The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1852-12-04
SATURDAY MORNING DECEMBER a 1852

lie lnrIuS lne ldhErlnln nl Tue Hlnu,
He reads the secret Of the star,
He seems near and yet so far,
He looks so cold; she thinks him kind.
She keeps the gifts of years before,
A whered violet is her bliss;
She knows not what his greatness is;
For that, Tor all, she loves him more.
For him she plays, 10 him she sings
Of early Gath and p!ioh'cd vows:
She knows but matters of the house,
And he, he knows Il thousand things.
Her faith is fixed and cannot move,
She darkly feels him grca, and wise,
She dweils on him with faithful eyes,
Il cannot understand | love-"
And why Is this? While he thirds the laby-
rnth Of the mind why does she not go with him
step by step and assist him to explore its inlrl-
cate mazcS! Why 3 BECAUSE shr knows but
matters Of the house; she was educated TO fill
her 'propcr sphere" (D
And now let us glance at the condition ofihat
portion OF the female sex who never reach this.
their .'propcr sphere" Looking forward 10
this alone, they seek no other; nay, verify, most
Others are closed against them. Though they
may long to mingle in the world-to act their
part in the great lfc-arama--to cheer the weary
and lit the fallen, they cannot fulfill the desires
Ilhcir hearts. Wherever they turn to seek
for way whereby they may enter this sphere
they find still the cleaning sword before their
eyes. There is no truth in the assertion tn al,
woman lacks enterprise Or ambition. Her as
plra!Ions after a prominent place on the worlds
stage are as strong as those OF her lord, nor is
she in an wise deficient in the moral or intel
lcctual energy necessary TO secure it. Put her
on the same footing with man and she will ncv-
or llE behind, but in many instances be
First IN the race ;hat iclds to glory's goal"
Open 10 her the learned professions, and the
Swarms orquacks and pelliloggers will soon be
Swep, away, and their places filled by industr-
Gus, talented women who will honor their all
ing. Give her the elective franchise, and our
elections will no longer be gambling hclls
where the interests Of the people are but the
stakes in the hands Of desperate politicians.
Admit them 10 our legislative halls. and instead
OF maiden speeches from embryo statesmen
whDsc only object is to scout dash,' or the yeas
and nays Of parliamentary aulomatons, we
shout have prompt energetic actions on mca-
SurcS of puIlic policy. Why! Because women
have more talent than men? Not so. Only
because the best 1r0men would be chosen 10 ill
thes. stations, or would put themselves forward
in the learned professions. and they would take
the places Of the droncs and hangers-on and
these latter have to find some more "appropri-
a. sphere"
Here, in conclusion, let us ask, by what prn-
cipc OF justice is woman prohibited from en-
gazing in pubic Affairs on the same footing
with man! Intellectually she is his equal, and
needs hut proper education to develop her
faculties. Instead of teaching her that it is her
duty solely 10 minister 10 the pleasures of man,
tell hen that she may control his destiny and she
will first fiji herself Cor the tasl; and then faith
fully and earnestly perform it. No right Of
supremacy has ever been guaranteed to man by
any power human or divine, whereby he is
tion, 10 have and 10 hold dominion over all per-
sons and things. The abstract principles Of
justice and equality, BY which we as Americans,
especially, pretend to be guided, allows to all
persons Il voice in making those laws by which
they are governed: and yet one half our popua-
ton are the subjects of laws which they have
no Part in enaciing; at the same time, the very
act that dcprvcs them of this privilege makes
them mere passive creatures, and thus throws
them doubly liable TO the effects of bad legisIa-
ton, because unable to provide themselves with
any protection.
Occasionally, Of late years, we see women
employed in occupations which were formerly
carried on exclusively by men; but, we will also
find upon examination, that there are employ
mcntS requiring only manual labor, or at least,
a very limited share of talent; thus proving. that
so long as the enlargement of woman's sphere
includes only the drudserv OF lie, men have no
objection TO the extension. They have no con-
sccntlous scruples about placing her behind the
merchants counter, and subjccting her 10 direct
contact with that cupidity and souless selfish
ness which is always the most prominent feature
of trade both on the part of buyer and seller;
but, let her once talk of engaging in any of the
more Intellectual employmcn.s, and they will
hold up their hands in holy horror. and in tones
of well iegncl sympathy deprecate the innu-
ence of such pursuits upon her moral purity.
Thus we see that under the present system
woman Is not only degraded, intellectually, her
energies restrained, her influences weakened, -
failing altogether in accomplishing that where
unto, as spiritual being, she was sent, but
that her political condition is very serfiom to
which the vassaase OF ieuda times was com
parative freedom. F.
"N HY do you sci your cup of coffee
upon the chair, Mr.. Jones I"
at is SO very weak, ma'am," replied
Mr.. Jones demurel y, :, thought would