Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1838-12-04
FEklALE ENERGY.

FEMALE ENEhGI'
I" God tempsrs E1e lUi1d 10 TIE shO1n lamb. "
Every reader Of the Sentimental Jour-
ney recollects with pleasure the beautiful
comment which Sterne wrote upon this
text. Poor Maria occupies a conspicuous
place in that elegant work, and to her in.
teresting case was this, consoling maxim
applied. Those who take any interest in
the welfare If their fellow mortals must
have frequent opportunities Of observing
how opposite il is to the situation and cir
cumstances of considerable portion Of
the unfortunate part Of mankind.
This proverb, and another of similar
import, aGod fits the back 10 the burden"
are deduced from consideration of that
almost universal quality inherent in human
nature, Of aSsimilating our conduct, and
moulding our characters, to those emer.
gencies which arse in the fluctuations of
human affairs.
Under the influence Of this property Of
our nature, Philadelphia has. Witnessed the
remarkable case Of French nobleman,
whom the Revolution in his country had
hurled from the pinnacle Of wealth and
dignity, and who occupied himself here
in the profession of tinman. In this
occupation he conducted himself with the
most perfect propriety, and his back"
was as completely !" fitted to the burden"
as if he had borne it from his youth
There are at present cases to be met with
here, and in other parts of the United
States, not dissimilar TO this of the noble
tinman. Did not Louis Philippe teach
French in this country for support ? Ham.
burg, Altoona, Amsterdam, London, and
various other cities in Europe, have all be-
held numberless instances Of persons who
had moved in high spheres, and who, on
being detruded from thence, have employ
I'd tlio ts.le.>e- &c sa.r,sic, dancing, draw.
ing fencing, mathematics, &C., to earn
support. Many of them have acknowl-
edged that in these reduced situations
they have enjoyed more real happiness
than formerly, when surrounded with all
the profusOn Of Asiatic luxury.
But however remarkable and commsR.
dable these cases are, they do not excite
the same emotions, nor are they so hon.
orable to human nature, as those of many
respectable females, who, when bereft Of
parents and husbands, have nobly met
and deiied " the sings and arrows Of out.
rageous fortune" and supported them.
selves and families in the most exemplary
manner. On these occasions, they have,
all at once, ass uned the energy ard forth
tude which many Of our sex. absutdly be-
lieye belong exclusively to us. They ap.
Pe1r on a sudden wholly transformed into
new creatures, and 70 have entirely divest.
ed themselves of that heIplessness which
is partly the result Of the natural delicacv
of the female sex, but Is in a much greater
degree the fostered offspring Of erroneous
systems Of education, which sentence the
female portion of the human species to
incalculable Disadvantages.
The instances Of this description are
numberless, and afford a proud triumph
; to the sex. There is hardly street in
Philadelphia, or in any Of our great cities,
but can produce several. Within the lin,
lifted circle Of my own acquaintance,
know widows who have been left in q
most destitute situation, and, after having
struggled with the most formidable adVer.
sity, have finally triumphed over all lheiI
difficulties, in manner rejecting honoi
not only upon themselves, but on their sea
at large. Some Of them, burdened with
large and expensive families, enjoy more
halcyon days than before the fell destroyer
death, had bereaYed them Of their hus
bands.
In corrobOration Of these remarks,
might specify many striking cases. Blu
/ ! shall con6ne myself to two, with which
shall conclude this discussion. The i'm.
! portant and arduous business of printine
was carried on in Philadelphia. bv two Is.
males, one the widow. and the other IN
, daughter lsince deadl Of a deceased priin.
, ter. For care and fidelity in The exec1
ton Of their work for laborious indus
d try and steady perseverance; for an I'M
ceasing exertion to please their employers
these ladies might fairly enter the lists viii
any competitor Of cur sex. The unrnar.
RED lady printed the English version d
the Septuagini, executed BY The venerable
Charles Thompson, ESQ.
TO The reflections and facts here laic
before the reader, prudent parent may
perhaps judge Il proper 10 pay attention
They may serve to throw some light on
the proper system Of educating daughters.
Instead Of fostering and increasing thc
natural helplessness Of TIE female sex. Il
appears advisable to use every effort q
counteract il. All sublunaTy affairs are
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