New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-10-08
Mrs. l.. Cakes smiths Lecture.

\ respectable though not a crowded
audience was assembled at Stuyye>ant Institute last
evening TO listen to the discourse on Womauhoojf
BY this highly intellectual and eloquent lady wa
a brilliant earnest. and powerful appeal IN behalf OF
the feminine clem,n' m al affairs, sci forth VITA
great beauty Of Iilu>'a and enforced by series
Of consecutive and well-sustancd arguments. Mrs.
Cakes Smith speaks With entire SeltpoSSeSson, an
grave, earnest. conversational style. and with res
markablc propriety of mtonaton and emphasis
Without any attempt to play the orator, her oiocu-
ton is me loGouS graceful and effective. Tie pre-
vailng tone OF her lecture was deep, approaching !"
solemniiy m It's expression of intense conviction but
frequently relieved by the excursions of playful
fancy, and flashes Of quiet humor
Abiding to the condition OF woman SINCE The Pro
testant ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS she considered rs Of a
retrograde character she said that she did not clam
to be a champion of womans rights, IN the sense In
which that hackneyed phrase Is often used She
not aware that woman had been treated with de
Lberate Injustice she had rather failed Of the de
velopment Of her nature she had suffered from those
evils which are incident to an imperfect condition OF
society, ard 1t on the ground of our common hn-
manity that the subject should be presented and dis
cussed
The lecturer then proceeded to illustrate the I'm
porance of the feminine element IN It's application
TO the practical interests Of life. She however,
claimed no exclusive sphere for this Humanity wa
above all distinctions Of sex nor could is highest
perfection be obtained without true harmony IN the
nature Of both sexes Jesus addressed himself to the
deepest heart OF humanity-to universal man-but no
one had ever showed Just recognition of the dcs-
Tiny of woman-and while his stonost dcuuncIatIOns
were directed to masculine hypocrisy aud oppre.
sion, he Ways used 10 woman the language Of super
human tenderness and sympathy. In all the nobiest
characters the elements OF each sex graciously
attempered and blended Plato, FoneIon and Shelley
men Of a feminine cast, while the masculine
traits were active Ia Aspasia, aud Elizabeth, an1
De Stael.
She would not claim for woman "A place on the
battle field, though ages past she had stood by the
side of man the thickes ofthe fight, and acted hc
part with ,alor and effect But, argued the speaker.
ought the TO legislation 70 be closed against
woman Should She be compelled to take no part
In the enactment Of the laws which she bound
10 obey Was 1t an improved state Oh things, when
Miriam was no longer among the CounsellOrs. nor
Deborah Of the Judges Even some Indian
tribes admit the mother who has borne chief to
place at the council fire.
In defending the claims OF women TO the Office OF
religious teacher Mrs. Cakes Smith described the
prevailing condition of the pulpit IN style Of severe.
though not unkind criticism ~ least, she thought
that the sacred desk should be preserved from the
crude exercises of unhedged youth and that tie
counsels Of mature wisdom should not be made 10
give place TO the flights Of juvenile presumption.
Tie adaptation Of the female nature to the llustra-
ton Of religious truth shown IN a train Of adj
mirable remarks, which the crowded state Of our
columns compel US reluctantly to omit The close
Of the lecture, depicting the future condition OF
society, under the reign Of harmonic laws, was a
fine specimen OF just thought and Impressive elo-
quence.
We understand hat Mrs Cakes smith IS 20 deliver
a lecture Ia Worcester, Mass on Tuesday the lith
instant, where sure that her brilliant intellect
and her devotion TO high social interests Will find
cordial reception.