Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1842-12-27
(COm IN unitated d.
WOMAN.


may have the least tendency open the eyes of the
sex" to their real social position, and induce an
efor, on their part to gain that equality of station
to man, which they are entitled to, and which they
are destined to enjoy, will certainly not be consd
cred out of character, or out OF place.
While the sol disant chords of creation " are
steadily rising in the scale Of intellect, as indicated
by the progress of every thing whose advance ment
is dependant upon the attainnaents of mind, woman
who is essentially the whole world to man so far
as his enjoyment and happiness are concerned,
would seem to be retrograding. The reason of this
Is apparent. 1t is to be found in the imperfection
OF her education, and in the genera puerility of her
occupations and amusements
he idea appears to be entertained that an edu-
eated woman, q mean in the limited sense)
Is untitled tor the exercise Of those domestic quail
ties which render the freside and the home happy
and attractlve-and upon this idea are the systems
OF education, SO far she is concerned, founded.
But how sadly erroneous is i'll The social or do
mcstic qualities instead of being improperly affected
by the due improvement of the mOraI and intellcrta-
I'll faculties, q use here the chronological disnc-
tIons,) are refined and elevated, and the suscepti-
bity of enoyment--I mean rational enjoyment
made much more acute. 1t is an educated an
intellectual woman aone that can render the iresde
permanently atractive-iti is she alone that ca pro-
perry contribute domestic enjoyment and improve
ment-she alone the suitable companion and wife
she alone who can fully understand and discharge
the important duties and responsibilities devolvinc
upon a mother -" The origin of man in the arms
OF his mother, moulds all his future destiny to fe-
male influence" How important, then, that this
influence be of the right character and well direct
ed-how important that proper motives be present
ed to induce and secure the right Development of
the budding faculties Of the iniane and youthful
mind {! And any but woman of education
and intellect rightly discharge this duty?
Had not the mind of w ashington received its
impulse and taken its course from an intelligent
and vrtuous mother inAuence, can it be presumed
that he would ever have been saluted with the
proud title of GO His countrys deiverer," or have
been model for all that is great and noble in moral
and politics? And had the naturally hayward pro-
pensltes of Colt been checked and restrained in
infancy and youth by mothers hand, and his
moral qualities sufficiently cultivated, far different
doubtless would have been his fate.
But my object in these predatory remarks is not
to enter into dissertation upon female education
and influence, or to speak, in ether than general
wayof the important beneficial results which wold
flow from proper attention to these things. ]
merely wished to allude, as the subject was natur-
ally suggested by the extract have quoted, to the
frvolity of amusement which appears to have OBJ
tanned, and to extent rather Notifying, in this
region, among those who are called the ctite in
their social gatherings
Webster defines {" society,"" as the "unon of
number of rational beings" But this meaning is
at fault here: and il may be well to suggest another
and more appropriate definition: An association
oil persons of both sexes for mountebank perform
ances-she being the most attractive who
can make herself the most conspicuous by extrav-
agances of various kinds-and he the most
agreeable who is most successful in exciting the
rsibe faculties by grimace, by witty remarks
upon small subiects-by the uproarious exercise of
the vocal organs by agile pedal gyrations--or
by a facetious application Of the extremity of
knot,ed handkerchief to the extremities of those
about, &c. &c.
Gentlemen too often enter into the society of la
dies with an evident impression that nothing but
ftvolity, and that of the lightest character, can
amuse or attract them and hence the practices al
,uded to. This, it is true, is great compliment
20 the taste or understanding of the gentler sex;
but itmust be Admitted that the countenance given
by them TO such nonsense whether they really en-
JOY and sanction il or not, is the great of its
prevalence and practice.
Let women assume different tone in society
let them sanction that only which is ratonGl in the
way of amusement, and they will socn find change
IN the bearing OF the other Let them not when
any subject is suggested the consideration of which
would lead to pleasant exercise and Improvement
of the mind, show by an elongated visage,
half suppressed yawn, that it is any thing but agree
able, and social intercourse instead of being
than waste of time will become attractive and ed
flying, and society be wha, it should be- means
OF mutual Improvement and elevation.
But my article is already too long, and | will
close by referring attention to the promised extract
Although part of himself, although
n part of his own nature, incorporated with
his destiny, essential to his comfort. inds-
pensablc 10 his happiness, sharing his for
tunes, his joys, his griefs, with a full COM
munity Of feeling, sentiment and passion
yet has woman never been placed on the
same principle of rights, either legal or
moral, physical or social, that man claims
for himself.
But woman owes a duty to herself, 10
regain that social position of equality to
man which her equal stake of felicity in
life entities her to. This duty she can eff.
fciently discharge, by resisting the syste-
matte attemntS which in manners modes
literature and education. still seek to re-
duce her 10 condition of moral and intel
iectual intaacy-especially in education
and literature, which are modelled on the
presumed interiorty and settled pueriity
of her mind and tastes; an insult TO her ma
ture which extends even to her amuse-