The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-01

wao practfcea rsprenenzibi. deception
and az the wicked wink be wunk-" but
we do not regard ntn as typifysns the
esrs-naie o. female
II may De frivolous 70 dirt bat Il IS
rot necessarily and very rarely - wicked
Amelia E. Barr speaks Of that frivolous
abuse CO the sweetest things which IS
called frtasscn-'' and the clever LADY,
Known as .rles e Cr.ddock, says
There - s. sht,g OF defiance 10 sssao-
Hshsd Law and prejudice IN the born d-rt
everywhere These charming writers
express the pretended objection 70 hirta-
tloa- but neither can be accepted al aa-
liberties. A thorough familiarity wisa all
tire acts prescribed by the esfaoasneo IA"
VIII fail 10 verify the statement tnas nirs-
sng is ensoined by any except. perhaps.
some obsoleta congregational regulation
Of the stric,est puritanism ara Quaker
ism Even there IL cannot have been EN-
cacious. because che OF the most ceieat-
fui characters n drama delinsares sweet
Quaker maiden whose language and de-
meanor would sometimes indicate . firta-
tious disposition.
Filtration is not an abuse OF the sweet
IS, things: 1t is in itself one of the sweet
est experiences of human nature What
ever prejudice there may be against <.
II . prejudice On the part Of those who
have never enjoyed II, or have passed The
sage when sociabii.ty has any attractions.
What woman - there. what man IS there.
who has not. at one period. felt his heart
beat quicker. or his pulse throb more
agreeably at q glance or smile which
meant go more than q momentary nirta-
ton?
When the enjoyment OF . Irritation. the
exchange OF an zdmiring and an app-e-
e;ated glance. has died out. the world
has become a cherries. unjoyful abode.
and life has lost its power 70 thrill the
emotions. There Is no need to dwell upon
the innocent JOY Of filtration in youth,
but there Is no pieasanter spectacle than
that OF genial old gentleman or q
charming old lady renewing In their ma
turer years. the little arts and the fat
tering attentions which come so naturally
in youth.
Filtration has Its dangers. which discre-
tion must avoid. The secret Irritation may
be hazardous. but the open Irritation, the
mere enjoymen. Of q passing fancy. does
little harm By open Irritation. Of course,
must be meant the Inconsistencies Of
wrong. because no Irritation IL worthy the
name which - shared by more than two
At one time.
Paul. the apostle, the celibate. ana the
ascetic. II very severe in his denunciation
OF and warning against inn6elity. but he
does not attempt to lay down laws for the
unmarried. He adjures wives to be faith
ful to their husbands and husbands loyal
to their wives; but he does not pres ame
to direct those who are yet single. Now
he says. concerning virgins I have no
commandment Of the Lord. yet give my
Judgment That judgment is: He who
giveth her in marriage doeth we'll; be that
giveth her not in marriage doeth batter"
Eminent as this authority is. he is not
always 10 be taken literally. But nir:a-
ton has nothing to do with marriage, or
even with the passions. /. is a highly
natural. very agreeable, usually innocu-
Gus manifestation of interest in the other
sex. To admire is the part Of man: TO be
admired is that of woman; and stolen
glances. a quick. unobserved pressure OF
the hand. pretty compliment and an ac-
knowledging blush, a momentary ex-
change Of reciprocal intelligence between
two people who have never met before
and who may never meet again-these are
the signs. the beginnings and the end OF
many a Irritation. and the world IS no
worse, life Is made brighter. human
nature manifests its susceptibility to the
charms OF and Its capacity for apprecia-
tion OF the other sex: and sin will thrive
as we'll without II, as il thrives no better
with IL.
Evil be TO him that evil thinks. and pun
ishment overtake him who finds in dirta-
ton anything but innocence.