Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1827-12-01

so found able aud eloquent advocate in a wri- |
ter four own day, whose researches III an Essa |
under the title OF the g Old Bachelor" display
much ingenuity and talent--by no means discre-
di;able TO the subsequent reputation and present
standing of that distinguished urist aud orator
But laying aside those endless discussions and ir-
reconclleable differences TO the Tree iit,r and
source of geans,--it does not appear, bat that IL
IL alter all dispute about terms. For whether
genius be born with u.s. or may be subsequently,
infused, it is evident that the genius OF man is of
different complexion and character from that of
woman. The one is OF the SOFT amablc and
fascinating kind, which adorns retirement and
adds lastre 10 polished sooiety-the ether is of
that lofty, rough, un5ending nature, which is we'll
calculated to sustain the shocks and struggle
through the difficulties OF a chequcred existence,
but Which needs the sweet biandishment Of wo-
pnan 70 soften it down into something gem
Ter ana moro al aii. ara
lbNi5ss al,ii distinct, do they 5oiiis is con-
tact, and II would Therefore be fruitleSs to al "a
cuss their relative superiority as it would to at
Cue the superiority of the fierce eagle over the
mild and timid dove lrom lis loitor soar and
nightier prowess. The sphere OF the one is not
the sphere OF the other. fhe line OF demarka-
ton is distinctly drawn 10y the hand of nature
self aud each may excel in those branches which
fail within its proper and peculiar tract
However rejecting mind may estimate the
present system OF female education, there is great
cause Tor his cOngratuation in the reg,,llr and
progressive Advancement ~ the female character
from colnpa alive state of degradaiou 10 ts pre-
sen, state oil refinement Notwithstanding the
astonishing height which tho human mind had at
| tanned in the glorious days oCapcient Greece
thai nurturny mother OF science and of arL--the
degraded state Of her females exhibited nclati-
cho!y contrast to tho iiteiectul superiority of her
intelligent citizens ! sufficient proof of this IL
tae cst;-antion n,-t,ich their, courtezaus were
nel', and the consequent separation Of moral rec
,.tude rom the idea Of female purity. The spen-
dor and magnldcence OF that class astonished us
Oh modern days they openly lspired 70 tlle Lirh.
est linla.'H1-. li-are- rasnecicd by phiioso9Lers
statesmen, and orator5 and when lead were ~
'lorHi "hh majestic and stately mausoer,ps-
:'uch was the state public opinion on This sub
Iect, and even the reputation OF Socrates b;,l i.
was not at ailIImInIshcd among his coutet,nora.
res, because he delighted To Withdraw FROM tle
aignhed seats OF philosophy to the conversation
ot the elegant and accomplished Aspasia. Tic
erect ohsuch code of morality UPON tho condition
oil Wo2lan IS obvious Rome was Hide he,ter
man oreeeo IN this respect and Persia woys.
nan elmer Their females were DEGRADED bofb
~ ltil'icai and moral point CT vew-and if we
'Ha SESto splendid exceptions To this fltDra ,,ad
7oh'i''.oi, 'hey only serves ak liahts IL, tie NH,
y dense darkness, torender the general derrada-
ton Iae more conspicuous and painful
"hch christianity shed It's benion inGuance
upon the world, ai,d eNhilitod man in a relirions
as wen as political end moral lisht, the female
''"ha gfaInaiiy rose TO lis proper deni,y ana, as
sumed that elevated station which lie ,,t,,I;'. @
celence demanded. Ii is somewhat remarkable
tnough read'ly accounted fo-, that at the neriod
"heh manH'nd was sunk in the darkness Of ono
rance and superstition, the female character be-
came Suddenly elevated and shone forth W; IN in
creasno lnstre. 1t was in the middle of f|,a dark
ages, IAN era distinguished by the gospel biootry
ana ianatacisn, when an institution. which final
~ broke through this universal darkness and point
ed the way to knowledge and liberty was founded
, upo" respect and love for the softer sex ii
was at this period, when the grossest sperst;tons
we're swallowed by degraded and infatuated
people, and all power and wish to detect error
fad ceased to exist, that fcmale virtue was sacred
ans. tomato character veneratcd and Ioyed,-i
was then that man regarded it among his biThest
Priyeges to defend the rights and asoire =, ,Ee
lav2r Of p woman. These were the days when we