Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1825-05-04


viz" Most women have no character at ALL"
consider one ofthe highest compliments that
can De paid US. Does any man of sense wish
to be interrupted with, That is my opinion"
or, " think thus and So" as if woman had
any right to form an opinion of her own. No,
she should be all gentleness, all condescen-
sion, and, by falling in with the opinions of
those around her, she will doubtless adopt
tar more correct ones than she would be capa-
BILE of forming.
do not believe women were made to think
much-it is enough for theln to study to
please. Yes, "sweetly to speak and sweetly
smile be thine" is the tenor of most of the
language addressed by your sex to ours, and
upon this principle have acted. The time
which Euphemia has squandered in commit
ting hard names to memory, have bestowed
upon my own pretty self, and have succeeded
in acquiring the reputation of Ito me, the
most enchanting OF all epithets,) the handsom-
est girl in the village. Besides, am called
very amiable, for, whenever a sentiment is
offered, always smile, look pretty, and say
yes. Never was there seen (in Company a
cloud on my brow, and. though say it that
should not say it, lhave made more conquests
than all the would-be Blue Stockings in the
County. Indeed, have ever considered that
when young lady begins to aspire after liter
airy fame, her day Of conquest is over and it
was very reasonable imagination of Euphe.
mia's, that she ccuM soon claim place among
The elderly class of maiden ladies, nor was it
less so, for her to imagine that the young GENTLE
men approached her uith hesitation, forI have
often heard them declare there was nothing
fhou 1Yo cd LODI u.
dread some have shrewdiy suspected was ow-
ing to tincture of jealousy or the fear of hav-
ing an equal, which think is altogether false !;
but, be that as it may, the fact is certain, par
ticulary with regard to literary men who, you
know, are always sneering at those pedantic
girls who presume to invade their privileges
by engaging in such masculine pursuits as stud
ying chemistry, history and botany, and pro-
nouncing those awful names. Stalactstes!
what word for lady's mouth. Never yet
have attempted to speak it, nor did dare to
write it without having the Spy before me to
look at conclude it must be Latin, and
probably the name of one of those hundred
plants which she had learned by rote.
But / have no patience 10 follow Euphemia
through all her absurdities, and, were it
not for a few lurking traits, which she betrays
in spite of her arrogance, should renounce
her as disgrace TO my sex. For instance, In
her dream, while conversing with the collegi-
an, and contemplating, in imagination, her
own appearance, the blue stocking was tor
gotten ana the satin slipper :emembered-the
pedant yielded-the woman triumphed. The
idea, at that moment, OIL seeing her foot invel-
oped in hideous blue stocking, would have
shocked her worse than the whole weight Of
the enyious girl, and disguised her with the
name forever. In recounting her qualifca-
lions Tor admission, too, she enumerates some
which are strictly feminine. What young la
dy of sensibility would not blush to confess
she could not sing one of Moore's songs.
These few traces, which are yet discoverabie,
induce me to hope that she may be made SEN
sible of her error, and persuaded to relinquish
the vain idea of distinguishing herself by any
endowments Of the mind. Nature designed
your sex for the lords of creation, and educa-
ton and custom have confirmed the design.
OF this superiorty,you are fully sensible you
have asserted it, you will maintain it; and
all our attempts to burst the bonds and exalt
ourselves nearly to level with you in the
scale of intellectual being, will prove as futile
as the struggles ofthe captive, which, instead
of restoring his freedom, only renders him more
sensible of his bondage, by the calling of his
letters and the canking OF his chains.
The animating hope, that might yet per-
suade the wanderer to return to the path of
duty and interest, and possibly deter others
from deviating from it, has prompted me, for
once, to forego my accustomed delicacy, and
suffer my name, (oh sickening thought) to APP
pear in print. But, be assured that am, for
the last, as well as the first time, your cores
pendent, ARDELIA.
The Is Worceetar Counfv Soc;oty A,v;l;,rr