LADIES AMBITIOUS AXD ASPIRIXG. 291 



In a little town upon a small island, from our position on the 

 outside, perhaps we were inclined to be cynical and uncharitable, 

 when we allowed ourselves to be amused at the apparent official 

 and social exaltation of some of its more favored people. If the 

 Governor at times seemed to us a little airy; if the young, newly- 

 ajjpointed and freshly imported Chief Justice, who blossomed 

 out in a scarlet robe of office and a wig, (judicial toggery before 

 unknown upon the judicial bench of Nassau,) seemed to us much 

 more elated than any Chief Justice we had seen in the States; 

 ]f the Bishop sported titles but little in harmony with the humble 

 and modest spirit of the Apostles of the olden times; and if to 

 our superficial view '* the upper classes" appeared somewluU, 

 proud, supercilious and exclusive, it may have been becaiise at 

 the time we failed to remember that tliey were only exhibiting 

 ti'aits of character common to our race in all parts of the world; 

 that they were playing the game of life, as it is everywhere played, 

 only the stage upon which the chief actors performed their several 

 parts was relatively small and insignificant. 



But as we looked from our fpiiet nook upon the different phases 

 of life in Nassau, what astonished us most was the great desire, 

 which certain ladies from the States manifested to mingle on 

 terms of social equality with the aristocracy of Nassau, and to 

 receive attentions from officials with high sounding titles. The 

 poet is not correct when he affirms that 



"Women, like inottis, are ever eatiirlil hy ujlare," 



though it is true lliat rliey tVe'iueiii ly ai'i', and a very large title 

 occasionally surrounds with an attractive and dazzling effulgence 

 small, bad, and repulsive men. As woman's sphere is domestic 

 and social, it was natural that the lady guests at Nassau, finding 

 themselves isolated and cut off from the outside world, should 



