Washington sentinel., 1854-03-26
Thackeray,s Estimate of Women.

Thackeray has been accused Of not enter
tanning q very high opinion of the fair sex.
His heroines are generally described to be de-
mons in human form; but, after all, the man
has somewhat of good in his description Of the
female character. The following extracts from
his letters to young man will vindicate the
truth of this remark:
Il do not mean to tell you there are no wo-
men in the world vulgar and ill-humored, ran
corous and narrow-minded, mean schemers,
son-in-law hunters, slaves offashion, hypocrites,
but do respect, and admire, and almost wor-
ship good women; and / think there is a very
fair number of such to be found in this world,
and have no doubt in every educated Eng
lishman's circle Of society, whether he finds
that circle in places in Belgravia and May Fair,
in snug little suburban villas, in ancient COM
Portable old Bloomsbury, or in back parlors
behind the shop. 1t has been my fortune to
meet with excellent ladies in every one of these
places-wives, graceful and a6ectionate; ma
irons, tender and good; daughters, happy and
pure-minded; and urge the society of such to
you, because defy you to think evil in their
company. Walk into the drawing-room of
Lady L., that great lady; look at her charming
face. and listen to her voice. She is one of
those fortunate beings on whom it has pleased
Heaven to bestow all sorts of most precious
gifts and worldly favors. With what grace
She receives you-with what frank kindness
and natural sweetness and dignity Her looks,
her motions her thoughts, all seem to be beau
tiful and harmonious quite. See her with her
children. What woman can be more simple
and loving? After you have taxed to her
awhile, you very likely find that she is ten
times as well read as you are; she has hun
dred accomplishments which she is not in the
least anxious to show of, and makes no more
account of them than of her diamonds, or of
the splendor around about her. to all of which
she is born, and has happy, admirable claim
Of nature and possession-admirabe and happy
for her and for us too, for is it not happiness
for us to admire her?
"Now transport yourself in spirit, my good
Bob, into another drawing-room. There sits
an old lady of more than tourscore years, Sc
rene and kind, and as beautiful in her age
now as in her youth, when history toasted her.
What has she not seen, and is not she ready to
tell? All the fame and wit, all the rank and
beauty, of more than half a century, have
passed through those rooms where you have
the honor of making your best bow. She is
as simple now as if she never hao any fattery
to dazzle her; she is never tired of being
pleased and being kind. Can that have been
ally ytnliiR uuI Boou uic WHICH,, diteE cibhty
years of it are SPENT is so calm? Could she
look at the end of it so cheerfully, if its long
course had not been been pure? Respect her,
say, for being so happy, now that she is old.
Wedo not know what goodness and charity,
what affections, what trials, may have gone to
make that charming sweetness of temper, and
complete that perfect manner. But if we do
not admire and reverence such an old age as
that, and get good from contemplating it, what
are we to respect and admire?
"Or shall we walk through the shop and see
Mrs. N, playing with the child in the back
parlor until n. shall come to tea? They drink
tea at Eve o'clock, and are actually as well
bred as those gentle-folks who dine three
hours later. Or will you please to step into
Mrs. Us lodgings, who is waiting, and at work
until her husband comes home from chambers.
She bushes and puts away the work on hear.
ing the knock; but, when she sees who the
visitor is, she takes it with a smile from behind
the sofa cushions, and behold tits one Of Us
waiscoats on which she is sewing buttons. She
might have been countess blazing in dia.
monds, had fate so willed it, and the higher
her station the more would she have adorned
il. But she looks as charming while plying
her needle as the great lady in the palace,
whose equal she is in beauty, in goodness, in
highbred grace and simplicity; at least can't
fancy her better, or any peeress being more
than her peer.
"And it is with these sort Of people, my dear
Bob, that recommend you to consort, If you
can be SO lucky as to meet with their society"