Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1828-06-13
ygs1ILll!lSDih(L!LA MEG, U.S.
FEMALE INFLUENCE.

1t is truly surprising, that, amid all that has been
said. and written, and done, to suppress intemper-
ance 50 little aid has been expected, or rather so
little aid solicited, of the female sex.Ihis cannot
have arisen from any doubt Of their willingness. or
contemptaous estimate of their influence nor from
belief that they have immediate interest in the
extirpation Of this destroyer of human happiness.
Nothing is evident than the fact, that females
hold as strong control over the habits and morals
of the community as masculine auhority--nav, that
they are capable of surprising its utmost sway.
They have not only the privilege of imbuing the
minds of children with the choicest sentiments of
virtue.-moulding them by unwearied assdulty in
to whatever shape Or impressing them with what
image they please but they exercise at later pc
riod, over youth, and manhood, and old age, spell
which is hard to be broken.-They have merely to
will it-not by an arbitrary mandate, or the assump-
tfon of power-but by the irresistible force of their
sweet eloA uence-by the unceasing circumstances
of flia love and parental afection--by the tender
applications of hearts bound up in the welfare of
husband, or child, or brother-and the decanter will
no longer dishouor the sde-board nor the demiiohn
occupy the closet. 1t cannot be asserted with too
much earnestness that the use of ardent spirits may
be overcome in every dwelling, by the judicous ex-
ercise of female influence. The struggle perhaps
may be protracted for months and years ;-but the
probability is, that it will be Shorthand the certain
ty, that it will prove victorious.
And who. it may be asked, are more deeply in
terested in the overthrow of ntemperance than fe
males. who arc so often the innocent, unoffending.
hear t-broken victims of its WRATH Whose happi-
ness is often wrecked upon its treacberous shoa
or whelmed in its fiery flood, BY entwnng it around
an individual who after wedlock combines in his
character the sot with the husband A drunkard-
unconnected by any ties, and alone in his iniquty
lis pest and burden to society polsoner of Joy
wherever he moves the enemy of virtue, and the
| brutal assailant of heplessness. But welded to a
woman who he has promised, under an obligation
the most Solemn and binding to honor, to cherish 4
protect-a woman, whose spirit like the sensitive
plant. droops at the slightest touch of violence and
whose affections are of such a nature, that though
they cannot be uprooted by the blasts of adversely
yet they but create ament for grief-what can bt
more unnatural in its nature, or affecting in its as
pect, or terrible in its consequence, than such
union ? We may canvass the world for its victims
of woe-so down into the solitude of the dungeon
where the light of heaven has never gladdened thu
eye of the prisoner, its pure air entered to re
Ileve his labourcd breath-accurately measure tn
sufferngs of those who bleed under the lash of tn
task master, or groan under the iron bondage of OPP
pressiun-but where shall one be found, deserving
r more COMMUNICATION than the female who is doome
D to waste an existence with drunken husband
e whose agony more intense-whose hope more DIES
perate P-What horror to live through life with
monster. whose heart is filled with bitterness, who's
lips with cursing !-with wretch, sunk below tn
brute creation in his unceanly habits and outrageou
conduct---lost to every thing ennnbling beautifl
: and glorious having vitality enough to signify exit
e tence, without the consciousness of accountablit
: to God or man And yet, what numbers OF haI
less, or!orn wives, in every village and town an
e CITY, are pining under this accursed connection
e We cannot but express our surprise, therefore
assmilated as is domestic enjoyment with temp
rate household, that appeals to the females of OF
country soliciting their cooperation IN the work
reform, are so ,tHfrequent. We know, indeed, tn
4 thew have not been entirely forgoten--they HAY
d occasionally occupied place in the various essa,
,r and addresses which have been published upon Il
h subject of intemperance but in view OF what the
are capable of accomplishing, and OF their II
mense influence over the habits of men, they hay
not received due share of attention.
: A full and proper exercise of their power Is d
srabe, as well to promote their dearest interests
;. the welfare of others. There may be found, ev
Oh IN their own circles, much room for improvement
ne the use of stimulating drink and atippling woma
re OF all spectaces in the world is the most abhorre
U.s. But we wave the occasional appearance this vi
re among the degraded of their number, to mpre
e. upon them, as beautiful body, the proximity viii
~ exist between its decension and their future WeaI
IL The stigma of drunkenness has never been taste
ed upon their general character; yet, is 1t not
be apprehended, that, by perpenating the cust(
! of presenting refreshments to visitors in the M
"s captivating forms, they doing more to uph'
~ the cause of inemperance than its openly avow
4 votaries2 They have erred, and still continue
~ err in esteeming this an act of friendship and h
Ter pitality--It forms no part of gentty 1t crea
, IT, no yirtuous esteem though many imagine it will p'
ny chase golden opinions of ones own polteness.
argues nothing of wealth, because cordials and s
rits are cheaper than bread-stuf.
The fortunes of men are uncertain as the wiz
and clouds Of Heaven.
The past events are as clear as mirror
future as obscure as VarnIsh,