man. If then her power and manner of communi- | governing member of the human family all over the cating be better, she may certainly be pronounced his world. Woman submits to his guidance and direction. superior in the social circle. In the first place I would She adapts herself to him, and endeavors to conform to remark, that she has in general much less profes- his nature. Hence a quiet submissiveness on the part sional bias than man. When men arrive at the age of of the weaker sex to control and dictation, even when maturity, they generally engage in some one profession very intelligent, and able to act for themselves. I have or occupation, which employs most of their time and known intelligent women look up to their husbands for exertion. Their intellectual characters are, to a very direction in most matters, and with pleasure submit to great degree, modelled by their employments. Hence an their will, when it was evident to the whole world that inaptitude to acquire what does not belong to one's they were vastly superior in intellectual endowments business-an indocility upon all subjects not strictly to those whose dictation and direction they thus seemed professional. I recollect once to have been a member to court. All a woman's ambition is for the promotion of a country debating society, in which we had divines, of her husband. Her own elevation is generally a lawyers, doctors, farmers, schoolmasters, &c.; and upon secondary matter, because always derived from his. all topics discussed, it was easy to determine at once Shakspeare makes even the fiendish acts of Lady the profession of the speaker. You saw immediately Macbeth, to proceed from a desire to elevate her own the professional bias and the professional language and husband rather than herself. This condition of woman knowledge. Woman is in general, except so far as makes her more docile and susceptible of impression. affected by her husband, free from this influence, which Her nature becomes more pliant and flexible. At one is so unfavorable to that varied and brilliant conversa- period of her life she may be the wife of a divine, at tion suited to promiscuous society. another of a lawyer, and at a third of a physician: Again, the social circle is the field in which woman and she can quickly conform to these different natures wins her trophies, displays her accomplishments, and with which she has to deal. Her docility is far supeachieves her conquests. The art of pleasing by con-rior to that of man. Mr. Stewart thinks that women versation is all and all to her. The power of colloquial learn languages even with greater quickness, and prodisplay is her greatest accomplishment-her most irre-nounce them much better than men. He says Fox spoke sistible weapon. Hence, while man in general aims to make himself plain and perspicuous, woman endeavors not only to be understood, but to delight and fascinate the hearer at the same time by her style and manner. "Man in conversation," says Rousseau, "has need of knowledge-woman of taste." We are instructed profoundly in a few things by the conversation of an intelligent man. The conversation of woman embraces many things, and though we may not be profoundly in- | structed in any, yet we have a living and moving panoramic view presented to the mind, which sooths and charms it by the beauty, variety, and brilliancy of the parts. Rousseau was so struck with the differences between the sexes in conversation, that he seems (I think erroneously) to imagine a natural difference in this respect between them. "Women," says he, "have a more flexible tongue: they speak sooner, more easily, and more agreeably than men. They are accused of speaking more. That is just as it should be; this should be considered an ornament of the sex, and not a reproach. Their mouth and eyes have the same acti-ings and business. Such an abstraction as this leaves vity, and for the same reason."

French better than any Englishman of his acquaintance, but he knew many females who spoke it better than he.

Now this greater docility and susceptibility of impression, while it admirably adapts the weaker to the stronger sex, at the same time improves greatly the conversational powers of woman. She is alive to all that is passing around; she sees what our duller eyes fail to behold. She thus gathers more, and details it more vividly and impressively. While we are gathering general and stale news, she collects that which is more special and impressive. Every one who has ever been in the habit of paying what are called morning visits, with intelligent ladies, must have remarked the great difference between the sexes in this respect.

Before leaving the subject of conversation, I shall take leave to make a few remarks on the practice so prevalent among the married and elderly gentlemen, of separating themselves from the rest of the company at dinner parties and evening gatherings, to talk among themselves on those topics more congenial to their feel

