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Literary
July 31, 1880
The Indianapolis Leader
Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana
What is this article about?
An essay exploring true love as deep empathy and devotion, particularly in the American girl who works tirelessly for her beloved. It explains her apparent coldness as a protective armor due to her freedom and exposure to society, maintaining her spotless independence.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
True Love.
Do you know what it is so to live upon a person who is present with you that your eyes follow his; that you read his soul; that you see all the changes in his countenance; that you anticipate his wishes; that you smile in his smile, and are sad in his sadness and are downcast when he is vexed, and rejoiced at his successes. You may appreciate or return it. Yet, generally speaking, undemonstrative as the American girl may be, she will wear her life out in working for the man she loves. She forgets all about being for him in that merciless energy which always drives her into doing for him.
There is, again, another reason why the American girl seems cold to the superficial observer. It is because she is free. She is educated to repress emotion, because her independent movements expose her to contact with men of all classes, among whom there are many very "vile persons." Her coldness of demeanor, therefore, is her armor against impertinence or even worse things. She passes, Diana-like, through crowds of men every day, not one of whom for one instant suspects her of being other than she is, because her manner shows her at once to be a free-born, spotless American woman. They never dream that because no one is watching her she means to go astray.
Do you know what it is so to live upon a person who is present with you that your eyes follow his; that you read his soul; that you see all the changes in his countenance; that you anticipate his wishes; that you smile in his smile, and are sad in his sadness and are downcast when he is vexed, and rejoiced at his successes. You may appreciate or return it. Yet, generally speaking, undemonstrative as the American girl may be, she will wear her life out in working for the man she loves. She forgets all about being for him in that merciless energy which always drives her into doing for him.
There is, again, another reason why the American girl seems cold to the superficial observer. It is because she is free. She is educated to repress emotion, because her independent movements expose her to contact with men of all classes, among whom there are many very "vile persons." Her coldness of demeanor, therefore, is her armor against impertinence or even worse things. She passes, Diana-like, through crowds of men every day, not one of whom for one instant suspects her of being other than she is, because her manner shows her at once to be a free-born, spotless American woman. They never dream that because no one is watching her she means to go astray.
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Love Romance
Social Manners
Liberty Freedom
What keywords are associated?
True Love
American Girl
Devotion
Independence
Repressed Emotion
Social Armor
Literary Details
Title
True Love.
Key Lines
Do You Know What It Is So To Live Upon A Person Who Is Present With You That Your Eyes Follow His; That You Read His Soul; That You See All The Changes In His Countenance; That You Anticipate His Wishes; That You Smile In His Smile, And Are Sad In His Sadness And Are Downcast When He Is Vexed, And Rejoiced At His Successes.
Undemonstrative As The American Girl May Be, She Will Wear Her Life Out In Working For The Man She Loves.
Her Coldness Of Demeanor, Therefore, Is Her Armor Against Impertinence Or Even Worse Things.
She Passes, Diana Like, Through Crowds Of Men Every Day, Not One Of Whom For One Instant Suspects Her Of Being Other Than She Is, Because Her Manner Shows Her At Once To Be A Free Born, Spotless American Woman.