Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1855-01-25

to an object. high and noble devotion
to an honorable end that animated loft
souls. when valor won golden fruit from
love, and love crowned valor with sue
cess when man bowed willing wor
shipper at the shrine Of woman, nor sui
! lied the glory Of his manhood by the wor
ship"
Then Charles Hsvi.and made answer.
1T 10 . favorite fashion for those o
the present day to laud and magrify the
times OF old. BIZ. j, is all folly. There
has never been a time like the present
The so-called age Of chivslry was but tn,
rudy glare of the sun whom he rst looks
through the gates of the morning. The
nineteenth century 10 directly under hi,
eliminating point. We are prone 10
disparase our own time. and look long
insly back upon the historic age or visit
fully forward to the future eyes; but is
not the sun more glorious and far strong
er in the zenith. than ia bis Ascendant
or his Occident!"
He paused moment but soon went
on
"Bu, cousin Glare, the sge Of chivslry
10 not yet passed. There is devotion to
high and holy objects ye, burning in the
world. There ere truths now being E.
volved and worked out by the men Of
mind. that are TO sstonish the race. and
there is ample Geld for brave hearts smG
true TO wis guerdons from beauty and
love itself. And cousin Clara. however
you may smile. there are men now in
this gold and silver age. as you please to
call il. whose hearts heat with . loyal
AID chivalrous pulsstions rs ever thfob-
bed under an iron corslet or benes I'll 8
snew-white plume. Brave souls are IS
truly valorous in the cause of woman
now as when stslwsrt arms threw down
the gauntlet in her defense, or went forth
TO war under hammers whose devices her
fair fingers had wrought. And bright
eyes to day sway with their lightess look
hearts that are only ice or iron 10 their
own sex or the world. Even nay cousin
Clara Knows her power and uses il toe.
over az least . dozen whom your humble
servant could name: but her tell.tsle
cheek proves il to be unnecessary"
"Oh. you hst,erer!" said the fsir girl.
with silvery laugh, but there was q
more subdued tone in her eye 90 she
went on
"And is il possible tia! our sex really
possesses the power you speak off
have always looked upon the Intercourse
Of men and women in society as the most
hesrtless feature Of sociel life. have
seen men. noble snd intelligent, bowling
in servils fattery and sdu'stion before
women beautiful end refined and intel
lsctusl. and tresting - mere puppets
those whom in their superior power they
should sinn 10 elevate feeding female
vanity and love Of dominion, and then in
their secret hearts despising the work Of
their own hands, and have said in utter
disgust. mon ere hesrtl.ss. and women
TOO; would that the days Of chivalry
were come again."
And ye:." ssid her cousin. "this is
only the surface Of society that offtnds
you. and confess there is much TO be
Deprecated in this state of things. it
ought to be the subject of reform. and
must begin with Jour sex. There is
deep under current in social life, that is
pure and true and full of high feeling.
and woman only needs to Us. her power
arigh: to convince man Of his duty to
her and his own manhood. Society needs
renovation. Men need to feel great
truths as well as TO understand them, and
women need to feel them too, and to
manifest it to men. Truth and duty
should not be betrayed in private and ad.
vocated in public. Man should give up
his prensness to fattery, and w0msI ilsr
vain and indisec..iminats love CT admira.
ton. l believe that all true women.
and especially my cousin Clara, would
wish their influence TO flow in . right
direction"
81 know it," returned she. land yet il.
has always seemed to me that. perhaps.
our boosted infus nee in society on your
sex made just about-as much impression
a. the ocean wave makes on the nous
tain rock-wsshins it and frstting around
1t. but never shaking it,"
Never suppose it again. my dear coz.
your sex has an influence. and 1 tell you
it is ell but omnipotent with us. And
tell yon further j. 10 indeed in our cir
cle."
How ?" asked Clara eagerly. as her
cousin all at once stopped speaking. He
went on
"You know l am q great advocate Of
the Temperance Reform, cousin. Clara.
and ii is gaining ground in this city am
certain, and yet great many Of the most
intelligent of both sexes in our society
withhold their countensnce from US. In
the proudest circles the intoxicating cup