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are soon sacrificed to his predominating pas
sion. That person is sure of sorrow who is
marked out for either the love or friendship of
such an one; his friendship is betrayed, and
his love outraged by the sacrifices selfish
ambition requires of them. 1 say all this sim
ply to account for Mrs. Austen’s character.
She is wrapped up in her husband’s glory,
and as neither I nor Charlie can contribute to
it, we are useless on her list. The family
used to be very cordial, but not being able to
make as much out of us as they hoped to,
their cordiality has waned considerably. How
I honor such sincerity as theirs! I discern
the hollowness of their every word and deed!
Moreover, I despise myself, that with my eyes
open, I should become infected with their in
sincerity, for I said many things I hardly felt.
Yet 1 believe I still love Mrs. Austen, and
when under the immediate influence of her
winning manner, and her glorious eyes, I am
sincere in wishing our intercourse could be as
of old, when f trusted as well as loved.
“I called on our friend Mrs. Carrol. She
is a Christian woman I sincerely believe, and
has a mind vastly superior to most of her sex,
which rare gift has been well cultivated. On
some subjects I love to hear her converse, but
to-day the vein she struck was an unfortunate
one. She spoke harshly of the faults of some
who think her their true friend, and contemp
tuously of others. I know the faults and
weaknesses she descanted on are foreign to
her nature, but she has so little charity, she
speaks so coolly and discriminatingly that she
frightens me, and I am made fully aware, that
she will not spare me when lam away. So
I left her exceedingly amazed, in spite of the
friendliness, which she considers it her duty
to show to all who call on her.
“In pretty Mrs. Henderson’s parlor, there
was an affectation of exquisitiveness in every
arrangement which told much for its mistress.
As usual she commenced on literary topics,
because “ she knew I cared for nothing else.”
I wish you could have heard her say, with
her hands clasped, and her eyes turned up —
“Oh! I should die if it were not for poetry
and music. My soul only breathes in their
atmosphere!”
“Now, you know she has neither taste nor
science in her execution upon the piano, and
sings or rather squalls, till her really excel
lent voice is horrible, while her whole stock
of poetry consists in
. . . . “ that book
Full of musk, gems, and roses, and called Lalla
Kookh”
and a small copy of dainty L. E. L.
“At Mrs. Loring's, the Philadelphia-bred
young ladies were full of their affectations,
and expressions of disgust for the vulgarity
and breaches of etiquette they were obliged
to put up with in the provincial circles to
which they were now confined.
“ Mrs. Lincoln had the usual airs of dictato
rial authority and patronage which distin
guish an acknowledged belle. But for her
arts, her intolerable vanity and her egotism,
she would really be quite a clever woman,
but now she is spoiled by the excessive ad
miration she has received. I can hardly blame
her, the ordeal must be trying.
“I have said little of the attempts at criti
cal literary conversation, or the hints and in
uendoes, incorrigible gossips could not restrain;
or the lack of delicacy which chaiacterised
*ome of the remarks and details I was forced
’O listen to. Things I would blush to name
to myself and in darkness, were openly allu
ded to, and words fell unhesitatingly which a
pure-minded woman should not recognise in
her vocabulary.
“How, I ask you mother, am I to love
*uch people, respect them and believe their pro
lessions ? Can associating with them be of
service>to me, or aid me in becoming the sin
cere and meek Christian, the devoted wife,
and judicious mother, the accomplished scho
lar, the “ perfect woman ?” Do you blame
me that I complain of the enforced conven
§®©t sm m ih mr s&& & n s&ssinfß.
tionalities -which require such association ?”
“What I ask of you Ellen, is that you will
not condemn so indiscriminately. It is true
that none of the traits you have mentioned
are desirable in a companion, but can you see
nothing but their faults in these people ?
Might not one who had just listened to your
description of them, say that Mrs. Eaton was
very conceited, or proud, or opinionated, or
uncharitable ? I know my child you would
only speak as you have, before those in whom
you have confidence, but the consequence of
indulging such feelings once, is, that they
readily arise a second time till they come to
give tone to the character. This is doubtless
the secret of Mrs. Carrol’s characteristic harsh
ness ; with her clear, discriminating eye she
saw the faults of all who approached her,
and the consciousness of her own superiority
to them was agreeable, so the impulse was
not checked as it should have been, and thus
she has lost the charm of forbearance and
charity which would ensure to her love, as
well as the respect she commands. Let her
case be a warning to you Ellen, and remem
ber however important intellectual cultivation
maybe, unaffected and single-minded goodness
is first to be sought, and if our natures are
not richly gifted with this divine endowment,
we are to model ourselves with truth and ear
nestness to the example of him who scorned
not to associate with publicans and sinners,
so that he might benefit and bless them.
