Page 1 Advertisements Column 6

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 7, Issue 361, 17 September 1863, Page 1

begin by being equally unreal. But it makes a great difference as to the reality into which their pretences ultimately develope. Tins' ehauge at all events, whether unhealthy or the reverse, has been very complete. Devotion is no longer fashionable, and the clerical young lady is rapidly disappearing. Specimens may undoubtedly be found, like the specimens of the bustard or capercailzie, to testify to a state of things that has passed away. But the average young lady of the present day has a mortal | aversion to parsons, and a profound ignorance of theology. She entertains no schemes for the conversion of her benighted parents, and cares a great deal more about the hearts of Guardsmen than their souls. Controversy lends her, no aid in small talk. She canuot make love by a free exchange of sweet experiences with some mustachioed penitent. Compliments on one side, and chaff on the other, is now the debased currency with which she transacts a flirtation ; and with her accepted she chiefly discourses on upholstery. A photographic album replaces upon her table the illuminated Thomas a Kempis or Christian Year of other days—which album is adorned by a large number of manly forms, which she modestly assures you are those of “ her brother’s friends.” She wholly ignores the theological topics of the day, and does not feel at the thought of Bishop Colenso one-balf the glow of indignant horror with which the young lady of twelve years ago would have montioned the name of Gorham or Bennett, as the case might, be. Sue knows more about operas than churches, and more about dressmakers than either.

No doubt there is more reality in the later type. We now see the young lady mind as nature made it, and not as good books have dressed it. But few people will deny that there was something more fascinating in th e enthusiastic fash ion than in the practical fashion. The human mind needs clothes as well as the human body. There is something revolting in the photographic truthfulness with which very unreserved or very cynical people unveil to the world the workings of their minds. It is always pleasanter to believe that those around you have at the bottom of their souls aims higher than can be satisfied by the passing amusements of each succeeding most people fvrrrriwli ratrigliljoui a —wrth —that in^ nocent gratification by assuming such aims, even if they have them not. Men very seldom go mentally naked. They have almost always sufficient reserve and, restraint to clothe themselves in the decorums prescribed by the public opinion |of their day. Women, and especially young women, are scarely diplomatists enough for this. Their only chance of presenting to your eye a mind fair to look upon is to array it in some genuine or affected enthusiasm. Even the latter, though it be only the contagion of a passing fashion, is better than nothing at all. In the most practical point of view the practical young lady is a mistake. Farsighted matrons ought to cultivate enthusiasm in their daughters merely as a marketable article. Iu these evil days, when angling in matrimonial waters is a toilsome and ungrateful labour, and the fat well-fed fisli—the only fish an angler cares to hook—nibble so sluggishly and bite so rarely, it is not a time for throwing away any kind of bait that might be useful. A languid generation requires, some stimulant more exciting than the conversation of a voluble chronicle of crinolines. Thei'e is something gratefully exciting, like the acid of a tropical fruit, in the vehemence of charming women who talk of things they do not understand; but a pumpkin is the only vegetable that, in point of flavour and solidity, can supply a comparison for the small talk of the charmers of the present day. If young ladies will be practical, it is no wonder that elder sons should have become practical too. It requires something of enthusiasm, something in the nature of an illusion, to impel an elder son into the weary ways that lead to matrimony. The public courtship, the regulation observances of engaged happiness, the fierce battle of settlements, the ceremonials contrived for duly exhibiting the bridegroom, are nuisances from which very practical men, with very mundane views of the duties and objects of life, will be inclined to escape. Some mental fascinations, some bait beyond mere personal beauty, is needed to attract the shy fish of our generation. This practical fashion falls very hard upon the large number of young ladies who have no unusual intellectual power to countervail it. Every mother who knows her own interests will earnestly pray that the times of enthusiasm may come back again. And if the mother desire it from interested motives, those who merely wish to see the influence and .usefulness of women extended will desire lit still more keenly.

Geologists who are familiar with the idea of geological phenomena w'.ll b ; able to appreciate Mr. E. B. Hunt’s argument on the growth and chronology of the great Florida reef. After stating the dimensions of the reef, Mr. Hunt proceeds :—“ Taking the rate at 24 years to the foot, we have for the total time 24 x 250 x 900 on the data as stated; or we find the total period of 5,400,000 years as that required for the growth of the entire coral limestone formation of Florida. ” A New Name.—A lady out West has named her thirteenth child Gratis.