the young to themselves, and frees them from a restraint The occupations of women are generally of such a which may sometimes be irksome, but is almost always character as to allow full scope for their conversational salutary. The elderly portion are in the habit of extalents, while their work is advancing. Knitting, sew-cusing themselves, by saying the conversation of the ing, &c. invite to a free use of the tongue, while the young is too frivolous for their attention; that their occupations of men will generally allow of no such in- | tastes have changed, and they take now no pleasure in dulgence. Moreover, the business of woman is oftener the gaieties, pastimes, and frivolities of youth. But they social; it can be carried on in society; whereas that should recollect that this division is calculated to proof man cannot, being generally much more solitary. duce that very frivolity of which they complain. SepaThis difference in the occupations of the two, produces rate the old and intelligent from the young and thoughta much greater effect on the social differences between less, and you immediately give a loose to all the wild, the sexes than most persons are aware of. Lastly, the buoyant feelings of youth. Lycurgus could never have greater docility of woman, her greater susceptibility to succeeded in Sparta in enforcing so completely his impression, have a tendency to generate more conver- celebrated system of laws, but for the public tables, sational talent than is developed in man. Woman, as which brought the old and young, intelligent and simple we have frequently remarked, is made physically together. The young learned modesty in the presence weaker than man; she is, therefore, dependent on of the old, and the ignorant imbibed wisdom from the him, and looks up to him as a protector. Man is the instruction of the intelligent. If our most intelligent

men would always mingle in the social circle, they omits to mention trifles, because he considers them would elevate the character of the topics discussed, "light as air," when some of these trifles might touch while they would stimulate the young to more thought | a chord that would vibrate to the heart, and fill the soul and intellectual exertion. The young would be im- with joy and gratitude. When Mr. Dacre writes to proved by the instruction they would receive, and the the Duke of Fitzjames, in the Young Duke, and says laudable ambition that would be exerted by the example in conclusion, "Mary desires me to present her regards of the old and intelligent; and the latter would be com- to you"-this was worth all the letter besides to the pensated by the great improvement which social inter- | young duke; 'twas this he read over and over again, course produces on all our finer feelings, tastes, and and forgot his estates and his debts, while his heart was emotions, by the cultivation of talents which would reeling with gratitude for just this little kindness from otherwise become dormant and useless, and the conse- her whom he loved so devotedly. With woman, letter quent opening of new sources of enjoyment. But duty writing is in complete unison with her condition in soto the rising generation-particularly to that portion ciety. The details of most interest to her correspondfor whom we feel the warmest solicitude, because the ents are precisely those with which she is most converweaker and more dependent-absolutely demands this sant. She presents no mutilated picture; she gives intercourse. It would elevate the intellectual character that which delights. She is apt to know, too, the little of the sex, and thereby improve the general condition Goshen of our hearts, and to pay all due attention to of society. Our wives and daughters would become it. And she is sure to tell, as if by accident, precisely fit companions for intelligent husbands, and the social the sweetest things in the world to us. She writes with circle would lose its unmeaning conversation and reck-ease, variety, and interest-because she pursues the less frivolity in the presence of age and intelligence.

course of the celebrated Madame de Sévigné, (who has never perhaps had an equal in our sex for epistolary composition.) "Il faut un peu entre bons amis," says Madame de S. "laisser trotter les plumes comme elles veulent, la mienne a toujours la bride sur le cou."

I had intended, before concluding my remarks on the intellectual differences of the sexes, to offer some consi

education; but my number has already expanded to a size greatly beyond my anticipations when I commenced it. This subject I must therefore postpone for the present, and resume it in my next, if my time and occupations will permit me.

The social circles of France are greatly improved by the free and unrestrained intercourse of all ages together. There is no man in Paris, it matters not what is his standing or intelligence, but has social ambition; he| aims at distinction in conversation, at reputation in the social circle, no less than he does at winning trophies in the field, or fame in the senate chamber. The conse-derations in favor of improving the system of female quence is, that, frivolous as we consider that people as a nation, they far excel us in the social circle, both in the dignity of the topics discussed, and the ability displayed by both sexes, especially by the females, in conversation. Women who enjoy the society and conversation of the wittiest and greatest men of their country will themselves become witty and clever. "I was talking," says Bulwer in his France, "one evening with the master of the house where I had been dining, on some subject of trade and politics, which I engaged in unwillingly in the idea that it was not very likely to interest the lady. I was soon rather astonished, I confess, to find her enter into conversation with a knowledge of detail and a right perception of general principles which I did not expect. 'How do you think,' said she, when I afterward expressed my surprise, 'that I could meet my husband every evening at dinner, if I were not able to talk on the topics on which he has been employed in the morning.'" Let us then at least imitate the French in this particular, certain that it will in the process of time be productive of the most marked and happy result.