“ In Mrs. Charlton and Mrs. Hall, you see
developed the blessing of a well regulated
mind, and the evils of an ill regulated one.
I think the ladies equally amiable, but Mrs.
Hall lacks energy, and system, and exempli
fies the folly of a simply fashionable educa
tion. Some of the faults you condemn, are
faults of the heart as much as of the head.
All these ladies may be amiable; some of them
possess fine domestic qualities, others only
needed proper training to become all you as
pire to be.
“Do not then judge others Ellen, but if their
faults present themselves, be warned, and teach
only by unostentatious example the higher
principles which actuate you. Truly there
are as you say, few in this world who live
according to the dictates of their better natures,
or their Bibles Young girls are trained and
taught to live for admiration, and display,
rather than love, and usefulness. Wives can
not unlearn this teaching and still seek the
gay party, or the round of morning visits for
amusement and happiness. Mothers attend
to the physical nurture of their children and
their minds are left to the teacher who is too
often negligent in the discharge of her duties,
while hearts are forgotten by all, and can we
wonder that such children become only second
editions of the careless, frivolous, injudicious
parent ?
“ It is necessary that some intercourse should
be preserved among all persons constituting
society. Might not these morning visits be
made as they are at Mrs. Charlton’s, times of
improvement ?■ Have not you Ellen the pow
er to give anew direction, at least for a time,
to the light and superficial fancies of Mrs.
Henderson ; could you not tell the Miss Lor
ings of the excellencies of those whose awk
wardness so shock them, and of your own re
spect for their good hearts, even though they
have never been to school at Philadelphia,
and acquiied the graces nature failed to be
stow upon them ? Turn away from gossip,
and show you will not listen to inuendoes.
Speak ever truthfully, lovingly, and sensibly,
and at the end of six months, tell me if your
own earnest and lofty impulses, and your
warm and sympathising heart still finds no
response. You, my daughter, have only too
truly described modern society , but have I not
shown you a remedy for its evils?”’
Lines to a Celebrated Painter.
You seek the beautiful ; and yours the moral
Os him who beauty chased, and clasped the laurel?
Mrs. E. F. Ellet.
Cjome (Homsponbencc.
For the Southern Literury Gazette.
NEW-YORK LETTERS.-NO. 15.
Lake George, New-York, \
Aug. 4th, 1848. )
My Dear Sir , —I am not aware that our
epistolary arrangements demand letters of trav
el from me, or, indeed, that these poor epistles
come very relevantly under the title you give
them in your Journal. Yet, had i not duly
warned you of the fact, your sagacity would
have led you, even from the fickle name in
which I glory, to foresee tl\at, as summer guns
appear, my amiable smile would no longer ir
radiate the burning pave of Broadway. lam
one of those individuals, whose ‘ powers’ re
bel against the tyranny of any ‘ pent-up Uti
ca,’ and who follow the custom of all reason
able Gothamites, in getting up a little private
Hygera to the merry and happy -wild woods,
when dog-days approach. Again, for the
benefit of those of your readers, who would
limit me to the province which the heading of
these sheets seems to imply, I would remind
you that though not in the Metropolis, yet 1
still scribble within the boundaries of the
great Empire State ; and so literally give you,
as heretofore, “New York Letters.”
Having thus established my right thus to
ramble, now a word or two touching the ex
pediency thereof. If your readers can fly
from the heat and bustle of a great city to the
quiet and coolness of country shades, with a
tithe of the delight which I experience in the
exchange, they will not regret to follow me in
my pilgrimage. Should they not be able to
do so, I have still a pleasant argument left.
Since lam not in town —thank heaven! and
know no more—thank heaven again ! of all
the casualties, quarrels and scandals thereof,
than Peter the Hermit, you must even accept
my wood-land leaves, or none at all. It is a
decided case of Hobson’s choice, and so I will
say no more about it, but jog quietly along.
After posting my last sheet from Saratoga,
I took the stage thence for the beautiful and
renowned Lake, on the margin of which I
now write, gazing ever and anon from my
vine-shaded window across the placid waters,
to the lovely hills which rise from their shores
in a thousand lines of grace and tints of beau
ty. The day was warm, exceedingly so, and
we found but poor satisfaction in journeying
in a stage-coach over the twenty-seven miles
of heavy, sandy road, which intervene the
Springs and the “ Lake House,” at Caldwell's
Landing, on the Southern extremity of fair
“Horicon.” We were literally broiled in the
scorching sun and buried in the clouds of
dust, insomuch that we almost sympathized
in the excited feelings of our only lady pas
senger, a demoiselle of the mighty city of
Saratoga, who was leaving that Metropolis
for a few days’ visit to some relatives herea
bouts. “Never!” exclaimed the nervous mai
den, as her fair visage loomed again into
sight, after the passing off of a simoon, and as
she ignominously failed in a desperate on
slaught upon an impudent mosquito,—“Nev
er, if I ever get back to the c?7y, (Saratoga,)
shall you catch me in the country again!”
