The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1828-07-24
MISCELLANY.
From the North American Review
'EMALE INFLUENCE ON CHILDREN

The power which well adapted books may
exert on the minds Of children. can haTdiy Do
stated in extrsyagant terms, and VIII De aiio"-
cd b. every one to be great. And when We
consider farther that early impressions, ,ihough
often weakened, are seldom entirely erased
The good seed on good ground affords an aDuh'
dant return at the harvest time that " the
child is father Of the man ;" and that strong
direction once given is long, and, IN MAJOR
ity Of cases, always retained and, 10 put ire
subject Ia one other point OF view, when we
consider that the mothers influence, winch,
next 10 the influence Of Heaven ltsef, IS the
best and dearest, md most heavenly, ana mas
been the most frequently and gratefully ac-
knuwledged by lie Ol lects, may be so eHeet'
ually aided in lis operations by the hints whlch
| the parent receives and the stores ofanxillary
! instruction and entertainment which ara plac-
ed at her disposal, in judiclous books tor chll-
dren, we shall regard such books not with
pleasure alone but with respect; we shall es'
| ieem il no act Of conde scenslon in ourselves, in
any one, to turn over their pages We shall
perceive more solid instruction, more beauty |
truth, power, in many n little work stitched !
up in coored paper, bearing simple WOOD cut
on each side, and thrown about the nursery
with as much freedom Of dissemination as the
most ardent republican could desire, than IN
many a proud octave, redoent OF Russia and
tenacious of its standing on shelves OF mabog'
any.
Such being the Importance ofjuvenile books,
who are best qualified to make them =! 10 tie
first question we answer, Women They are
the best qualified to make books for children,
WHO are the most in the company OF children;
= who have almost the sole care Of children
whose natural sympathles unite them most
, closely with children, even such OF them a.
have never been mothers themselves; who
best know the minds, the wants~the hearts OF
children and whose Tenderness and gentle
ness bend TO the ignorance of children and as
. simulate most easily and happily with Their
soft and confidlng natures The child IN lts
earlier years especially, has no guardian IKE
woman and can theI etore have no instructor
like woman
And, when we come TO answer the next
; question, who have really devoted their best
talents and most anxious care to the education
, of children who have written the best books
for and about children we are thankful we a
rain can answer, Women. Thirty years ago.
Of we had been IN existence then) we could
not hayo answered thus. We shOu have been
compelled to say, There are no books for chit
dren these important members ofthe human
family arc destitute; this immensely valuable,
! and infinitely fertile field, lies neg lectod, and
runs to waste. No seed has been sOwn there
> ior the propitous skies t. mature the gram
h.s vet 10 be deposited the weeds are yet 20
le cfadicatcd b tn man and women pass y
{ hy, and take their labJur TO other places. and
1 think not of redcemiuP it, nor know 'hnt by
C re and culture it may be made to blossom
fl 20 the rose. and I'll the earth with IFS truIts
This we should al that TINE have been obliged
TO say. But now we can SAY, that those " hose
mart and province il was t. do this work, ho ve
:, g,gv,F 60
the names Of Barbauld and Fdreworih, Tay.
r lor and Hofland and confidently ask, whore
there are worthicr Men talk of cras in liera.
! mre. The era ofthe two FIRST named oi these
N ladies'. tho era of the II urns tor Children.
r and the Parents Assistant was a golden err
rure and bright, and full Of riches, and de
serving rank among the most glorious dates
of Improvement Since that time laborcr'
', have been fast coming into the same field ,ant
" have worked well, though we must still say
that those wha came first worked best. ON
II own country women have been neither tard,
1t in advancing TO this delightful task, nor met
q fcient in their services We believe that ,h
r best childrens book which we have. and vs.
have many which are excellent, are the "oln
position of females and if we felt ourselves a
, liberty to do so, we could repeat an honor
= bic, and by no means n scaniy list of th
) better than mere reputation, by contributln
" to form the minds and hearts of our childrei
~ Those who are conscious that they belong
! the catalogue. have little to ask Of fame an
X certainly nothing to receive irom It half $
TX valuable as that which thew already posses
n the gratua'ions ottheir own hearts
H. The department Of fjuvenle literature, thc'
o is almost entirely in female hands. Long ma
;. il remain there Lung, for the interests
. virtue. and the improvements OF oIr kind ma
u it be in the heart of woman to nurture u
O. growth, and watch over and direct the ear
puttipgs- forth Of youthful intellect and fec
IN ing While she retains the office, so delgh
y, iu in itself and so grave and momcntous
v. its ends, and even adds TO it's bcau,ifA dignil
w by the graceful and eficctual manner IN whic
20 she has hitherto performed its duties she II
c. spires us with an admiration Of deeper al
n more lasting, and, we must also believe, mo-
naltering character, than was the most GLOW
IL ing and romantic love Of the days of chiyalr
c. Talk not to us Of chivalry, unless it be in p
! etry, and with the usual latitude and lcen'
BY of poetry. In truth and in prose, tho mo
10 refined devotion of knighthood and chIvali
n is no more 10 be compared in purity and ell
,l walton, to the sentiments which female exec
ence now commands, than are those fair on
z who then presided at the great ducls whlC
-, we read Of under the poetical name o. tourn
", ments. and who by their presence and p'a
~ dts animated the legallzcd and courtly s'aug
er ter which was raging and struggling bcnea
ne them,to be compared to the females ofour ov
yn tmo, who as beautiful, no doubt, and as a
ry, complished as they. find it their more sppI
me pirate privilege and pleasure 10 stimulate q
I'M. fresh powers of childhood to the competi,lo
10 of knowledge and virtue. and Ia hold out
be need Of appreciation to the exertions OF I'M
., cent and ingenious minds.