New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-11-13

rcside tell OF danger TO the domestic harmony If the
least change proposed that may elevate condition
The general system to be- not to elevate and de-
veore true and beautiful type Of womanhood but 10
present one that shall be harmless. The world il so
had, say the men, that must be kept from contact
with it-snd yet men make up this very bad
world, sgoinst which they talk. Why do they
not reform it The disorder and drunkenness Of the
polls make it an unfit place for women, but why
infuse purer and better element therei If il were
known that at acertain hour group Of women were
toappear at the polls my word for it. the worst rowdy Of
the occasion would be hand in holiday trim But no.
you say where ignorance is bliss, It's folly to be wise
which was well in the days when woman first nbbled
the fruit Of knowledge but now that she gathers with
'rssh hand from every bough she will no longer be
content 10 be kept like little spider in a web,
peering about for some safe victim for marriage
She II learning to know her worthiness aud to see
that life may unfold to her other phases than that OF
maternity; and now, in her advancing, encroaching
career, brothers are called upon 10 make new
concessions to open their eyes to strange innovations
and to give the final testimony TO manhood by accepting
views strange and unexpected contrary all past
experience asthe advent Of the locomotive must have
been TO the sailor who had been on FIVE years whaling
voyage, seeing it dash by, rushed on shipboard in
him. but III give this crittcr broad birth"
Let me here In justice say. that q reform apperain
ing 10 our own sex il received twice readily by the
other than our own. We can reach the ear and con-
victons of man long before will hear or re-
ceive Indeed there il not an affected or vain won an
in the country wishing make hersef attractive in the
eyes of some shallow man that does not fall ino an
abuse of the doctrines nculcate. tits cheap way Of
atteriDg the selfove Of her admrer and Of exhibiting
nlfo her own amiable doeility. But Women are grow
ing too noble too true to indulge in these Alterations
and men will soon be too wise to be misled by them.
Our brothers too, will drop the cant about
mans sphere. They bear testimony to their own man
hood by making the strong will the bold hand and the
daring foot to afix ts bounds Man creates his own
sphere and bends life time fate TO bis purpose and in
proportion he is able to do this he il less
man and why should not a be actuated by
like sprt Why should not the boy at her knee thrill
beneath the pulsiDgs OF good heart and catch the
fire Of divine inspiration from a mothers eyer Why
should he not feel that the gentle hand which led his
totteing seps through the uncertain experience of the
child is the hand that shall guide him onward to
mani upward to the very gates of Heaven :"
The fair lecturer then proceeded to show that Won.
en- can mske their sphere just what they please
at least jut in proportion to their own capabilities
She then remarked that she had been in the habit OF
citing Henry Clay and Daniel Webster the most
prominent types Of Manhood yet offered by the
try but that they hadso recently left for that bourne
from which traveller returns that she must drop the
tore Of the critic and tread lightly upon their ashes.
In alusion to those eminent statesmen she sad:
Party strife is forgotten-party censure a0ae' is
acrimony. They belong to country their fame u
ours We recall their pamy days OF eloquence, and
our pulses ill with enthusiasm We recall their long
struggles their triumphs their dsappoiniments. We
remember that if ambitious grievOuy have they atoned
for this inrity of noble mind and seem TO step "a
it into their great hearts with fraerna tenderness
But these men, great they fell far short of the
highest test Of manhood Neither sufficient in him
self They did not net up to those truths that uni
versal in import, but submitted TO compromises that
betrayed absence of faith III human good, and an alb
sense Of resource In themselyes."
The speaker then asserted that Cromwell and Milton
came to her ideas of the perfect man and ad
duced the grounds of her reasoning for the position she
assumed but unable to give further space to the
subject.
Mrs. Cakes Smiths next lecture on Monday evening
next, will be on Womanhood.