PROPOSALS FOR FEMALE CLUBS , & c . 77
A SONNET .
I SAW thee blooming , full of youthful grace , When hope and joy in every glance would speak ; When gladness revell'd on thy dimpled cheek , And love's divine expression marked thy face : Again I saw thee , when the blushing trace
Of health had vanish'd , languid , faint , and weak , And colourless , save where the sultry streak Of fever fill'd the faded rose - bud's place : The smiling radiance of thine eyes was flown ; No light or life was in their clouded beams , Save the wild brightness of unearthly gleams , When reason fled bewildered from her throne , And beauty vanish'd like the flowers that die Beneath the scorching suns of India's sky .
SPRING .
AGAIN the violet of our early days Drinks beauteous azure from the golden sun , And kindles into fragrance at his blaze ;
The streams , rejoic'd that winter's work is done , Talk of to - morrow's cowslips as they run . Wild apple , thou art blushing into bloom !
Thy leaves are coming , snowy - blossom'd thorn ! Wake , buried lily ! spirit quit thy tomb !
And thou , shade - loving hyacinth , be born !
Then , haste , sweet rose ! sweet woodbine hymn the mern , Whose dewdrops shall illume with pearly light ,
Each grassy blade that thick embattled stands From sea to sea , while daisies infinite Uplift in praise their little glowing hands , O'er every hill that under heav'n expands .
From a late English Periodical .
PROPOSALS FOR FEMALE CLUBS .
WILL the ladies allow themselves to be ne- glected , without showing that they have in their own resources a fund on which they can rely ? Will they own that they are completely depen- dent on mankind for amusement ? We think they are above this . We feel assured that they possess a spirit of independence , which would make them spurn so base a calumny ; and we re- commend them to prove how much they are su- perior to such ideas , by instantly creating such societies as we shall presently mention . As the men seem to be dividing themselves into castes , women should be separated into classes ; -for the formation of which , we shall now offer them a few hints .
As there are many ladies whose tastes and feel- ings are similar , and , consequently , whose pro- fessions are alike , such individuals should form separate communities . We first , as in duty bound , shall address ourselves to the more elder- ly of the fair sex . Their suffrages we are sure of . We are well convinced that they can have no objection to Clubs , especially if they should happen to be " trumps . " To these respecta- ble and respected antiquities we need scarce- ly describe the peculiar advantages of such meetings . Having passed through the danger- ous navigation of life , to the calmer tides of de- parting existence , what a noble and generous sacrifice do they make of the little time they are likely to possess , in pointing out the errors of those who are surrounded by the shoals and quick- sands over which they have steered , doubtless with safety and credit . Then , like the proselytes of that immortal philosopher , St. John Long , their last moments are devoted to a rubber . Besides which , however democratic their opinions might have been in their younger days , no one , after they have arrived at years of discretion , ( which some ill - natured people declare to be the north- west passage of a lady's life , ) was ever so unjust as to accuse them of disrespect towards " Kings " and " Queens . " A large establishment would to them be a great acquisition , and in such a one as we are recommending , we have no doubt all their
tastes might be suited to a tea . For there , with what exceeding comfort , among congenial spi- rits , would they be enabled to " shuffle off this mortal coil ; " in their " dealings " with each other to play the " deuce " with satisfaction and repu- tation , and beat the great antagonist , by at least " honour . "
one
There is a similar class to these , but who have had the advantage of living a life of celibacy ; and whom , we are certain , from a well - grounded dislike to mankind , will enter into our views with all the enthusiasm of which they are capable . As a separate community , they must succeed in banishing from their minds the objects of their aversion ; for which laudable purpose nothing male should be allowed admission into their Club ; -not even a Tom cat . The innocent creatures upon which they lavish their immacu- late affections , whether monkeys , pugs , parrots , or pusses , should all be of the softer sex . The first of these establishments should be entitled " The Dowagers , " the latter , " The Senior La- dies . "
We come now to ladies of a more tender age . There is a very large class , whose lives seem to be devoted to winning the hearts of the other sex , and with the most generous self - denial making no use of their triumphs . These are more familiarly known by the title of " coquettes . " In a state of single blessedness , or matrimonial felicity , the rul- ing passion often appears equally visible . They may be distinguished by a superior attention to dress , a liberal use of smiles and approving looks , and a proper distribution of encouragement to suit- ors , according to the length of their attachments . Some authors affirm that " flirts " is another name for the same race , but we beg to assert a distinc- tion . Coquetterie is a woman's philosophy , and is besides , an art only to be acquired by long practice , laborious study , and deep investiga- tion . Flirting is the natural impulse of the fe- male will . Every woman can flirt , but a distin- guished coquette is a far more intellectual being . Even if they were the same , they are so numer- ous , that it would take several Club Houses to
