Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-12-13
FEMALE CHARACTER.

philosopher, mat seeing a nuWDer OI
females hanging on the branches Of an
olive tree, he exclaimed, 80 that every
tree would produce such Fruit" The
cynic undoubtedly intended his exclaIna-
ton as a sneer; and his want, not ~ say
of charity, but Of respect for the sex, in
daces US to concur in opinion with those
who have thought that his tub would not
bear too close an examination. Indeed
we may naturally and honestly suspect
any ones motives in an eccentric course
OF life, who like Diogenes, have been
expatriated for coming false money, or
who subsequently endeavour to palm of
oddly for genus, or brutal Indifference
for philosophy.
There are not wanting, in our "
days, those who have thought lightly OF
the sex, and who, from the obliquity OF
"a few, have inferred the general delin-
quency OF the whole. We will mo- be
SO sparing Of charity even to the un-
charitable, as to suppose their opinions
are predicated wholly on prejudice, or
been compounded with study and Obser-
walton. But while we concede that there
may be many instances Of depravity, Of
turpiiude, nay even Of the wretched i'm
becility, from which such sentiments
may by apparent honesty have been de-
duced, il will be our e%ndcavour in the
few remarks we have to make, TO res
cue the sex from the stigmas and false
accusations which have b en- so illiber-
ally and wantonIy thrown upon them.
We are not Of the number of those
who, in their fulsome hattery, or their
unfettered enthusiasm, in di3crimir. ately
heap ~eulogium and panegyric upon the
sex. Nor would we commend oursel-
YES to their smiles by turgid hyperpole,
or terms Of unqualified commentator.
They have their failings and their weak
ness, as a sex, and the perversions Of
habit or Of nurture may swell them to
bloated dimensions. But in general
hose %failinss afe not too large for the
cloak Of charity, and their very weak
n~esses, from the constitution of our ma
ture are the. bonds by which they are
peculiarly endeared to US.
There is one essential trait in the fe-
male character, that enters largely into
her loneliness, without which a mascu-
line tone appears, which is wholly in
consistent with natural delicacy. We
shall be anticipated in the remark, that
this il an amiable disposition. We
know that mankind in general consider
ed this trait as entitled to faint praise,
because the quality has often been as
cribed 10 those who have little else to
recommend them; and to say Of a per-
% that he is an amiable man, has been
CO nstrued into a tacit concession that
the powers of his mind are either natu-
rally weak. or have accid "ntally been
impaired. The injustice of such a con-
%clusion we are not called upon to dis
cuss = it will readily appear 10 all who
take into consideration the particulars
which render the disposition such as
we have mentioned. 1t is not a single
virtue, residing in the heart, from which
like SC many native streams, the benev-
client feelings Of our nature flow, but
rather a congregation Of virtues, regula-
ting the judgement, the temper, and the
feelings. The hasty and the passion
ate, the malicious and the revengeful,
are hurried into excess, by an obedience
to the suggestions of phrensied feeling,
a monitor, whose voice is stifed by the
uproar Of contending emotions. But
the folly, as we'll as the fatal effects Of
passion, is abhorred by those who take
10 account the motives of them, and
are willing that charity should see mis-
guided zeal, where passion can hold
nothing but Intentional error. Indeed,
the whole virtue Of an amiabIe dIsposit-
ion consists in a sort of clear-sighted
charity, which is more ready to suspect
the accuracy Of its own vision, than to
view the actions of mankind through the
optics of malevolent feelings. And
thus we find that the sex in whom this
quality [caIled frequently, but falsely, a
weak minded virtue, pre-eminent'y re-
sides, are less willing TO lend a ready
ear to the hints of hatred and suspicion
to the suggestions of envy and jealousy,
and to the exaggerated tales which TEEN
from u perverted understanding, or a
misguided heart.
From the view We have taken Of this
quality, so essential to the perfection Of
female character, it will clearly be seen
what confidence is to be reposod in the
opinions, and what Difference is due to
the motives Of those who represent an
amiable disposition as the offspring Of
imbecility Of mind. Shall we call the
monarch of the forest weak, because he
renders at best but a surly obeisance to
the breeze, while we dignity the plant
rush with the characteristics OF strength
and excellence, because it "bends its
body if tho wind but carelessly nod on