Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1841-02-27
WI II


g" What - genius but deep fneliag,
Weakening to glorious revealing?
Aud what - feeling but to hs
Alive to every misery 7'~L.x.1.
j revere taitnI in any FORM said a Young
friend Ia catveEsaiion, The other evening. shat. in
selecting a wife. | should never think Of choosing
a woman Of genius !
And why not, I inquired, expecting I, bear
him advance the usual llas Of oAj4esons 10 litsta-
y wofnen-theif want of domestic hahits-ee-
cent'icities, carelassness d fashion, and the they.
ssud aoig-t charges ufgsi against a class Of
v1mea ss litsle understood AS any upon The face
Of the earth. Ny friend was q man Of 30 incoa-
siieFabte talent, aud from him, the entimens
SEEMED strange aGd ungenefons. Il was probably
the first !ims that lie had ever been called upon
to :tink seriously upon the subject. He seemed
puzzled how 10 make a fitting repiY.
'Ahy, he sagd- after q moments hesitation,
amy deas ideai is somewhat Ike that Of Bvr,n's.
Ny wife should have talent enough, 10 be able
10 understand and value mine. but not sufficient
10 be allie 70 shine herself. | could never love a
womsn who was entirely occupied sith literature.
4 F'"tis b1+ft'Ef "H'%"k"Af y Lii SSsA -
domestic woman who would think NV apfroba-
tion sufficient for her happiness, and would have
M desire FIR greater adniratioa. could never
be happy with an ambitious women
On my return hoaes the Injustice Of ny fsienjs
speech haunted ne. He wanted feeling, afec-
tion, domestic qualities in 8 wife, and,
therefore, would not seek enc In a woman Of se-
.. Tu1-T. 7... r
tste Of The imagination as his Haidee or Zuleik..
lie seems to have forgotten that to understand
and value talent, Is one Of the listest attributes
Of genius, taat 10 person ever thoroughly appre.
cjste3 a feeling OF a property oftbe intellect which
she did not possess in 8 degree; al least. A less
selfish man, instead Of requiring neIiocracv and
4 worsbfpper in The place Of companion, would
oaiy have wished that the beautiful d5iicacy which
naiura has implanted in the female mind 10 ehas-
ten and refine her genius, should be preserved,
and that in her pursuits and feelings, she would
be w~on1anIy ara true to her sex.
Pen and paper lay convenient, and in fsney.I
went on diseoarsiog and putting questions, as if
the cuIrfit had been present il person.
Have you been thoroughly acquainted with a
woman Of uudoubted geniGs-one who Stands
high in any department Of our literature Have
you been doGnes.;catel with one--seen her at all
seasons entered into the sanctuary Of her
thoughts; have been lie brother, husband, father,
or even friend of one?
You say no, and yet withou. knowledge, decide
that they are not ft objects Of domestic affection;
that because certain uaconuon powers are grant
ed 10 them by the Most High f.. bis own good
purpose, the common attributes which form Inc
loyeliness and beauty Of wcnanhood are with.
held, You would helga them round with res
pect and reverence, aud yet fear to eiqe them The
affection which is % noGe more precious. by meme
nosa ttirsted for. or mora keen'y sppsecjatad.-
Yon would smother The spark which must kindle
all that is worthy Of love in The genius Of women.
You would buil1 To her IN altar Of marble, cold
as the grave, and bow lown your intellect before
il in the homage which mind renders to mind,
Without one thought TINT beneath her mental
wealth are affections in porpoftioaa,s strength,
which gush mp at The call oIaymPashy, anI ttnse
the mind with hues Of beauty, a. the sun forms a
rainbow by weaving It's light among tha water
drops ola Summer shower. Deep and sensitivs
feelings alone give thai deiicacY and pathos which
will ever distinguish the creations Of a truly fem
mine author ffom those Of Gon. The very word
genius compartments all that make the Iovaliness
Of woman. It signifies bat he power Il feel,
deeply combined with an intellect capable
of embsdying feelings into language. and Of coz
sayiag images Of truth and beauty from the heart
p.E. u,st.w =, tLo4 na-k - H. x,,Jc-
Why then should you refuse 10 gather the
mantle Of domestic love about tue woman d go
MUS
Ambitious. are they I Else, Why dc they
write-why publish ? Why does she bird stag
but that It's little heart IN gushing over with mel
oily 7 Why does the flower blossom but that
Il has been dfenehea vita dew aud ATnaied up by
tlo sunshine, ill lis paFfsms bafsss The petals aud