The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-08-24
MISC ELL A N E ~ S.
From the Emporium.
Advice to Young Ladies'.

We cheerfully comply with the request of cor.
respondent in giving place to the following letter
which we believe we have seen several times in
print but which is worthy to be perused and re-
perused till its sentiments are fixed in every youth
full heart. The editor from whom we copy OBJ
serves {" 1t was written by father to his only
daughter, who, her mother being dead, resided
with her aunt at some distance from him. The
high sense of honor and morality brealhed ia every
line, sufficiently recommend it: and it is certain
w high time that the subject treated upon should
be considered as a strictly moral one, sub ect 10
moral laws, and not as many young ladies prac-
ticaly treat it, one on which they have the right
to exercise their idle caprice and heartless iAing.
"You have now, my dear child arrived at an
age, when young lady begins to think of form
ing connexions of the most solemn and sacred
character. | need not remind you of the intense
interest with which a father must always regard
child who seems about taking a step which is to
determine all her future earthly happness.-A
young lady, at eighteen, often needs warning
voice to point out the quicksands over which she
is speeding her thoughtess career. hear you
are beautiful, and have many admirers am sor-
ry for it. A young woman, whose conduct is mark
ed with strict honor and principle, cannot have
MANI admirers. There is nothing that more GER
tainly marks bad heart and depraved moral prin-
ciples, or worse thorough restitution of it, than
this cruel and guilty encouragement Of honorable
love. The thief who robs me Of my purse, may
have the plea of necessity; the murderer who de-
stroys my life, may have the palaton Of want
or revenge. But she who suffers young man to
be in any doubt, when she is resolved 10 refuse
not my child,--is guilty of a scarcely less moral
loriu, hon oil ha MI
plea of necessity or the palliation of revenge but
in absolute defiance of every principle that could
bind generous mind. She steals but to fling her
theft away; and stabs in pure wantonness, the
very heart that is beating for her. Her robbery
is greater than that of the common thief, in pre-
cisely the proportion in which happiness is.dearer
than money. Yet he is confined to prevent the
evils society might otherwise suffer, and this
darker criminal is turned loose upon it to walk
unmolesed in its high places,
Do not tell ne that lover Sc Izss upon every
tri0e to feed his unwarranted hopeys for if that be
the case, it is obvious that it is in triaes that al
honest mind should be most upon its gard. IN
important matters you would naturally be cautions;
but to acknowledge the importance of trihes, and
vet to neglect them, is not to excuse the crime, but
not to avow it; to acknowledge that you have
shameless Y and Unnecessarily violated honor, prin-
ciple, and duty. young man is never long at
tached to a young lady, without her being aware
oft; commonly indeed, before he is himself aware
Of the nature and extent of his feelings. The
knowledge is almost intuitive. From that mo-
ment, if she be persuaded that she cannot recipv
rocate his sentiments her course is plain before
her-it is cool, undertaking. unhesitating repulse
ON every occasion, place, and manner. Love aciU
die without hope. IF the gentleman have perse-
i, hono l. AoJ,
have not been conStantin your repulse. You hal re
ruined his happiness, planted thorns in his pillow,
and daggers in his heart, either from wanton
cruelty, or shameful and dsgraceful carelessness
To crush love in the bud is easy; but trine
and tamper with it till it has taken root in the
heart, and its destruction is attended with the ex-
tinctlon Of the hearts best, noblest, and hottest
feelings. When man finds that she, whom he
would have chosen from all the world, has BETRAYED
an equal want of heart and principle, she of whom
he has accustomed himself to think as the first of
her SEX his natural inference is If such be the best
what must the rest be? He begins TO doubt whether
principle exists among females, except in name
and h. As perhaps, he has had fortunate escape
for she,nark me, my child, it is stern TRUTH
she who would be guilty of such degrading con-
duct, wonld be restrained by principle from the
commission of no crime whatever. There would
be fewer satires upon women, did women but re-
member that crime is always criminal, and that
swindling is not the less swinding, because its
object is not money, but that which money cannot
recompense.
But find there is another custom prevalent a.
mong the coquettes of the day. 1t is to treat the
unfortunate admirer with GOODNESS and repulse be-
fore others, while when alone with herself, he is
lured on by smiles and show of favor, till at last
from mere agony elaborated feeling, he offers
himself lnorder TO put the matter at rest. In this
case the adyi saie--every one will wonder, that
ne should have ventured so far, in the face Of
such obvious apparent repulse--he will be too
proud TO complain, or state the truth and if her
own heart DO not sting her for such dupcity and
meanness, she is safe from the voice orreproach-|
and she who will be guilty of such meanness
has little to dread from conscience. The gentle
man, in these matters labors from the beginning
under great disadvantage. His feelings are no.
iced, and his advances noted by many curious
eye; they are made the subject of remark or Jest,
or rdicule In the presence of the lady, he feels
that he is watched and constraint and diff
dence onnear therpfora in his manners nacnliarlu