scter IS tropical, far from that, a strong
sense of duty and of law is the governing
principle of the southern uatare. That, in
ordinary matters, southerners may be more
impulsive and unthinkiug than northerners,
we are willing tc admit; and, perhaps,
| more touchy on the point of honor; but, az
people, they are much more conservative
and moderate. If they do not keep pace
with the north in progress and develop
ment, neither do they rush from one radical
extreme to the opposite. 1t was never the
south that fostered free-loye or anarchy or
socialism. OF, in fact, any doctrine of nihil.
istic tendencies. And if the negro ele-
ment were n0n-existcnt, the statistics of
the greater proportion of deeds of violence.
Southerners may be impulsive, even i'm
petuous; they are rarely malignant or vim
dictive; indeed are almost too forgiqiUg.
II all this may be asserted of the men,
how much more of the women of the south.
Amelie Rives does not truly depict south
ern girls; some of the traits of her heroines
may pertain TO southern character-thou1h
have never met their prototypes-but
that might be said with eqlsl truth Of the
people OF the north, or OF any couutry. Tne
north has set stronger seal Of approval
upon these works than the south, for south
ern women almost unanimously condemn
aud disavow the sentiments they express,
how great soever may be the talent display
ed in them.
I shall utter no word against the north
ern girl, aud readily couceds her claim to
greater classical aud scientific attainments,
while the southern girl is more apt to Gull
tivate the grAoes aud lighter accomplish
meuts. Sull, praise of tue latter is IN no.
WISE Iutended as disparagement of tbs for
mer, for it is a mistake 10 think that tney
are essentially unlikegn character, the differ
ences between them are uiainly those of
temperament, of manners, of style. If
girl is nice in one locality she would have
been equally nice in any other.
Dut repuulaIe Win SCOrn Tue ale SaJOQ
that Ameie Rives' heroines are typical
southern girls, Or that the latter are gener.
ally passionate, or lurid, or unbridled in
their impulses. / go further, and say that
they scarcely ever are go. The typical
southern girl is gentle, thoughtful, con-
siderste, m ,drst, unassumiug, dignifsd,
respectful to her elders, courteous to every
one, home-loving, home keeping, we'll vsrs-
ed in domestic lore, of simple tastes and
habits, deeply reiigious and warmly attach
ed to her church and church work, OF great
purity and strength of moral character; in
fne,
"a Spirit. yet Woman. too.
Her household notions light and free,
Aud steps OF virgin. liberty:
counteuance in which did meat
Sweet records, promises as sweet;
A Creature n0f too bright or good
For humsn natures daily food:
For transient sorrows, simple wiles,
Praise. blame. love, kisses, tears and smiles.
THE reason firm, the temperate Will,
Endurance, foresight. strength and skill;
A perfect woman. nobly planned,
To warn, to comfort and command;
And yet Spirit still. and bright
With something OF an angel-light."
Lillian PIKE.