The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-08-24
TIE LADIES' FRIEND.
ON FEMALE READING.

johnson very justly remarks, III one CT the
Ramblers, "'rhat so much has been already
written by the wise and good, that the wri.
ters of the present age can have no claim to
originality. All can hope, is, to excite Gu
riosty enough in the young and enquiring
mind, to induce some to read and re-rcad,
search and e-search the excellent works,
which the British writers of the last century
have produced. know it is scarcely posi-
BILE for me to recommend Il virtue which has
not been recommended, or make one moral
reflection Which has not been made. Who
has not recommended modesty, in dress and
manner, from the Apostolic to the present
age? Whe does not approve of such recon-
mendations! Who does not acknowledge
that the honor of the female sex, and the
moral recitude of all, depends greatly on the
observance of them! Yet how few are any
farther influenced by them than to acknowl.
edge they are just? How few take the meas
ures to have conduct comport with their
acknowledged views of what is righp We
NAV we'll inquire into the reasons of such IN
consistent conduct.
Reading improper books, conceive to be
one obvious reason. Girls, who read many
wrought romances, light poems. and
self written biographies, where vice is
smoothed over as audible weakness, and vir
tue held up as unattainabe, till age has chill
ed our feelings, and acute distress checked
every flight of imagination; girls, who read
such books, repeat, will have great APP
pearance of skill, as to style and sentiment,
will talk rapidly, will deligh: the superficial
of both sexes, and being thus admired, their
vanity is increased, they eagerly repair a
cain and again to the vitiated source, whence
their every day knowledge is drawn, and,
feeling satisfied with their improvements, to
the discipline Of severer studies, If attempt.
ed. produces little effect.--They are even
taught to despse those, who, by application
to useful books, and silent attention to good
conversation, are quietly advancing to a
higher exercise of intellect. Works OF i'm
| apination may be read, but they should be
works of pure imagination. Young ladies
should not read at ALL what they may not
read at any time, and in any company. Nat
urally prone to evil, the human mind is far
| more apt to retain bad than good impress
sions There is less danger in woman's be-
ing destitute of imagination and sentiment,
than of her being hurried into iinprudence
BY the one, and into ridiculous extravaganza
by the other. 1t ought, therefore, to be the
business Of instructors, to bring sentiment to
the subsection of Reason, and to curb imag-
ipation with the reins of Judgment. To do
this, what some call dry, tough reading is
necessary. 1t lifts the reader from sensation
to intellect; it corrects or banishes frivoty
it produces habit of reflection: it fills the
mind with wholesome food, leaving no room
for the luxuries of folly. And, let me re
peat, correct the heart. and the dress and
department will be such as ''Virtue's sell
might choose"
Such reading will conhne us within our al.
lotted sphere, will methodist our minds, viii
enable us to bear with equanlmity, the petty
and perplexing trials peculiar to our station
in society, and thus make us what we ought
to be, cheerful, delicate and rational com
panions and friends.