, 1841-04-03
From the Uanel St,teS Gazette.
THE INFLUENCE OF WOMAN IN
THE FORMATION OF NAT
IONAL CHARACTER.

Ike High School, on .Hoaiay evening, Fe5.
Is, 184I.
The knights of the middle ages, who re-
sisted the inroads of Saracen valor. preserved
western Europe from Mahometanism, were
not less true to the duties of gallantry. than
those of Christianity. They acknowledged
no less the influence offemalc beauty. deli ca
cy. and virtue, than that Of the religion of
the Cross. The knight, indeed, was ever
as ready to do battle or his lady love. as for
hlS religion. They were both sacred and
honorable in his view, and he counted it bet
ter TO die in battle, than finch in his de'ence
OF the one or the other.
We, that live in a colder and more cal
CHATTING age, may smile at what we call the
fantastic gallantry of those knights of the
olden time; but it was the salvation OF Eu
rope. Had the followers of the Cid, or the
men ut arms, VIM battled by TN" side OF
Charles Martel, at Tours, possessed one al
ON less of this same fantastic and enthuslas-
tic galIantry, western Europe would at this
moment be under the blightning dominion of
the crescent. These s'good knights and
true had to fight every inch of ground; and
TO nerve their arms TO the combat, required
all the influence of their religion, aye. and Of
their fantastic gallantry too. Had they been
one atom less devoted either to the divinitieS
of tie church or the fire>ide. they could
never have resisted the force OF S2raccn Wi
or. and Nahumetan enthusiasm. Femllc
influence on the Christi n knidt WIS Il iu'
coun.er pniSc for the ba.eful inference of -
false enthusiasm on the turhaucd foe. The
purer. loftier noble impulse. in fact. prevailed.
md Europe WAS preserved ir'm c n pest
and humanity from DEGRADATION.
Surely this was 4 Great service 20 ih
cause of human Improvement. Il ne hv thrS,
sturdy knights. HID they lrf, lis. who ar.
descended from them II" other "lriuS i''ur
.ratiiudr, this aln 70 would be q it, :. tirI'n'.
But they lpf, It's an"rhcr heql"S' Not les
valuable. They transmitted ia all Ssc."el-
ing ages If civi'iZ i'io1. ~ Inheritance nh!rh
has effected more than all other cIrrUu>'1n
ccs in his condition. tnAariS preventing the
hes; and mobiles, traits Of his rhllactrr.-
This inheritance Is nothing more nnr less
than a delicate reverence for the tcmIlr SEX:
the homage wEIrh man pays I w"Han rs
the purer. gentle. ~,nveiIcr heinz. THIS feel.
M. mace rratelv termed gillanrrv. W~ IN
known. As ! have already remarked. IL the
rnrianiS. and has no existence anon hEr.
harlan natl ms al ti' pr">"n' time. ballads
md romancrS in he contrary upfwrh-'ani
mo II Is l"und on, ar.. = ua'r'n< Who's"
nre>inrS felt -" "aur!'r"G uu,-cnrr sc
CHRISTIAN kni.htn~rl. l. - al "u-r the =
.ect and tie rars" - .y-"ni"i 'ruI T. iuflu-
nee. ard aiinr!S On. - the h"s' p'""i..
which can hc oil" ct l., >r.rp"ri "t oar MIN
ar-umrnr. hat r." frna.r part al society cx
err u most potent. I paramount Influence IA
forming the characters IT nations.
If. constrained ~ the morrow limits al'"N-
cd to the present aidI"<~.w" now ,a>> al once
- tirir,n Times. Ne >H4I! fnd rhr S4u" truth
nrrrbrd upon every rl!.a, "f ",r >.r'l ~y>-
IN. Gifted Nth that noble ,i"Nrr t"n
h. kni.h:< of oil. h"w lave The w"nnn ~
..rrn, times used their aivan'a 81 Is
hit wildly cx'cr,'.l rol r.w"rtn' influence.
mich tee a~cIur.I 4".i.~ III" f-ud j system.
bren abused. ~ rpnIr,i /" IA. r~a.rr,>"
pf amrlinraiin- the con il'rnn uf The !rUuru
race! Have women, IN mn tern times. he.
| come the cnrruprnrs. or the h-nrtrr'"r~ aud
teachers Of mankind! Have they become
nStentatinuS at their power. and c'r'i nous
in its exercise. ar have they operated IN rh"
great CiII>e al human improvement >iI'Ht-
~. gently. unohsrrrIsi, ely, outstanding that
golden treasury of influence. that It mlIh' b"
applied Ia the best oi purposes? II ave they
been content with Tie wealth and h,n"rS
Will: n gallant men h I'VE everheonre DIV I" Hay
at their feet. or have they exact d the more
enduring treasures ofknnnIed and n>irnc
ton! In aiming. us some If the n"hl"St at
them have, ut an equality with men. hive
they sought an cqu lily "f external ndvanra
grs, or an equality of intellectual endnN-
ment- and moral power! Wh"n they had
vindicatei To- themselves. in certain rare IN
stances. equal advantages of educ lion. WAS
he influence which, they were thus en- rhIed
to exert over national lItera'ur" pure and
wholpso ne, or was i corrupt and deba>Ing?
When they welded the lofty ScePtre If IN.
telleclual power. WAS it with a beni@hn or
balefnl SWAY?
To inqnirirs such rs these. n most triumph
ant answer is ready. Lnok N thai long
and brilliant line uf irmlIe author. who have
left la future ages aE imperiShrhlr legacy "i
literature. penetrated throughout with the
srnndest and most heaIihiul moral icelIny.-
They have c,uSpI their Influence Ia be felt