New Hampshire Statesman

MISCELLANY.

For the New-Hampshire Statesman.

ISMAEL, THE WILD ARAB, TO EBNSELAN.
LETTER IV.

What an inconsistent creature is man, Ebnselan?
more especially, when he chalks out to himself a way
and says, In this path will I walk, nor deviate from
the straight line. I know not how it is, whether
some invisible devil is continually at his elbow, and
directs his aberrations, or whether he is unwittingly
led astray by those of a tangible complexion ; be that
as it may, I must leave for the more knowing to de-
termine. In my last I told thee I would say to thee
no more of women ; but in truth that strain is more
in unison with my feelings than any other at present.
Thou wilt be astonished when I tell thee my visit to
the cousin was a gross imposition, a piece of pleas-
antry which was invented and practised upon thy
friend by a fellow-boarder for his amusement. The
lady-imp in question, is no more akin to him that
presented her as such, than an evil spirit to the an-
gel Gabriel. Of this more at some future period.
Thou wilt be amused when I tell thee I am trying
to withdraw my dislike from the ladies of this clime;
they in truth appear to have souls, and are consider-
ably advanced in the region of intellect. How dif-
ferent from the ladies of the east! There, well may
man be forgiven for considering them but a little
higher than his flocks and herds. The little lady, in
particular, that teases me every day, I can hardly re-
frain from admiring. I find, upon further acquaint-
ace, it arises from pure benevolence to amuse me;
and that she is not setting herself up for sale, as Is-
mael seriously apprehended, being already positively
disposed of, which ought to make him blush for en-
tertaining the supposition, that she was on the hunt
after the wild Arab; for so the son of Almonnah is
here stiled.
But do not enter into a presumption that my brain
is addled, or that I am over elated with the vain hon-
ors of this life, when I tell thee I have had many in-
vitations to the habitations of distinguished men,—
An honor bestowed upon thy servant, originating in
the love of novelty : it being an uncommon thing for
an Arab to visit this country. For although I almost
immediately adopted their ordinary costume, that
our national dress might not excite curiosity, I find
that my being an Arab is no secret. This is the rea-
son why I was so stared at by the women, which so
terribly provoked my spleen.
As for my ever marrying. or thinking of a wife
here, thou knowest is out of the question; but inas-
much as it comports with the dignity of my calling
I shall visit all classes of people indiscriminately.
whenever an opportunity permits; and as the women
so intermix in all parties with the men, I must neces-
sarily meet them. For wilt thou believe it. if an
Emir, or any other great man of this country, gives a
dinner. his wife and daughters, and other honorabl-
women are introduced to his table; neither is it an
uncommon affair for gentlemen to call at any of the
great houses, be the lord thereof absent or present:
and here entire strangers of either sex, chat as freely
together as brothers and sisters born of the same
mother.
To an Arab thou wilt think those practices must
seem indecent and abominable; but yet I declare to
thee that with the decrease of the novelty, the migh-
ty sense of the impropriety has disappeared. After
all said and done, we are, more than we are willing
to acknowledge, the creatures of habit and necessi-
ty; and I am verily persuaded, should thy friend Is-
mael visit another clime, where the inhabitants from
some reasonable motive went naked, he would im-
mediately adopt the mode, and pronounce it admira-
rable.

(To be continued.)