Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-08-11
WON 1 ".


If christianity may be said to have
given IA permanent elevation to woman,
as an intellectual and moral being, it is
as tue, that the present age, above all
others, has gwen play to her genius, ,and
taught us to ieve. ence its influence
I was the fashion OF other times TO
treat the literary requirements Of the
sex, as starched pedantry, or vain pre-
tensions; to stI9matZe them as incOn-
slsteut with those domestic affections
and virtues, v hlch constitute the Charm
of society. We had abundant homiiIcs
READ upon their amiable Weaknesses
and sentimental declicacy, upon their
tisn!d geu;,"ness and submissive depend
ence, as ii To taste the fruit of know-
edge were a deadly sin, and ignorance
were the sole guardian Of innocence.--
Their whO.e lives were sicklIed DER
with the pale cast OF thought;' and con-
cealmeDt of intellectual power was Of
tcnre oried to, to escape the danger
Gus lmputation of masculine strength
In the higher walks oi life, the sa lrist
was not without colour for the suggest
ION, that II was Il youth Of folly, an old
age Of caro5,' and that elsewhere, 'most
women had no character at all, beyond
that of purity and devotion to their
families. Admirable as are these quail
tiles, II seemed an abuse of the gift Of
Providence, to deny to mothers the
power of instructIng their children, to
wives the privilege of sharing the intel
lectual pursuits of their husbands, to
sisters and daughters the delight of
mlnistcrlng knowledge in the freside
circle, to youth and beauty the charm
of refined sense, to age and inlirmity,
the consolation ni studies which elevate
the soul, and gladden. the listless hours
Of despoudency.
These things have in a great measure
passed away. The preludces which
dishonoured the sex, had yielded to the
influence Of truth. by slow and sure
advances, education has extended itself
through all ranks of female society,"
There is no o' ger any dread, lest the
culture Of science should foster tina mas
culine bodness, or restless indepen-
dence which alarms by its saIles, cor
wounds by Inconsistencies. Ne have
seen that here as every where else,
knowledge is favourable to human vr-
tue and human happiness; that the re-
finement Of literature adds Iustre to the
devotion of piety; that true learning,
like true taste, is modest and unostenta-
tious; that grace Of manner, receives
higher polish from the discipline OF the
schools; that cultivated genius sheds a
cheering light over domestic duties, and
its very sparklos, like those Of the dia-
mond, attest at once its purity. There
is not rank OF female soc c,cty, however
high, which does not now pay homage
to literature, or that would not blush
even at the suspicion OF that ignorance,
which, a half century ago, was neither
uncommon nor discrcdi,able. There i.
not a parent, whose pride nav not glow
at The thought, that his daughters hap
piness is IN a great measure within her
own command, whether she keeps the
cool sequestcred vale of life, or visits the
busy walls of fashion.
A new path is thus open for female
exertion, to alleviate the pressure of
misfortune, without any supposed sacri-
flee of dignity or modesty. Man no
lonee, aspires to an exclusive dominion
in authorship. IIe has rivals or alies
in almost every department ofknowledge;
and they are to be found among those.
whose elegance Of manners and blame
lessness of life command his respect as
much as their talents excite his admra-
ton Who is there that does not con-
template with enthusiast, the precious
fragments Of Elizabeth Smith, thc VEN
cradle learning Of Hannah Mourc the
persuasive sense Of Mrs. Barbauld, the
elegant memoirs Of her accomplished
niece, the bewitching fictions Of Mad
anne D'Arblay, the vivid picturesque,
and terrific imagery of Mrs Radcliffe,
the glowing poetry Of Mrs. Hemans, the
matchless wit, the inexhaustiblc conycr-