The only agreeable incident in the day’s
travel, was our arrival at Glenn’s Falls, some
seven miles from our point of destination.
Here we shook the dust from our persons,
and found time to dispose of a welcome din
ner of Lake-trout, broiled and boiled, and to
ramble for an hour about the village and falls-
These cascades, on the north bank of the Hud
son, are of a very singular character, but
rather barren of the picturesque. The river,
here, makes a total descent of fifty feet, afford
ing very great hydraulic power, used exten
sively in the manufacture of marble, lime and
lumber. Os the former material, great quan
tities are found on both sides of the stream.
It is highly prized for its beautiful black hue,
and its freedom from flaws. The river is
crossed just above the falls by a bridge of six
hundred feet in length. The navigable feed
er of the Champlain Canal also passes through
the village. Here, the banks of Lake
George, I am still within the same county
which boasts of the possession of these val
uable cascades. It is a region rich in picto
rial and historic interest. Besides Glenn’s Falls
and the incomparable Lake George, of which
I shall discourse presently—many interest
ing scenes of river, lake and mountain, lie
within its limits; the Hudson, Schroon Branch
and Jessup’s creek fertilize the soil. A por
tion of the beautiful Schroon Lake and Lake
Brant add to its charms, while the Hadley,
Jessup and Glenn Falls dash over its rocks,
and the Luzerne, the Kayaderosseras and the
Clinton ranges of mountains, traverse its dif
ferent sections.
In the matter, too, of history, a number of
interesting events, win the attention of the
traveller. In the French war of 1754-63, an
engagement took place at the head of Lake
George, where the English Victor, General
Johnson, erected and fortified Fort William
Henry. In 1757, this work was taken by the
French under the Marquis de Montcalm, who
on the occasion blackened his fame by the vi
lest breach of faith and the most barbarous
cruelty towards the vanquished, under Col.
Monroe. He destroyed the fortifications and
erected in their place Fort George, where, in
1777, Burgoyne deposited his stores. But
since most of the historical incidents to which
I may refer, relate particularly to Lake
George, I will postpone any farther mention
of them until it may be apropos in llie record
of my Lake adventures.
After the dinner at Glenn’s falls, to which
I have attended with so much inward satis
faction, (the dinner I mean —not the falls,) we
resumed our dusty journey, and by night-fall,
(not enumerated in my above listof cascades!)
we were skirting the head or southern point
of Horicon, and in a few minutes afterward,
felt perfectly at home in that pleasant hotel,
the “ Lake House,” at Caldwell’s. The next
morning we breakfasted most royally upon
the unapproached and unapproachable trout,
and embarked on board the pretty little steam
er which daily plies the waters of the Hori
con. But I must leave you at Caldwell’s for
the present; you will find enough there to
amuse £ou for many pleasant days, and my
friend G— insists upon my helping him in-
a moon-light row upon the lake.
Peace to thee and thine, FLIT.
PATCH WORK.
m —l’ve tried
them eggs one hour and they wont bile
soft.”
The latest definition for money is, a
composition for taking stains out of charac
ter.
Banks and sausages are alike, says
somebody —both relying for patronage on the
generous confidence of the community. Rath
er satirical!
“ Slaves cannot breathe in England,'’
quoted John Bull to a Virginian. “Your in
stitution is very peculiar” replied the latter;
“we do give ours some little chance.”
“ My son,” said an affectionate moth
er to her hopeful heir, who was in a short
tine to be married, “you are getting thin.” —
“Yes, mother,” he replied, “I am, and I ex
pect shortly that you will see my rib.”
There is nothing that tends so much
to keep the fire of love burning brightly after
marriage as those little attentions which be
fore marriage, you consider it would be inex
cusable in you to forget. Husbands, bear
this in mind !
“My brethren,” said Swift, “there
are three kinds of pride—the pride of birth,
the pride of riches, and the pride of talents—
but I shall not now speak of the latter, none
of you being liable to that vice.”
J&gg 05 In the presence of a sarcastic lady,,
an individual was praising the wit of a man
who had a very limited intellect. “ Oh, yes,”
said the lady, “he must possess a rich fund,
of wit, tor he never spends any.”
107