For the same reason that woman surpasses man in conversation, she is superior to him in epistolary composition. Her letters are generally more varied, more lively and impressive, more replete with interesting facts and details, than those of our sex. A gentleman, in writing a mere letter of friendship, is engaged in a business which rather breaks in on his habits, and interrupts for a time the accustomed routine of his thoughts and tastes. He is very apt to run off upon the general news of the day, and commence prosing upon some subject which we would find perhaps infinitely better handled in the public prints than in his letter. He has no variety; he forgets to tell us of our friends, and of what they are doing and saying. He forgets that we have hearts, and thinks only of our heads. Hel

For the Southern Literary Messenger.
TO F*****.

And could'st thou F

then believe
That I had thought thy guileless heart
Would prompt thee meanly to deceive,
And stoop to play a treacherous part?

No, lady no!-I saw thee move,

Artless in unsuspecting youth;
That heart 1 saw had learn'd to love
The hallowed sanctity of truth.

Could F- -'s throbbing bosom beat
Victims on victims to ensnare:
Point to the lovers at her feet,

And proudly count the captives there?

No, lady no! to honor true,

Thou would'st not-could'st not thus appear-
Triumphs like these would seem to you,
Too dearly purchased to be dear.

These, these are arts alone allied

To spirits yet akin to earth;
The generous soul with nobler pride
Spurns the poor trick, and trusts to worth.

Yes, lady yes! such worth as thine,
Which kindred worth and genius rules,
To baser spirits may resign

The mad idolatry of fools.

H.

For the Southern Literary Messenger.
BON-BON--A TALE.

BY EDGAR A. POE.

of his general disposition. Bon-Bon could never let slip an opportunity of making a bargain.

Not that Bon-Bon was avaricious-no. It was by no means necessary to the satisfaction of the philoso

"Notre Gulliver"-dit le Lord Bolingbroke-"a de telles pher, that the bargain should be to his own proper ad

fables."-Voltaire.

vantage. Provided a trade could be effected-a trade
of any kind, upon any terms, or under any circumstan-
ces, a triumphant smile was seen for many days there-
after to enlighten his countenance, and a knowing
wink of the eye to give evidence of his sagacity.
At any epoch it would not be very wonderful if a

should elicit attention and remark. At the epoch of our narrative, had this peculiarity not attracted observation, there would have been room for wonder indeed.

the smile of Bon-Bon was wont to differ widely from the downright grin with which that Restaurateur would laugh at his own jokes, or welcome an acquaintance. Hints were thrown out of an exciting nature--stories were told of perilous bargains made in a hurry and repented of at leisure-and instances were adduced of unaccountable capacities, vague longings, and unnatural inclinations implanted by the author of all evil for wise purposes of his own.

That Pierre Bon-Bon was a Restaurateur of uncommon qualifications, no man who, during the reign of frequented the little Câfé in the Cul-de-sac Le Febvre at Rouen, will, I imagine, feel himself at liberty to dispute. That Pierre Bon-Bon was, in an equal degree, skilled in the philosophy of that period is, I pre-humor so peculiar as the one I have just mentioned, sume, still more especially undeniable. His Patés à la fois were beyond doubt immaculate-but what pen can do justice to his essays sur la Nature-his thoughts sur l'Ame—his observations sur l'Esprit? If his omelettes-It was soon reported that upon all occasions of the kind, if his fricandeaux were inestimable, what literateur of that day would not have given twice as much for an 'Idée de Bon-Bon' as for all the trash of all the ‘Idées' of all the rest of the savants? Bon-Bon had ransacked libraries which no other man had ransacked-had read more than any other would have entertained a notion of reading-had understood more than any other would have conceived the possibility of understanding; and although, while he flourished, there were not wanting some authors at Rouen, to assert "that his dicta evinced The philosopher had other weaknesses-but they neither the purity of the Academy, nor the depth of the are scarcely worthy of our serious examination. For Lyceum"-although, mark me, his doctrines were by no example, there are few men of extraordinary profundity means very generally comprehended, still it did not fol- who are found wanting in an inclination for the bottle. low that they were difficult of comprehension. It was, Whether this inclination be an exciting cause, or rather I think, on account of their entire self-evidency that a valid proof of such profundity, it is impossible to say. many persons were led to consider them abstruse. It Bon-Bon, as far as I can learn, did not think the subis to Bon-Bon-but let this go no farther-it is to Bon-ject adapted to minute investigation-nor do I. Yet Bon that Kant himself is mainly indebted for his meta-in the indulgence of a propensity so truly classical, it is physics. The former was not indeed a Platonist, nor not to be supposed that the Restaurateur would lose strictly speaking an Aristotelian-nor did he, like the sight of that intuitive discrimination which was wont modern Leibnitz, waste those precious hours which to characterize, at one and the same time, his Essais might be employed in the invention of a fricassée, or, and his Omelettes. With him Sauterne was to Medoc facili gradu, the analysis of a sensation, in frivolous at- what Catullus was to Homer. He would sport with a tempts at reconciling the obstinate oils and waters of syllogism in sipping St. Peray, but unravel an argument ethical discussion. Not at all. Bon-Bon was Ionic.over Clos de Vougeot, and upset a theory in a torrent Bon-Bon was equally Italic. He reasoned a priori. of Chambertin. In his seclusions the Vin de Bourgogne He reasoned also a posteriori. His ideas were innate had its allotted hour, and there were appropriate moor otherwise. He believed in George of Trebizond.ments for the Côtes du Rhone. Well had it been if He believed in Bossarion. Bon-Bon was emphatically the same quick sense of propriety had attended him in a-Bon-Bonist.

