New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-07-14
woman-Her Sphere and Needs.

Woman-Her Sphere and Needs.
From The Dial for July
The leading paper in The DIAL entitled The
Great Lawsuit-Man uerSus Men Woman rcr-
sus Women is one combining remarkable just
ness of sentiment with brilliancy Of thought and
beauty Of expression. There is but one woman
In America who could have written it. We make
room for the following extract:
Were thought and feeling once so far elevated
that man should esteem himself the brother
and friend, but newise the lord and tutor, of wo-
man, were he really bound with her in equal
worship, arrangements as to junction and en-
ployment would he Of no consequence. What
woman needs is not as woman 10 act or rnle
but as nature to grow, as intellect To discern
as soul to live freely, and unmpedcd to unfold
such powers as were given her when we left our
common home. If1ewer talents were given her,
yet, if allowed the free and full employment of
these, SO that she may render bac!, to the givcr
his own with usury, she viii not complain, nay,
dare say, she will rejoice II, her earthly birth
place, her earthly lot.
Let us consider what Instructions impede this
good era, and what signs i've reason to hope that
it draws near.
was talking on this subject with Miranda, a
woman who, if any in the world, might speak
without heat or bitterness of the position OF her
sex. Her father was a man who cherished
sentimental reverence for woman, but a firm be-
lief in the equality of the sexes. She was his
eldest child, and came TO him at an age when he
needed a companion. From the time she could
speak and GO alone, he addressed her not as play
thing, but as a living mind. Among the few
verses he ever wrote were copy addressed to
fIo feet Ion bor
head, and the reverence expressed on this occa-
sion for that cherished head he never belied 1t
was to him the temple Of immortal intellect. Hc
respected his child, however, too mnch to he an
indulgent parent. He called On her for clear
judgement, for courage, for honor and fidelity
in short, for such virtues as he knew. In so far
as he possessed the keys TO the wonders of this
universe, he allowed free use of them to her, and
by the incentive of high expectation, he for
bade, as far as possible, that she should let the
privilege lie idle
Thus the child was carly led TO feel herself
child of the spirit. She took her place easily,
not only in the world of organized being, but in
the world of mind. A dgnifird sense of self
dependence was given as all her portion, and she
found ii sure anchor. Herself securely anchor
ed, her relations with others were established with
equal security. She was fortunate Ill q total
absence of those charms which might have drawn
to her bewildering batteries, and of strong cleo
lric nature, which repealed those who did not
belong to her, and attracted those who did. With
men and women her relations were noble; atlec-
Tomato without passion, intellectual without cold
ness. The world was free TO her, and she lived
freely in ii. Outward adversely came, and an
inward conflict, but that faith and seii-respect
had early been awakened, which must always
lead at last TO outward serenity, and an inward
peace.
OF Miranda | had always thought as an cX.
ample, that the restraints upon the sexwcrc msu
perable only to those who think them SO, or who
aoisy strive TO break them. She had taken a
course of her own, and no man stood IN her way
Many Of her acts had been unusual, but excite(
no uproar. Few helped, but none checked her
and the many men, who knew her mind and he
,ifc showed to her confidence as 10 brother
srcntleness as to Il sister. And not only refined
hut very coarse men approved one in whom the,
saw resolution and cearness of design. He
mind was often the leading one, always effective
When talked with her upon these matters
and had said very much what have written, she
smllmgly replied, And yet we must admit that
have beca fortunate and this should not be. NJ,
good fathers ears trust gave the first bias, ans
the rest followed of coarse. il is true that
have had less outward aid ,r after years, THAI
saaSs women, bat that is of little consequence
Religion was early awakened In my soul, a sense
that what the soul is capable to ask it mus; at
lain, and that, though might beaded by others
/ must depend ON myself as the only constan
friend. This selfdependence. which was honorci
IN rue, is deprecated as & jaui; IN most women
They arc taught TO learn thcu rule from without
not to unfold 1t from within.
This is the fault of man, who is still vain, ant
wishes to be more important to woman than By
right he should be.
Men have not shown this disposition towarC
you, said.
No, because the position I early was enabled
10 take, was one Of Selercl;ance. And were al
women as sure of their wants as WAS, the resul,
would be the same. The difficulty is 10 get them
TO the point where they shall naturally develop
selErcspec., the question how tits TO DC done.
Oaca i thought that men would help on this
state of things more than do now, saw Sc
many OF them wretchcd in the connections they
had formed in weakness and vanity. They
seemed so glad to esteem women whenever they
conld
But carly perceived that men never, in a;ty
extreme of despair, wished 10 be women. Where
they admired any woman, they were inclined to
speak al her SIS above her sex. Silently OBJ
served this. and feared it argued rooted skePii-
cisn,. which for ages had been fastening on the
heart, and which only IN age Of miracles could
eradicate.
Ever have been treated with sincerity; and
/ look upon il rs most signal instance of this,
that an intimate friend of The other sex said in