Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-11-10
TadiEa' QtAartmtnt.
Position of American Ladies.

CuNilOEto EAibChA7A DONHhN1 -
are taken to task for our excessive devotion e
10 the sex:-In the North American States, e
women occupv a position in society very g
Iiaerent from that which females Of any class &
are accustomed to in this country. Among !
rs. women are treated with delicaey and
consideration, but always as if they were
rational beings; they are neither depressed
tothe condition Of i~nferiors. nor exalted to
that of eoddesses; besides, for the attentions
and general respect shown towards them, 1t
is expected that they will act with consider :
ate polieness in return, so that, by their
afabiiity and a~greeableness Of manners, they
NAV command the esteem as well asthe adm a
ration of all who approach them. In America, :
the position Of women as we say, IS entire :
" different. There they seem to be viewed
rs a kind of superior being, something more
than mortal. al their caprices must be
listened to with Difference, all their whims
satisfied, even though among strangers, and
for all the attentions shown towards them 1t
IS not expected that they should offer any
thanks, or show any condescensloni in return.
American women are, In fact, spoiled children;
they can do as they like, and the men are
-, ~. 1auno The -~~Nr~l"L1~-~ad1non Oh
things is noticed by almost every traveller.
Mr., Grund, in his late work, Aristocracy
in America thus speaks of it: American la
dies occupy, from mere courtesy, q rank in
society whichis not only opposed to that which
they hold in private life, and in their own
families, but that which is Incompatible with
The exercise of discretion on the part of the
gentlemen. The ladies must be waited upon;
the ladies' must be helped : the ladies must
be put into the carriage ; the ladies must
he taken out Of the carriage !; the ladies
must have their shoe-strings tied : the la
lies must have their India-rubber shoes put
on , the ladies must be wrapt up in shawls;'
the ladies must be led up stairs and down
stairs = the ladies must have their candles
lit for them when they goto bed On
every occasion they are treated rs poor help
less creatures, who rather excite the pity
han the admiration of men and as the SER
vices they require are numerous, just in
proportion to the scarcity Of hired servants,
tue gentlemen are obliged to oficiate in their
stead. The American men, lie continues,
approach women with the most indubitable
consciousness Of their own inferiority and,
either from modesty or prudence, seldom
open their lips except to affirm what has
been said by the ladies. One is always
reminded Of Candide's honest prayer
Helas ! madame je repon raj CONNIE vou
roudrez, TAlas ma'am, [ will answer iust
rs you' wish. have seen one Of the mos
distinguished old gentlemen in the United
States, one who held the highest rank il
the gift ofthe American people, and who's,
learning and knowledge on most subject
rendered him a most pleasing and entertain
ing companion ofmen, betray as little sci
possession in the presence Of women as if h
had been making his debut in society, All
this too, in the house of one Of his most int
mate friends. '-Home Journal.
rs quietly amid her hills as a child upon Il
breast Of its mother. The n~oiseless sentin
stood like a statue at his post, and the phi
osopher's light burned dimly in the recess
Of his chamber.
But a darker night was abroad upon Il
earth. An1oral darkness involved the n
lions in its Enlightened shadows. Reasc
she'd a faint glimmering over the minds
men, like the cold and inefficient shining
II distant star. The Immortality of ma
spiritual nature was unknown, his relation
10 Heaven undiscovered, and his future de
llny OOSCuTcu Ill IL CiOuN OF mystery.
1t was at this period that two forms
ETHEREAL mould lowered above the land
Gods chosen people. They seemed sist
angels sent to earth upon some embassy
Iove. The one was of majestic statue, al
in the well formed limbs which her snow
lrapery hardly concealed, in her erect be.
hlghest'degree of strength and confdenc
Ter right arm was extendedi in an expressi
gesture upwards, where night appeared
have placed her darkest pavilion, while
Ter left, reclined her delicate companio
= form and 'countenance the contrast of +
"ther, for she was dropping like the flow
when unmoistened~by refreshing dews, al
her bright but troubled eve scanned the
with ardent but varying Chances. Sudden
'g,light like the sun flashed out from t
i%5earens, and Faith and Hope hailed wi
"Nulung songs the ascending Star of Beth
hem.
Years rolled away aud a stranger w
seen in Jerusalem. He was a meek =,
nnassuming man, whose happiness seem
- consist in acts of beneyolence TO The h
man race. There were deep traces of Sc
row on his eountenance, though no one kne
-rsEy he greved, for he lived in the pra
lfac ofevery virtue, and was loved BY
the wise and good. By and bv it was !
lnored that the blind saw, the dumb spal
and the dead leaped to life at his toucl
hat when he commanded, the ocean mo
rated its chatting tide, and thc.vcry thundt
circulated, lie is the son of God. Envy
sailed him with the charge Of sorcery. and /
voice Of impious Judges condemned HI
Sdeath; Slowly and thickly guarded
a'cended the hill OF Calvary. A heavy ere
'onthimt to the earth. But Faith leaned up
lbs arm and Hope dipping her pinions
us blood mounted to the skies.
tbs Two SExEs.-When a rakish YOU
goes astray, friends gather around him