Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-09-05
ADVICE TO A DAUGHTER.


read, will be found in the truly excellent Letter
of an affectionate Father to dear Daughter'
copied below. The letter is extracted from
volume entitled "Letters on Practical SUBJECTS,
10 a Daughter, by w. B. Sprague, D. d., OF AIDA
nv N.Y. We recommend the enforcement OF
its principles to every father and obedience 10
its precepts to every daughter. we are sure
ve could present nothing more acceptable TO
our readers
nv Dr,R Canp:-In several of the preceding
,a,,ars have taken for granted that you are TO
r,;nple in greater or less degree, In society II
Sc equally essential to your respectabillty and
usefulness that you should not live the lie OF
reclnse. The constitution ofyour nature and the
circumstances of your condition clearly indi-
cate that YOU were made to be Social As II Is
a snbiect, however, in relation to which there is
= stronG tendency to extremes, and on which
Won will be in great danger OF being mlsled,
Shau suggest few thoughts in the present letter
which NAV serve TO aid in forming your opin-
ions and directing your conduct
heSin nv advice to you on this subject by
canton that you should not make your entrance
into society at too early period. Ii too often
happens that girls, long before they have COM
Melted their education, and even at CompaTa-
lively early stage of II, have contracted strong
relish for being in the world; and unless pre-
vented by the influence of parents or instruct
,rs they are found thus prematurely In the gay
est circles of fashion. The consequence of this
i that at best, a divided attention is rendered
M their studies; that their opportunities for in
telIectual Improvement are enjoyed TO little
purpose; and that the period in which should
ne laid the foundation Of solid and useful cha
racter, is perverted to the formation OF habit
of mental inaction, and not lmprobaoy 10 che-
IRISH spirit of intolerable vanity
Now | do not insist that you should actually
decline all society up to the time of completing
YOUR education; but wish that your visiting,
previous to that period, should be, Tor the most
mart. of an informal character; and that you
Should not generally consider yourself at liber-
" to ACCEPT invitations, even it you should re-
ceive them. to mingle in set circles. This acct
dental intercourse of which | have spoken, is
all thar will be necessary during the period OF
YOUR education to aid you In the formation oil
YOUR manners; and any thing beyond it will al
most inevitably interfere with your intellectual
Improvement, and OF course detract from your
ultimate standing in society.
let me assure YOU too, that you will be Tar
less acceptable in society, il you make your APP
pearance prematurey, than II you wait I'LL a
proper period The common sense OF the world
Is Quick to discern any improperly on this sub
iect and if while you are yet child, you are
seen among those of mature age, virtually claim
inc To be as old as they, you can expect nothing
else but that you will be set down as dehcient
either in modesty or good sense. Better Tor
your reputation that you should come too late
into society than too early; for though IN the
one case YOU might lose something in point OF
manners, vet in the other you would lose more
in the estimation Of the world, on the score OF
delcacy and correct Judgment.
Ills not more important that you should avoid
going into society too early, than 1t Is that, when
Won do enter il, you should avoid mingling in it
TOO much. One bad effect of this would be,
that il would leave you with too little time tor
the discharge of your private and domestic dtl-
ties. The culture of your mind anu heart IN
connection with the ordinary cares OF domeSuc
life, requires that large part oil your nme
should be spent at home; and you canno'' WIFI
ont great Injustice TO YOURSELF and those win
whom Won are connected, neglect these more
nrivste duties for the sake of being always In
The hustle of the world. 1t is rare thing that
Won will find a lady who devotes an undue pro-
norton of her time To visiting, but that /; you
Follow her into the domestic circle, to the cham
her and the fireside you will find that she evlr-
COS a unconditional neglect of some OF the du-
t;es belonging to the station she occupies. She
;s either neplecting to cultivate her understand
inc. or neglectng to keep her heart, or neglect
inc to use the means which Providence has put
INTO her hands for the intellectual and moral
improvement of those with whom she Is lmme-
diately connected.
Recollect also that the error against which
am endeavoring TO put you on your guard,
would not only prevent your attention to more
important duties by occupying the time when
should be allotted to them, but it would serve
actually to give you distaste Tor those onues'
Allow yourself constant round of company,
even for short period, and it will be strange
indeed, if you do not begin to feel that compa-
nv is your only element; if you do not, IN
great degree lose your relish for the pleasures
Of the domestic firesde; if you do not hnd
yourself complaining of ennui, when You hap
pen for season to be providentaly shut up at
home. need not stop to show how entirely
such habit of feeling must disqualfy female
for the most important relations she can ever
sustain.
Moreover, an eXtravagant fondness for soci-
ety, and an excessive indulgence of this incl
nation, are almost sure to create habit CT dis
sipation, both as it respects the intellect and the
feelings The mind, by being conversant with
the ever varying scenes of SOCIALLY life, loses, in a
great degree, the command of its own powers;
and the attempt to concentrate them on any
ilyeiy IN