the peddling propensity to which I have formerly alluded—but this was by no means the case. Indeed, to say the truth, that trait of mind in the philosophic BonBon did begin at length to assume a character of strange intensity and mysticism, and, however singular it may seem, appeared deeply tinctured with the grotesque

To enter the little Café in the Cul de Sac Le Febvre was, at the period of our tale, to enter the sanctum of a man of genius. Bon-Bon was a man of genius.

I have spoken of the philosopher in his capacity of Restaurateur. I would not however have any friend of mine imagine that in fulfilling his hereditary duties in that line, our hero wanted a proper estimation of their dignity and importance. Far from it. It was impossible to say in which branch of his duplicate pro-diablerie of his favorite German studies. fession he took the greater pride. In his opinion the powers of the mind held intimate connection with the capabilities of the stomach. By this I do not mean to insinuate a charge of gluttony, or indeed any other se-There was not a sous-cuisinier in Rouen, who could not rious charge to the prejudice of the metaphysician. If have told you that Bon-Bon was a man of genius. His Pierre Bon-Bon had his failings-and what great man very cat knew it, and forbore to whisk her tail in the has not a thousand ?—if Pierre Bon-Bon, I say, had his presence of the man of genius. His large water-dog failings, they were failings of very little importance was acquainted with the fact, and upon the approach of faults indeed which in other tempers have often been his master, betrayed his sense of inferiority by a sanclooked upon rather in the light of virtues. As regards tity of deportment, a debasement of the ears, and a one of these foibles I should not have mentioned it in | dropping of the lower jaw not altogether unworthy of this history but for the remarkable prominency--the a dog. It is, however, true that much of this habitual extreme alto relievo in which it jutted out from the plane respect might have been attributed to the personal apVOL. I.-88

pearance of the metaphysician. A distinguished ex- | might be discovered by the side of Eusebius-Plato re

clined at his ease in the frying pan--and cotemporary manuscripts were filed away upon the spit.

terior will, I am constrained to say, have its weight even with a beast; and I am willing to allow much in the outward man of the Restaurateur calculated to im- In other respects the Café de Bon-Bon might be said press the imagination of the quadruped. There is a pe- to differ little from the Cafes of the period. A gigantic culiar majesty about the atmosphere of the little great—if | fire-place yawned opposite the door. On the right of I may be permitted so equivocal an expression-which the fire-place an open cupboard displayed a formidable mere physical bulk alone will be found at all times ineffi- array of labelled bottles. There Mousseux, Chambercient in creating. If, however, Bon-Bon was barely three tin, St. George, Richbourg, Bordeaux, Margaux, Haufeet in height, and if his head was diminutively small, brion, Leonville, Medoc, Sauterne, Bârac, Preignac, still it was impossible to behold the rotundity of his Grave, Lafitte, and St. Peray contended with many stomach without a sense of magnificence nearly border- other names of lesser celebrity for the honor of being ing upon the sublime. In its size both dogs and men quaffed. From the ceiling, suspended by a chain of must have seen a type of his acquirements-in its im- very long slender links, swung a fantastic iron lamp, mensity a fitting habitation for his immortal soul. throwing a hazy light over the room, and relieving in some measure the placidity of the scene.

