Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-05-31

al the age when they leave our common
schools, who would suspect, from theil
appearance, a disparity in intellect on the
part of girls; and were they to pursue
literature till the age of FIVE and twenty
with equal advantages, cxcitemen,s ant
prospects, who can doubt their euua
attainmen,s !? Blu, about the age of four
teen or fifteen great reverse usual,
takes place. Boys, having acquired tht
rudlments Of learning, are sent 10 higher
schools, where they might be expected
to take large strides in knowledge ana
the expansion of their minds but girls
spend the most # their time either il
company or domestic employ ments. II
the gaety and dissipation of fashionable
life, or the hurry of domestic affairs
their useful books are toe often neglect
ed Till they lose relish for them, ant
substitute novels and plays in their room
or entirely relinquish reading. And il a
young lady is continued longer in school
her attention is usually directed to &C.
quirements little calculated to enlarge
her mind. After several years so differ.
emily spent, how should we expect the
sc ool companions formerly, won Id com.
pare in intellectual endowmen,s Do.
nestle employments, the particular de-
partment OF females, are peculiarly cal.
culated to contract the mind. The dai.
iy routine of business is a concentration
OF trltles, which must each, in turn, re.
celve attention. The accounts are Of the
smallest class, seldom extending higher
than units and tens. And these trifle,
assume importance in her view, by the
arrangement which inatten,ion to any
one of them, or mismanagement, occa.
sions.
In the multitude of useful inventions
which mark this age, it has been asked,
why have not females demonstrated their
possession of equal abilities, by produ-
cling their share of discoveries But to
expect this, if they were sufficiently SCI
entihc, withou, the necessary requisites
al Familiarity with the manufacture al
metals, and skill in the use Of tools,
would be requiring =" brick without
straw" and almost without, mortar.
Wilton, ex animation, it NAV be thought
the scriptures declare the mental inieri
osily OF ie,.,.l les, but, with attention, this
wilIappear mistako. They consider
woman, the weaker vessel, needing pro-
lection. Who can doubt that the weak i.
ness Of her corporal frame is here in
tended She is likewise commanded to
be in subsection to her husband. What
does this injunction imply but that their
capacities are SO equal that either could
direct, but that, for the sake of uniformi-
ty and peace, the sacred decision was
made, and power delegated where the
greater responsibility was conferred In
the investigation Of this subject we must
guard assins, being swayed in Judgment
by associaling the acknowledged weak :
ness of the corporeal frame Of females
with inferior capacity, in proportion
Every days experience might convince
us that this relation does not exist.
Doubtless the delicacy of the female
constitution is conferred Tor the wisest
reasons. We do not consider the female
heart as possessing, BY nature, superior
goodness, and if her soul were lodged in
a masculine tenement, where should we
find that unfailing tenderness, that I'M
firing patience, which render her pre-
siding angel OF mercy to chase, soothe
and smile away the mserles Of mankind ?
Where the maternal assiduity which is
eInblingly alive in every nerve, and
forsakes not from infancy to old age,
constituting in lis results the Grmest Sc.
curly for virtuous conduct? Add to
this, the superior refinement Of taste, ge-
nerally allowed to we'll educated fe-
males, for which they are doubtless in
debted to The de!icacy Of their conslitu-
ton, which renders their perceptions
more clear, and the correctness of their
disccrnment, in some cases, almost ap-
preaching TO intuition, and shall we not
adore and bless that Wisdom which has
so appropriately qualified all, and as
signed them their peculiar parts in lie
The imbecili,y of the female constitu-
ton may account for the timidi,y which
is proverbial Of the sex; but the in
stances are numerous in which reason
has triumphed over fear, and superior
for,iude, perseverance and courage have
been displayed by ladies Of the most de.
licate form. In another respec, the SEN
sbility Of females has excited preju-
dice against their judgment; they often
speak and &C, suddenly, from the impulse
Of the moment. and on reflection, blush
for their indiscreetness, while digpiied,
fortunate man stands composed, and as
reason directs, he obeys, and then with
complacency compliments his superior