The primitive Republican. (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-1852, 1851-07-31
COLUMBUS MSSISsIPPL THURsDAY, JULY 81 1851

It is this experience which gives to tleirI
par ieipation in the interest of this occakOn
its April-day character of smiling tearfulress.
They have heart-warm hopes for your haPpi-
ness and prosperity in every walk Of Iife.
They have fearful sadness for the trials and
disappointments which you must share as
the common lot of all.
To prepare you for participation in theHu-
ties of life, and to sustain you in their faith
full and conscientious discharge, as well al to
teach you to smooth the rough places, OF to
beautify their ruggednesq, is the Legitimate
Office of education inits most comprehensive
import
The cornerstone, the foundation of that
superstructure wehope has been Welldaid un-
der the care and supervision of your respect
cd Principal and his assistants. But howcv-
er extensive or accurate may have been your
attainments in this your scholastic course,
remember young ladies, that you have gain
ed but the starting point in the great work
of education. The foundation being laid,
the character of the superstructure depends
upon yourselves. Henceforth yourselyes
must become the architects of your life-cdi-
fee.
This is, perhaps, startling assertion to
your young minds, accustomed as many are,
to regard that day which is to discharge them
from school-room allegiance as joyful epoch,
from which they may sing, dance, and be mer-
ry-beyond which they discern no object, nc
purpose, no distinct view of existence or its
duties.
1t is a truth, much to be lamentcd, that
even in our favored land and this enlightened
age, undergraduates, and unpreparedness
for the conscientious discharge of response
bility, as intelligent beings, is so prevalent
amongst the young of both sexes.
Woman is not now, in this enlightened
land and age, necessarily the mere domesti,
drudge, as among the heather, with no pleas
ure but the will Of her lord-with no ac
acknowledgement of gratitudc-no rccompcns,
no sympathy-with neither intellectual
or moral culture-her energies of mind ant
. heart degraded and repressed. Nor yet i
: she, as in the ninth and tenth centuries, tn
6 presiding influence and animating decoration
% of tilt and tournament, or hestately arbitrcs
4 in the courts of love" alone. Nor is sh
the fanciful spirituel Of that age of Teuton
ic chivalry whose fanatical gallantry cxalte
her to little less than divinity
Though We Of the nineteenth century pre-
fess not to have lost this admiration of tn
female sex which characterised the middl
ages, yet we proudly claim that it has bee
reserved for our own age, and to christia
lands alone to scperate this devotion from j
extravaganza and folly, and to place woma
in her true position as mother, wife, siste
of friend--the ornament and purifier of societ
he the equal and companion of man.
lie In this state of things her responsibility
ID. increase with her privileges, and it becom
IS. her so to WELD her moral influence over Il
physical force and intellectual yigor of Il
stronger sex, as to accomplish the greatest
mount of good
Let her discipline her own character
the practice of every gentle, christian Writ
of kindness, fcrbearance, forgiveness of
juries, charity-so that she may be ever rea
to lead those within the circle of her infuer
by from the indulgence of baneful and dcad
'es- passions, to the contemplation in her o.
ion character, of the beauty and excellency
his se!t-goeernment.
lite, Example breaches louder than precepf
in time-honored aphorism; and expresses W
rdi- peculiar force and propriety the kind Of I'M
ence which should be welded by woman
iom domestic and social intercourse. Rememl
ng, that in example and influence consists !
oud mans power Cultivate sedulously, ey,
the graceful, womanly accomplishment and SIT
a particularly the science of neatness, or
end and taste; for these are essential items in
are formation of complete female charac
and deficiency in these requisites to don
ded tic refinement and enjoyment, admits Of
rso equivalent.
Y a Prcpareyourselves for companionship y
see your fathers, mothers, brothers and frieI
girl To this end, cease not to cultivate your
chit tellectual tastes, nor to enrich your mi
mo- with various knowledge, that you may
,om. companions indeed-dispensers as well a
and cipients Of intellectual pleasures, thus
ans king your homes sanetuaries Of purity, {
fort and re6nement-cynosures, to vi
inc. the eyes and hearts of its absent or wandel
-dav inmates may turn for safe guidance in q
d e. strait and temptation. How many CHI
lent, spirits might have been saved from wre
re How many husbands, brothers aud
ions. might have been rescued from the breal
that had home been 70 them the polar star th
) in. should be made BY wives, mothers and
-pec- tiers Believe me, yonng ladies' dono
that aggerate Jour responsibility.
wood Consider well your position IN regar
cred your family, friendsand society. AsCel
hand your duties to and perform those d