Winchester gazette. [volume] (Winchester, Va.) 18??-1826, 1824-12-24
[From the Monthly Magazine of Oct. 1924
THE LADIES.

The critics of the fair sex tell us they are
vain, frivolous, ignorant, coquctish, capri
cious and what not. Unjust that we are
il is the fable of the Lion and the Man.
But since the ladies have become authors,
they can take their revenge, were they not
too generous for such passion. Though
they have learnt to paint, their sketches OF
man are gentle and kind.
But if the ladies are what surly nissan
thropes call them, who is to blame ? Is it
not we who spoil-who corrupt, who Sc
duce them
is it surprising that pretty woman
should be vain, when we daily praise to
her face her charms, her taste, and her wit?
Can we blame her vanity, when we tell
her that nothing can resist her attractions,
that there is nothing so barbarous which
she cannot soften,-nothing so elevated
that she cannot subdue when we tell her
that her eyes are brighter than day,-tlat
her form is fairer than summer,-more re.
freshing than spring,-that her lips are
vermillion,-that her skin combines the
wilderness of the lilly with the incarnation
of the rose?
DO we cenSure fine woman as frivo-
lous, when we INCREASINGLY tell her, that no
| other study becomes her but that of vary
| ing her pleasures that she requires no
talent but for the arrangement of new par
urs,-no ideas beyond the thought of the
afternoons amusement Can we blame
her frivolity, when we tell her, that the
| look of seriousness chases from her cheek
the dimple in which the Loves and the
Graces wanton that reflection clouds her
brow with care; and that she who thinks.
sacrifices the smile that makes beauty
charm and the gaiety that renders wit at
tractive?
How can a pretty woman fail to be 10
nurant. when the first lesson she is taught
is, that beauty supersedes and dispenses
with every other quality that all she
needs to know, is that she is pretty, that
! to be intelligent is to be pedantic; and
| that to be more learned than ones neigh
bour, is to incur the reproach of absurdity
and affectation
Shall we blame her for being coquette,
when the indiscriminate flattery OF every
man teaches her that the homage of one
70 90 SpOb 90 ti'tt vi tibOliiCt II 10 Tue
| same darts, the same flames, the same
beaux, the same coxcombs. The man OF
sense, when he attempts to compliment
recommends the art of the bean, since he
condescends to do with awkardness what
monkey can do with grace. With all
she is goddess, and to all men are equal
y mortals. How can she prefer, when
there is no superiority; or be constant
when there is no merit?
Is she capricious Can she be other
wise, when she hears that the universe
must be proud to wait her commands
that the utmost of lovers hopes, is to be
the humblest of her slaves,-that to fulfil
the least of her commands, is the highest
ambition Of her adorers.
And are men so unjust as to censure
the idols made by their own hands? Let
US be just; let US begin the work of re-
formation. When men cease to fatter
women will cease to deceive; when men
are wise, women are wise to please. The
ladies do not force the taste of the men
they only adapt themselves to it. They
may corrupt and be corrupted ;-they may
improve and be improved.