The native American., 1840-01-01

/ hc HiohNeS WHtcn urge iiSfaiJ women ~
publish, are probably various as those which
lead pcrsoas to any other calling. Many may
| place themselves before the world from natural
aRd strictly frminine ihirst lcr sympathy; from
The same feeling which prompts a generous boy
TO call his compaaons about him when he has
found 4 rnbie's nest hid away among the blossom
lng bonghs of an old apple-tree, or bed Of ripe
Strawberries melting in their own ruby light through
/ ,he grass, OH hill side. The discovery would
he almost valueiess could he find none to gaze on
! tie blue eggs exposed in tho bottom Of the nest,
or to revel with him in the luscious treasure Of
the strawberry he'd, SO the enjoyment of mental
discovery is enhanced by compauionship and ap-
probation.
| That women sometimes publish, from the i'm
palses Of raui!y il were useless to deny; bat,
III such cases, the effort is usually worthy Of the
motive: ii touches no heart, because il emanates
Ltrom none; it kinles no pure lnaginatioa--ite ex-
cites no holy impIlses--because, the impulse from
which il originated is neither lofty nor worthy.
II may be safely asserted, that woman, who
has written or published from the promptings of
ambition or vanity, alone, was ever successful,
ever will be. She may gain notoriety, but that is
ia consequence Of authorship, which must ever
be painful to 4 woman Of true genius, unless is
added to il that public respect and private atioc-
writes from ws!, to shine, and from that wish
Ealonc.
Litcraiare is an honorable profession, and that
women devote a portlnneot their time to it, re-
Iqnires neither excuse nor paa,ion, so long rs
they preserve the Gelicacy and gentlencss which
are the attributes Of their Sex. 1t would be folly
10 assert ,hat there is any thing in the nature of
genius, which lncaraclates its rossessor for use
lulness. or that literary woman may not be, in
the strictest sense OF the word, domestic one.
! hat the distinguished women Of our country
are remarkable for domestic qualities, admits of
proof, from many brilliant examples. Most Of
those who sta nd foremost in our world of letters,
perform the duties Of wives, mothers and house
keepers, in connexion with the pursuits Of the
mind 1t is a mistaken idea, that literature must
engross the entire time or attention, even those
VINO il;,'sa authorship profession. 1t is to be
d}ubled if the most industrious female writer
among us spends more hours out Of the twenty
four, at her desk, than the fashionable belle de-
votes TO the adornment of her person.
There are few American women, except those
who labor for their daily bread, who, by syste-
matte arrangement of time, cannot command three
or four hours out Of each day, without encroach-
ing on her household duties, the claims of socie-
ty, or The little season Of domestic enjoyment,
relaxation at home. These hours devoted to au-
authorship, at moderate computation, would
produce four duodecimo volumes year. Thus,
BY judicious management of time, she has pro-
!uced property more or less vauable, enriched
and strengthened her own mind carried the sun
shine of thought to thousands, and all without
sacrificing one domestic duty-without the least
'egree Of personal publicity, which need shock
he mos, fasGous deicacy.
Cast nota shadow, even Of implied reproach on
! class of WOMEN, who are quietly and steadily
,Xcrting healthy influence in domestic life !; ra-
her let men Of power-and, in this country,
here is no power like that of inellect-excnd
o them such aid and encouragement, as will best
preserve the purity Of female literature. So long
IS the dignity and dolicacy Of sex is preserved,
here can be no competition between men and
women Of genius. In literature, as i'll every thing
else, the true woman will feel how much better
i is to owe something TO the protection, generos-
ty and lorhearance Of the stronger and s.crner
sex, than 10 enter into an unatural strife in the
crnad arena whic! men claim for The trial 0 mas
culine intellect. Open the fountains Of domestic
love to her, and there is little danger hat her
genius will stray from the sunny hooks of litcra
ture, or that she will forsake the pure well of af-
leclon, to leap into the high road Of folitcs--o
lose her identity in the smoke Of battle field or
TO gather up popular applause and unsatisfactory
admiration, in place of tenderness, and all those
home comforts which cling SO naturally around
he feminine heart.
1t has been beautifully said, that the heart is
woman's dominion. Cast her not forth, then,
from tho little kingdom which she may do so much
to purify and emhesh. Her gentle culture has
kept many Of those rugged passes green, where
serner laborcrs might have left them sterile and
blossomless. ~.
Hyou would cultivate genius Alright, cherish it
among the most holy Of your household gods.
Make it domestic plant. Let its roots strike
deep in Your home, nor care that its perfume
floats TO thousand easements besides your own,
so long as lis greenness and its blossoms for
you. Flowers Of the sweetest breath give their
perfume most lavishly 10 tie breeze, and, yet,
without exhausting their own delicate urns.
TIE UNKNOWN.