Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-05-19
[From the Boston Transcript
THE NEW ENGLAND WOMAN

We apprehend tina, ii would be easier to des-
scribe what the New England woman i. not,
than what che is. We may be wrong in as
snming that she has no prototype but, from
our own observation and limited reading VIC in
fer that she has been produced by the blending
rounded by circumstances fs>s~----r-- -.I snr
extraordinary as to have Oceasioncd the full de-
velopment Of those combined forces. IL is a
matter however Of lille importance, inasnueh
as we have her, body and soul, before Us, ac-
tive and operative before our eyes, and iufuenc-
ing, more or less, every moment Of our oxis-
tcnce.
Her characteristics, as displayed and seen in
the moral world, remind us Of the better half
Of that scale Of mountain attitudes, which geog
raphers have prepared, 10 give US notion Of
the high part they perform in the physical
world. There is certain something to he
found in this order of woman, however or wher-
ever placed, that proves her allegiance to some
commanding PriHlpic, and where struggles most,
it is most actiyc-and yet TO the common eye
the machinery Of its action is so delicatcly
managed as to be ofieniimes invisible. II the
history Of her trials and her triumphs, in the
field Of duty, should be presented to the con-
temptation Of some portions Of civilized Eu-
rope, il would be regarded as fabulous and
possibly, its reception would be hardly less hai-
terng in some Of our own remote borders.
She is the practical character, handed down,
in lis integrity, 10 the present day,--and more.
Place her anywhere under difficulties, aud the
electric spark begins 10 unfold itself-io avak-
en- kindle, and illumine doubts and obs,ruc-
iions vanish, at the bidding of her determined
will, aided by clear and consecutive under
standing-she seems TO have succeeded Iu an
inheritance doubly charged with life.
A certain devotion to family detail, (which
in some communities might be thought uniriond-
ly TO the cultivation Of the best tasies,) is by
her recognized, no, only as an efficient and Sue
cesstul aid in their acquisition, but the most i'm
poliant sphere for their practice.
There are few labyrinths through which her
selfreiance will not thread its way. Her dai-
| ly life has something in il of heroic cast
She is not enclosed in the shell Of self, bat her
ministries are those of the head, heart and hand
and never divorced, never suspended. Visit
/ ing claims she meets and cancels by system
almos, immutable, and only enforced at periods
when the least loss may result TO the homestead
by her absence. She evinces little regard fol
mere form or outward seeming, but strong
inyincbe faith in the necessity OF complying
with those requisitiohs that promise ior the iu-
ture an accession Of comfort and well being
over the past.
/ Fine furniture, rich personal adornings, ant
eyo-catching jewels, the associates with impair
ed constitutions and weak intellecis, and he
children can tolerate the breath Of heaven, i
it is not charged with cologne.
BY dispensing with a certain kind of help
she is enabled to defray the extra educaliona
expense Of nne child, and il he does not grad
uate with high college honors, he will not b.
far in the rear Of them. Whatever appertain
to the interest of her family, she examines an'
defines with the astuleness Of practised law
J yer.
, Finally impress her with the necessity Of &C
tion, and she has an arm that can be nerved
like that of "Tell's,' to strike the apple iron
} the head of her own child, not refusing to b
, "siretched on the rack of restless ecs,acy," 70
the yindication of principle.
. These are the women that make men i--men
able to reflect, contend, endure, decide, and az
with energy. Wherever this germ has bee
waited over this broad land, there its appropr
S ate fruit will be found. In that order Of Ne'
0 England's women where circumstances have e
c eyated them above the necessity of an intens
Q watchfnlness and exertion, the traits TO whic
!, We have alluded exist in milder and soRG
4 forms, bu, thoy may be revived in their fu