The Yazoo City weekly Whig. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 18??-1855, 1853-03-18
influence of Woman.
The PAST AND PREsENr.

The PAST AND PRESENT.
1t has been acknowledged by the reflect
ling and the wise, that the power possessed
and welded by Woman is great, and TO b
used or abused for the good or evil of man
kind. States revolutionized, cities burnt
kings dethroned, empires overthrown, unite
to prove it true. In che page of history hel
name is indelibly written, whetherit be fol
superiority in virture or crime; whether it be
for the admiration or detestation of world
There it is stamped-let US deeply ponder
upon it! Numberless are the examples in
the past, which, in tones of fearful warning,
speak to the hearts of all -"Beware!'
On the other hand, we may be strength
ened in the exercise of every virture.by the
contemplation of those high heroic actions OF
the buried past, which amid the surround
ing gloom, With an undying. unwayering
brilliancy, ''burn throughout all Time. z
A Nero was formed by the pernicious
counsels of Woman; an Atonylost the world
by the persuasive arts and beauty of Cleo
patra. A woman stepped forth in the hour
of her country's peril breathed hope in the
hearts of despairing warriors, and led them
forth to conquer. Victory perched upon her
banner, and the Maid of Orleans received
the crown of Martyrdom! And who could
have caused the desolation ofthe fatal night
of blood, when the guardian genius OF
France slumberd-when the alarm rang in
the midnight air, and the shrieks of the liv-
ing were mingled with the agonizing cries
Of the dying, ''piercing the ear Of night?"
Who but Woman, base, unprincipled, am
bilious Woman? Who, but Catharine de
Medici, could thus have played upon the
passions of weak son, and caused him to
she'd the blood of thousands of Huguenots,
10 crafty her love of power? Another form
rises up before me, but how unlike the for
ner Isabella of CASTLE, hail thee! Pat
roness and friend of the great ''World finder,
;hy name ever be honered! The influence
If thy friendship shall be felt. till the world
S not. The maiden monarch of England,
90, though arbitrary and severe in her gov
and her fame stained with dark !
pot which can never be efaced, yet gave
IN impulse to commerce and industry which |
$ felt throughout the world. She showed
what Woman can do when possessed OF poW-
II to sway the destinies Of mighty people!
The general character of a nation must
,ver depend upon that Gifts women. The
tern lawgiver of Sparta knew this when he
reated those laws which made the females
anticipate with their husbands and broth
rs in the rude, violent games of the age.
thus they became bold, patriotic and da-
ing exhorting their sons when they went
orth to battle, "to return with shield or
Ipon il" The exhortation of the Spartan
women fred the soldiers; whether they con-
uered or fell, they were assured of the praise
nd rejoicing of their mothers and sisters,
nd this melted them to unparalleled deeds
{ arms.
Stern, unyeilding Romans were nnrtured
) matrons Of high and noble virtues, who
oasted that their gems, their priceless
seasures, were their children. In fact,
lhereever Woman has participated in the
fairs Of nation. her voice has Influenced
j; In the dark ages when learning and re-
gion were confined to few bigoted mon-
stories, and almost unknown to q woman,
Woman exercised but little sway over the
ublic mind. Plunged in ignroauce limited
) the household Of the age, they were con-
idered as mere slaves Rude strength was
hen the test Of superiority; violence and y
cree sports, Of the bloody trade Of war;
ngrossed the lords Of creation" But
hen the crusaders gave to chivalrY the re-
nements and luxiries Of the Oriensials. Wo-
ian asserted her poWer--that power which ]
"a been 50 long smoshered only 70 burst
1t when i found vent like long hidden
olcanic ere, in q fercer age. was-beanty. Il