The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1854-10-11

~ hSH iasniOndDie inactivity, and stu
Pid life routine, and labor, firmly and boldl,
for the brilliancy Of her destiny .'a''
The pulpit, the platform, or the states
mans desk, do not call on woman now; bu
aVcice is constantly re-vibrating from neg
lected fresides, vitiated sons, worthless
daughters. "Give US, mothers and wives
the hours God gave ye for our devotion, ant
which ye spend SO lavIshly upon the flimsy
webs of literature, and the frivolous pursuit,
Of fashion Smile around your own hearth
stones, and they will give back blessing
and not the curse that follows with blight
the simper Of the gay !" D. p, .sa#
Does woman wish to guide the helm OIL
state, to purify its laws and elevate It's aims!
Does she wish to restrain the frightful march
OF intemperance, the increase of immorali.
tty, and the vice that stains with indelibIe
dyes the hearts of our youths God bless
her prayer, and every effort she may ad.
vance; but let her not forget that in no sta.
tion, nor any place, can she exert power
and influence greater than that within the
circle Of her home. g aa as.-.
When we say that American women are
unmindful Of the important station they
fill, and that their habits of life, instead OF
having an ennobling influence upon their
posteritJ, possess rather a corrupt and vi.
tiating tendency, we do not include those
true hearts who are striving, both in public
and private, for the elevation of their sex:
but the general mass of our sisterhood-
whose enfeebled minds are too much absorb.
ed in trifiing vanities, to devote one thought
or exertion towards the accomplishment of
a blessed duty, or even the guardianship of
their own children. Can woman, to whom
God hath given sons and daughters, with
hearts and minds capable of becoming a
blessing to the age in which they live, and
glorious example for generations yet to
come, fulfill her trust by making her off
springs the automatic of fashionable life!-
Can we expect to find true mothers heart,
superior intellect and the purifying influ-
ence, in her who, with wealth at her COM
mand, and neglected objects awaiting its
disposal, will filter away the short time of
her existence at fashionable watering places,
during the summer, enervating her already
broken constitution, us preparation for the
winters festivities! Can we expect to find
in her sons men of expanded minds, and
wise Judgment, guided by hearts so honest
and noble that the nation will submit to
their guidance, and treasure their memories
with that of Washington! Can mother
hope all this of son whose unrestrained
youth is devoted to the sporting of fast hor.
ses, giving champagne suppers, and drinking
and gaming half the night! And yet, where
does the responsibility rest. |
The daughters of these pleasure-seeking
and fashion-aspiring women, what has Lib
erty to hope from them! Poor butterflies!
-Blighted apples on dwaried trees! Lit
tie souls plumed over with manner isms, af.
fectations and fooleries, shedding just light
enough to draw the moths!-minds of suffi-
cient airy roominess to shelter the senti-
mental fiction of the day, and hearts so hu-
mility clad that they aim no higher than
ribands and beaus! And yet, how great the
hope that American places upon them!-
These are to become the mother of the next
Notwithstanding an everlasting influ-
ence upon posterity! These are to become
the wives Of those that form the strength
of our Republic, and their union shall eth
er facilitate or retard our progress.
Americas hope is centered around her fire.
sides, and her destiny depends upon the in
duence they emit. The eloquence of states
men may reverberate through the land-pul-
pits may send forth their appeals of truth
and tenderness-science may labour and
bestow her undying tribute, and art may
petrlfy her dreams-yet the garland will
fade from Liberty's brow, and disappointed
millions send up their cry Of despair, if wo-
mans hand and woman's heart refuse an
interest in the work. Let our daughters be
educated for the station of true and noble |
let them, learn to discard the soul
wasting vanities of the day. and enrich their
minds, and SO purify their influence that it
'hall be their lasting monument for long
lges to come. Teach them so to labor that
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