Jenks' Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1803-1805, 1804-12-10

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IN the accounts, which travellers and hif.
torians have given us of favage nations, nothing
more powerfully 'exeites our indignation, than
the treatment Of their women. We regard with
mingled detefatfot and contempt, beings, who
dilhonor the name Of men by tyranniGng over
weakhefs, patience, and fibmilion and blufh
indignantly al the difgrace, their conduct re-
fects on our fex. We condemn them at once,
as monitors of cruelty and barbarty; while We
contemplate with the utnfoa complacency cur
own refinement, tenderness, and gcnero(ty.
But perhaps little reflection nay induce US to
Judge the poor favages with lefs feverity, and to
entertain lefs exalted ideas Of our fupcriority in
this 'rctpef. 1t may convince us, that our con-
dud towards the fair is more reprehenfible,
with lefs execute and, that il they doom them
10 hunger, pain, and fatigue, we with more re-
fined cruelty torture their feelings, fport with
their regulations, and deitroy their honor, their
virtue, and their happinefs |; and that their fit.
aation in favagc life, bad, as it is, is yet in fomc
rcfpeess more eligible, than that, which they
hold in civilized fociety. 81
The cafe indeed at firia view appears very
different. Woman is apparently, not only the
chcfcn friend and compahion Of man, but the
dire6trefs of his motions, and the arbitreis Of
his fate. She is careaed, courted, and afmoff
adored. The homage, lhe receives, is moi. lefs
frequent, or Gncere, than thar, which is offered
It the Urine Of wealth and power. Eier ecret
influence, IKE the hidden moi!turc, which decks
the earth with flowers and verdure, gives to 70
ciety its po.ifll and IT'S charms. Adorned by ma
ture with fenibility. delcacy, tate, and beauty,
furrounded by numerous train Of loves and
graees, fhe fecms being Of fupericf order, the
connecting link between angels and men.
This however is the bright fIdc of the picture.
Revere it, and the delu6on vanifhes. The falfe
fplendor, by which -ihe rs furroupdcd, like that
attendant on royalty, invites attacks, but afiiits
not to repel them. The height to which ffie
is railcd, renders her fall more durc and more ia
tai. The dangerous and gIttering ornaments,
in which Che is arrayed, ike the extended boughs
and luxuriant foliage Of the monarch Of the for
eft, expofcs her more to the dearcying blaR
The refpe6f, Difference, and attention, with
which ihc is treated, lead herto conGder man
as her natural guide, friend, and protector.
Selooks to him for inffrutton anc he corrupss
her mind by ARTERY. She relies on him for
fafety; and he becomes her mott dangerous en-
envy. She fruits to his honor for Happiness, and
is irrcsrcvably undone. His end accomplifhed,'
ne throws offkhe maik |, and the wretched VIC
rim OF his treachery. fripped at once of every
thing valuable, baniihed from fociety. and over
whelned with fcorn, derifion, and reproach. can
only expect relief, where /" the wicked ceafe
from troubling and the weary are at reR.'
Should fhe fortunately efcape the fnares, that
ars laid for her virtue, ihe has other dangers to
encounter. other fcencs of diftrcfs and anx-
iety TO iuffcr. Thofe, whole bafe deGsns have
been fruftrated, will ai1ail her character with
Aander and defamation to revenge the difap-
pontn,ent and the consequences Of the lofts Of
reputation are title efs fatal, than thoe, attend
an: on the forfeiture Of her virtue. Others,
by pretending PATTON Of which they are incapa-
bic, engage her affections, and then leave her to
endure the pangs Of disappointed love, victim
TO criminal and con.cmptibls. vanity.
Nor does it unfrequeutly happen, that her
happiness is deftroysd by thpie, who ieek her
favor, from more innocent motives. Man rs
capracous and inconitant, heedlels of the uhifc-
nv, he occaiiohs, where his own comfort IS NOT
concerned. Naughty and jealous in this diipo-
Elton, the ieait fympto,ns Of neglect or OF cold
nefs in the Object Of his affections, throws him
into paroxifm of rage. AS it is amp oilibie for
the mof guarded frmaie prudsrce TO avoid ev-
cry appearance of this nature. even where real
love prevails, initances of fuch conduct in men
are not unfrequent. For the honor ofmy TEX
wilh it were otherwife. But have we never
met with brutes in human fhapes, who, TO re-
vense an imaginary injury, have not icrupled to
expoie to public view the ientiments Of unfTpec-
ing confidence, and by the mott feandalous and
diab ,llcal faiihoods cndeavored to deilroy the
reputation OF lovely and innocent female,
whole only error was in receiving the addrciFrs
If a coBteinrtib.c william.
Are freh the niighty advantages which won,-
an derives from the reiincu,ents Of focety OF
what avail is il, that il is copiidcrcd unmanly to
nTikc ~ iaflh sacm, while, with conhaency