Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-06-04

BILE change: but from the prevalence in literature
of the illusions to such tragic results, we cannot
doubt that tho evil of very serious
amount. 1t may, indeed, admit of some doubt,
whether the very large mortality of former as
compared with the present times, not owing
rather more to this than to inferior sanitary
conditions, the virulence of smallpox. and Other
circumstances, to which it has been usually as.
crbed.
1t will be acknowledged as something quite
beyond our province to speculate on the teleoio-
gical aspects of the question, and attempt to de.
fine the design which Providence had in view in
permitting much evil to exist. But it is our
grateful privilege, merely observers of the facts
of nature, to remark that with that mercy which
shines through The universal plan, it had been so
arranged that the savage tendencies of the female
breast were limited to particular period of life
The power and the disposition to treat men cru
ely appears seldom to have appeared before sew.
enteen; and the instances in which it lasted be-
yond twenty-five are rare. After that period of
lie, IT marriage had not INTERVIEWED the female
heart was usually observed to relent; and have
not been able to discover single we'll authentica-
ted case of cruelty recorded against an unwedded
woman above thirty five. Thusit appears to have
put on very much the aspect of kind of calen--
ture; and we are left to believe that a woman.
who had acted as a perfect tigress in early life,
was converted in due time into one of these win
who are also the themes of so many illusions in
our by-gone literature. In this respect pbysio--
logical, the whole subject assumes very curious
character. We find the hot head still applicable
to the young man, avaIice to the DID, all the great
characteristics assigned to particular epoehs of
male life by old writers, still remain as they
were. How singular that the sanguinary eharac-
tel attributed to the female between eighteen and
twenty-five, should alone have undergone rev.
olution!
That the revolution is complete one, need
not, presume, be largely insisted on, as the So
ciety is well aware, from their own observation
and experience, that GOODNESS and rigour towards
the opposite sex no longer mark the demeanor of
womankind at any period of life. A poetical
complaint against Myra or Corinda is never heard;
and Mr.. Farr can at once make clear beyond dis
pute, that deaths from either the lightnings of
female eyes, or the GOODNESS of female bosoms.
arc not the subject of any return. AT evening"
parties. the waltz and polka demonstrate the
anicable footing on which the two sexes live
Instead of holding out that she is to be sighed
for by many, and will, at the utmost, take one,
and kill off the rest, the young lady, with that
su bmissiveness and courtesy which mark high
civilization, and which was doubtless designed to
be the highest development of her nature, doeg
not now object that the question should rather
be- Who is going to take her? Since woman has
thus been put in her proper social attitude, we
see how much sweetness has been infused into
those assemblies where the two sexes meet; bar
ring, indeed, certain competitions which occasion
ally take place amongst the ladies themselves
with regard to particular swains and the little
jeaousies which will thence arise-a trivial Incl
dental drawback from great good