The Washingtonian., 1845-08-30

! sentative on this OCCASION, permit me TO oHer
them that which will be more enduring, and
| am sure more gratifying than wreath Of
roses, or all the psgeantry and show Of earth
the unfeigned gratitude of an hundred
hearts. And we do not feel thus excited
on account of the rich material, elegant de-
sign, or splendid execution. These, in them
selves, are valuable enough, and must elicit
the admiration of this vast concourse: but it
is the MOTIVES which pronpted-the philan-
thropy which executed--and the LOVE for the
institution, whose principles they have so beau
tifully shadowed forth. ! ifNis this which in
which blends with the artists penciling the
richest choicest tints, and seems to throw over
the whole the sunlight of heaven-and it is
this which sends thrill of Joy through our
bosoms; because we know that if woman's
appreciation rests upon an object, in opposition
to the prejudices of the world, it must, it will
succeed. Why they have selected the poor,
despised "Nazarines," from whom no good,
| it was thought, could come, as being worthy
of their benisons, and in spite Of the unmerited
censure so KINDLY lavished upon us, have thus
openly declared their approval Of our acts, is
matter Of surprise and pleasure. But il only
shows woman's adherence to right principles,
in sunshine and storm. 1t reminds me OF a
beautiful sentiment of the poet, showing her
fidelity and constancy in the days of him who
spake as never man spake:
| Not she with tratorous lips the Saviour stung,
Not she denied him with unholy tongue;
| She, when apostles shrunk, could danger brave,
| Last at the cross, and earliest at the grave
| Has woman won for her fair brow garlands
stepped in immortality because Of her devotion
to her country's welfare, and the interests of
her race? She has, For when the young
eagle of the first republic battled with the an
gry war.cloud, the Grecian mothers led their
sons to the altar Of their country, and freely
offered them up to the spirit of liberty-when
the vine-clad hills of France trembled beneath
the stamping of the iron-hoofed war horse,
twas woman who seemed prompted by the
arbiter of nations, who pierced the black storm
cloud with her more than magic wand, and
brought down the red thunderbolt harmless
at her feet-when the wrongs of an op-
pressed people in the western world cried for
vengeance, and our proud bird, beneath whose
golden wings we now stand, struggled to be
released from her chains and thraldom-'twas
woman who was the first to make sacrifice for
! her bleeding country; and although the thun-
home, yet she hailed its hoarse voice with Joy,
for it's dying echo spoke of life, liberty, and
the pursuit of happiness; !" and then she went
forth into the field of carnage to bind up the
wounds of the fallen, sustain the dying upon
her bosom, and lay the brave down to rest,
:" with all their country's honor blest." When
the fearful pestilence hovered over distant
city, and shook from its wings disease and
death-when the merry clink of the hammer
was hushed--the hands that had so oft used
| it were nerveless-the rustling of wheels
echoed not along those almost deserted streets,
unless it were the funeral cart, pursuing its
way to the place Of burial, and gready death
Unsuitable for human life smoe down not only
the first born, but in many cases whole fami-
lies, and when nearly all had forsaken the poor
| fever. r.scorched victim to die uncared for, woman
! forsook them not but performed those acts of
| kindness and mercy that even an angel might
have envied. And when the cry of suffering
humanity burdened the wings of every breeze,
and reached up to the ears of Jehovah, because
of drunkenness, the ladies, still true to the
worlds interests, have manifested a desire, a
determination, to arrest the spreading ruin
And it is right that she should be foremost in
this god-like enterprise, not simply because
she possesses the POWER TO move the moral
world, but because she Is the greatest sufferer.
1t is upon her blushing hopes and prospects
that the demon loves to revel-it is upon her
sensitive, confding heart that the viper loves
to bury its poisonous fangs, and infiict sorrow
and anguish, so acute that none but the drunk
ards wife can kno,D or feel But notwithstand-
ing all this have known young ladies who
never refuse glass Of wine when presented,
and offer as reason that it is no harm, 1t can
not hurt them; and to ask them to sign tenn
perance pledge would be offering an insult
which could never be atoned for. Do you
wish to see pictured ip sad reality the result
of that first wrong step? Then come with
me to that convivial party. She is there with
him-him to whom her heart and life are
plighted. In obedience to the custom of the
times, the wine cup passes around, and in.
stead of refusing as she should have done, and
given her decided disapprobalion thereto, she
presses it to her lips, and so does the object Of
her choice. But little did she think that it
would be the source of all her grief and tears,
from that fatal hour until she laid down in the
grave-but it was so as her subsequent history
shows. But they are now before the hymenial
altar-the mutual pledge has been given-the
vows are recorded in heaven, and she is now
bride. Two short years have fled away and
oh what different picture is presented! 1t
| is stormy, winter night-behold that once
happy bride in yonder miserable hovel, shiver-
ing over few expiring embers. On her care
worn brow twine bitter weeds of untold grief
her cheeks, pale and haggard, bear the impress
of sorrows finger; over her sad expressive
countenance, steals the hectic blush, revealing