I might here if it so pleased me-dilate upon the matter of habiliment, and other mere circumstances of It was here, about twelve o'clock one night, during the external metaphysician. I might hint that the the severe winter of, that Pierre Bon-Bon, after hair of our hero was worn short, combed smoothly over having listened for some time to the comments of his his forehead, and surmounted by a conical-shaped white neighbors upon his singular propensity—that Pierre flannel cap and tassels-that his pea-green jerkin was Bon-Bon, I say, having turned them all out of his house, not after the fashion of those worn by the common class locked the door upon them with a sacre Dieu, and beof Restaurateurs at that day-that the sleeves were took himself in no very pacific mood to the comforts of something fuller than the reigning costume permitted-a leather-bottomed arm-chair, and a fire of blazing that the cuffs were turned up, not as usual in that bar-faggots. barous period, with cloth of the same quality and color It was one of those terrific nights which are only as the garment, but faced in a more fanciful manner met with once or twice during a century. The snow with the particolored velvet of Genoa-that his slippers drifted down bodily in enormous masses, and the Café were of a bright purple, curiously filagreed, and might de Bon-Bon tottered to its very centre, with the floods have been manufactured in Japan, but for the exquisite of wind that, rushing through the crannies in the wall, pointing of the toes, and the brilliant tints of the bind- and pouring impetuously down the chimney, shook ing and embroidery-that his breeches were of the yel-awfully the curtains of the philosopher's bed, and dislow satin-like material called aimable—that his sky-blue organized the economy of his Paté-pans and papers. cloak resembling in form a dressing-wrapper, and richly The huge folio sign that swung without, exposed bestudded all over with crimson devices, floated cava- to the fury of the tempest, creaked ominously, and lierly upon his shoulders like a mist of the morning-gave out a moaning sound from its stanchions of solid and that his tout ensemble gave rise to the remarkable oak. words of Benevenuta, the Improvisatrice of Florence, "that it was difficult to say whether Pierre Bon-Bon was indeed a bird of Paradise, or the rather a very Paradise of perfection."

I have said that it was in no very placid temper the metaphysician drew up his chair to its customary station by the hearth. Many circumstances of a perplexing nature had occurred during the day, to disturb I have said that "to enter the Café in the Cul-de-Sac the serenity of his meditations. In attempting Des Le Febvre was to enter the sanctum of a man of Eufs à la Princesse he had unfortunately perpetrated an genius"-but then it was only the man of genius who Omelette à la Reine-the discovery of a principle in could duly estimate the merits of the sanctum. A sign Ethics had been frustrated by the overturning of a consisting of a vast folio swung before the entrance. stew—and last, not least, he had been thwarted in one On one side of the volume was painted a bottle--on the of those admirable bargains which he at all times took reverse a Paté. On the back were visible in large let-such especial delight in bringing to a successful termiters the words Œuvres de Bon-Bon. Thus was deli-nation. But in the chafing of his mind at these unaccately shadowed forth the two-fold occupation of the proprietor.

countable vicissitudes, there did not fail to be mingled a degree of that nervous anxiety which the fury of a boisterous night is so well calculated to produce. Whistling to his more immediate vicinity the large black water-dog we have spoken of before, and settling himself uneasily in his chair, he could not help casting a wary and unquiet eye towards those distant recesses of the apartment whose inexorable shadows not even the red fire-light itself could more than partially succeed

Upon stepping over the threshold the whole interior of the building presented itself to view. A long, lowpitched room of antique construction was indeed all the accommodation afforded by the Café in the Cul-de-Sac Le Febvre. In a corner of the apartment stood the bed of the metaphysician. An array of curtains, together with a canopy à la Gréque gave it an air at once classic and comfortable. In the corner diagonally op-in overcoming. posite appeared, in direct and friendly communion, the Having completed a scrutiny whose exact purpose properties of the kitchen and the bibliothéque. A dish was perhaps unintelligible to himself, Bon-Bon drew of polemics stood peacefully upon the dresser. Here closer to his seat a small table covered with books and lay an oven-full of the latest ethics--there a kettle of papers, and soon became absorbed in the task of reduodecimo melanges. Volumes of German morality touching a voluminous manuscript, intended for pubwere hand and glove with the gridiron—a toasting fork lication on the morrow.