Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-02-08
Some LinitatiOns.

ne eXtTaCt OelOW, from MISS Leslie
new Behavior Book" We commend to our
lady readers. In these days of the equali-
ty ofthe sexes it sounds oddly.
Generally speaking, it is lnjudicious for
ladies to attempt arguing with gentlemen
on political or financial topics. All the in
formation that woman can possibly acquire
or remember on these subjects is so small
that the discussion will not elevate them IN
the opinion of masculine minds. Still, ii is
we'll for woman to desire enlightenment,
that she may comprehend something OF
these discussions when she hears them from
the other sex therefore, let her listen as
understandlngly as she caA but refrain from
controversy and argument on such topics
as the grasp of female mind is seldom ca
pable of seizing or retaining. Men are
very intolerant toward women who are
prone to contradiction and contention, when
the talk is of things considered out of their
sphere; but very indulgent toward mod
est and attentive listener, who only asks
questions for the sake of Information
Men like to disperse knowledge; but few
of them believe that, in departments exclu-
sively their own, they can profit much by
the suggestions of women. 1t is true, there
are, and have been, women who have dis.
slnguished themselves greatly in the higher
branches of literature, and on whom the
light of genius has clearly descended. Bu'
can the annals of woman produce female
Shakespeare, a female Milton, Goldsmith
Campbell, or a Scott? What woman has
painted like Raphael or Titan, or like The
best artists of our own times? Mrs. Damel
and Mrs. Siddons had talent for sculpture
so had Marie of Orleans, the accomplished
daughter of Louis Philippe. Yet, what arr
the productions ofthese talented ladies com
pared to those of Thorwaldsen, Canova
Chantrey, aad the master chisels of tn;
great American statuaries? Women have
been excellent musicians, and have made
fortunes by their voices but is there a
mong them Mozart, Bellina, Michae
Kelly, an Auber, Boildieu?
Has a woman made an improvement on
steam engines, or on anything connected
with the mechanic arts? And yet these
things have been done by men of no early
education-by seIf-taught men. A COCO
tailor fits, cuts out and sews better than
the most celebrated female dress-maker.-
A g ,od hancock far excels good woman
cook. Whatever may have been their mer.
ITS as assistants, women are rarely found
very successful at the head of any estab-
lishment that requires energy and original
ity of mind. Men make fortunes, women
make llvings. And none make poorer liv-
ing than those who waste their time, and
bore their friends, by writing and lecturlng
upon the equality of the sexes, and what
they call "Women's Rights" How is it
that most of these ladies live separately
from their husbands. either desplsing them,
or being despised BY them? Truth is, the
female sex is really as inferior to the male
in vigor of mind as in strength of body: and
all arguments to the contrary are founded
on a few anomalies, or based on theories
that can never be reduced TO Practice
Because there was Joan of Arc, and an
Augustine of Saragossa, should females ex'
pose themselves to all the dangers and nor.
rors of "the battle fields dreadful array Z!
The women of the American Revolution ef-
fected much good to their country's cause,
without encroaching upon the province OF
its brave defenders. They were faithful
and patriotic but they left the conduct OF
that tremendous struggle to ADLER heads,
stronger arms, and sterner hearts"
~ Tbe best parts of human qualities are
the teplerness and delicacy Of feeling IN
l;tlematters, the desire to soothe and please
others, the mnutie Of the social virtues
Some ridicule these feminine attributes,
which are left out of many mems natures |;
but have known the brave, the intellect
ual, the eloquent possess these gentle quail
tiles the braggart, the weak, never! pc
nevolence and feeling ennoble the mosttrl'
fling actions,