The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1843-01-27
OTTAWA, ILLINOIS, FRIDAY JANUARY 81,

feeling! What is to prevent it from setl-
ling into stagnant apathy, or wasting itself
among weeds and darkness answer
nothing but the principle of which |
have spoken-noihing but the elevating,
tranqullizing, strong-hearted spirit of Re-
ligion
The most attractive Of the lesser inilu
ences of religion is that upon female char
acter and beauty. lis enec, upon the Tor
mer is generally allowed, though still,
rather as an abstract truth than rule of
practice; but upon the latter it is far from
being properly appreciated. 1t is not too
much to say that every possible manner
and every cast offea,ure is improved by il,
and that, not the eve of the religious en-
lhuslast only, but To every eye that can
take pleasure in beauty. From the vivid
esprit of the bette 10 the stunning eye and
hlushing timidily of the school girl, and
this without changing or suppressing one
essential characteristic, there is no form of
ovelness tia, religion does not enlighten
and alorn. | am Car from referring now
any look of Sanctmoninusness or unnalu-
raj gravily--flrihcr sill from commencing
that entire iorgeJiulncss of every other du-
~, and that tan.iical exclaSiveness to re-
ligIon to which the enthusiastic nature of
Woman sometimes leads her. | would
have no innocent feeling suppressed, no
timely mirlh checked, no gayeiy, or mo-
ton. or impulse, that n Young heart may
yield TO without awakening IA blush, (et-
tered or STAYED. would have no restraint
whatever put upon the manner. save such
as her own chaslened feelings and natural
taste dictated and approved; but leaving
it entirely to its native and beautiful I'M
pulses. | would have sense of Gods
presence in the heart--a mild but deep
sentiment ofreliglous obligation pervading
every hour of amusement rs well as Of
du,y--a remembrance that is neither Il
positive thought nor a possible lorgelful-
ness-a floating consciousness of religious
ligation-habiua and constant. do
not know that ! can describe the effect of
such a feeling. II differs with the thou
sand differences of manner and beauty.
ltsoilens without suppressing the hilarily
of the gay, and dignllies the timidliy of
the young without removing its winning
grace.
Female manner, itself, is Of all things
indlscribable to attempt minute descrlp-
ton of an influence SO vanishing and rare
upon lis thousand changes. There is "A
namcless something, however, running
through female manner-found wherever
it is delicate and loveIy--someihing that
is not reserve nor coyness, but is like a
soft shadow in 4 picture, or mist upon
still water, or a half transparent drapery
upon figure of grace-sometling, | know
not what, which brealhes through every
motion and sentiment Of its possessor, and
without which, to refined taste, there
can be no loycIiness and no delicacy and
this, vanishing and rare and indescribable
as il is, is the invariable gift Of religion
the result, had almos, said The test, of lis |
inward influence. 1t fits through the ex-
preston Of the face like a shadow, and |
comes at times over the brightness Of the !
face, and effects without checking every
change of color or motion. l. Is not deli !
cacy but phantasm Of something like 1t !
that IS purer; ii is not soiness or cheer
or sweet temper, bat refinement
of all these; an indehnablc essence of
grace as lovely as it is nameless. How
many women have | seen, who, but for
The want Of this single quality, were
among the brightest and best of their sex
How many, who, possessed Of beauty
and talent and every polite accomplish
ment, passed on unadmred no one could
tell, though every one felt why--deniad
the need which others, far less beautiful
and talented and accomplished than them
selves, were winning, and totally uncon-
scious Of a deficiency which was too
Subtle to be explained, and which when
nature has denied It, religion alone can
supply !-.fnsricat NJnttiy .iagaziHe.
's,s OF Good Ciccr."---"-: Dn.r
" For the FIRST five years nt my profess