The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-10-06
From ae Boston T,ureNor. Sept. u. J

Ralph Waldo Emerson ON the Riyh,
Of Women.
From he Boston TiueN.r. Sent 81
! WoMAN's RIGn1s CoNvENrIoN-.lE En-
erson and he Lodics.-The convention close
last night by public meeting at the Mcor
aon, the chief attraction of which consistc
in an address from Ralph Waldo Emerson
and poem by Mrs. f. Oakes Smith. Tn
place was crowded, many gentlemen bein
present who had come with the irrcvercn
motive of laughing at the proceedings.
Some preliminarics, in the shape of read
ing resolutions, having been disposed of, NJ,
Emerson was introduced, and delivered
very fine Grafton, full of Mythic crandeu
and nonsense, but redeemed bv Passages G
great beauty and briliancy. On the Who'll
it told far more against the cause" than TO
It, 10 attempt an abstract, for which alon
we should have space at disposal TODAY
would be to do injustice alike to the lecture
and his theme. lie said that he shared il
the belief OF the Anglo Saxon race, tha
woman has a rational nature, that they ar
more delicate than men. and as the more i'm
pre>>ionable, they were the best index of tn
coming hour. As more delicate Mercuric
OF Impondcrable influences what tncv sav an,
think were the shadows of future events
Man was will. woman sentiment In th
shape OF humanity, will was the rutl.lcr, sen
tlmrnt the >ail and when woman attem,t
to steer, the ruddcr was only masked sail.
When women engaged in a trade. it wa
only as a resource. not a primary object Th,
lite of the affections ONLY was primar,
to them, so that there is really no employ
mcnt or career they will not with their owr
applause. CT that OF society. quit for a s,ita
Bile marriage. Iaughter) They cast al
their fortunes on the die. and lose thrmseIv.
entirely in the glory OF their husbands chill
drcn. whilst man stands bcwillrrcd bv a mac
nanlmltv to which he cannot attain.
1t was true { said Mr. Emerson J that II
painting, poetry and sculpture, woman hac
not vet produred a master and he then pro
credrd to point out the respects in which la,
Their peculiar excellence. The first Of thcS,
wcr" their powers of conversation. They
furnished society with manners. The sec.
ond attribute was their ceremonial natur. -
They cmbcI!i>hrd trihcS.
An OK ran iu the water when thirsty or ~
"
his corn. regardless OF obstacles. and said no
thanks but man DELAYS; he paints the de-
sired object all over with forms he invent
ed MAJESTY. etiquette, courts, drawing rooms.
architecture. dress, rl,calrc privacy: he
created dI"n'icS. the un,on Of the SEXES: and
how should We better measure the Gulf be-
tween the best intercourse of man in old
Athens, London. or our American capitals
between that and the hedgehog existence of
me di"""r> of worms and eaters 81, utf,,,
ma" 10y >'c"alizinr Just this department OF
taste or comclincss? vet herein woman was
the prime genius and orliincr Thrr. was
no grace Taught hv the master Of manners.
no style adopted in the etiquette of conr,>.
but was first the action Of some brilliant wo-
man, who charmed the bcholdrrs Wv the new
expression, which man copied and he tho,
that We should magnify their ritual manners
There was no advantage without comrcn-
SatlOn. Woman was more vulnerable. more
iniirm than man. They could not br such
elegant artists in the element of fancy if they
did not give themselves to il: they were no
cts who believed their own poetry - they
dwelt more than man in the Kingdom o. H.
fusion. They admitted into their atmosphere
waves over waves OF colored il.il,, aud they
saw all ohicc throunh those warm tinted
mi>tS which envelope them.
But the starry crown of woman. the throna
OF her affection and sentiment. and the inf
mite enlargement to which they lead was the
passion OF lovc-paIntcr and adurner of new
and early life: hut none su>rcc,cd. in its
bushes and trcmorS. what tragedies and i'm
mortalfies were hcvond it.
Mr. Emerson then went on 10 show tba; As
society had progressed, so had the position of
woman changed and improved and conclu
ded ty saving that he did not think it vet
appeared that woman wish an equal share in
public affairs. But it was they, and not
We, who were tc determine it. (Applau,c. }
II we refused them vote. we should refuse
to tax them; according to our Teutonic rrin-
ciplc. no representation, no tax.
NJ all events, this uprcarinr of new opin-
IONS IN many minds was wonderful fact
whatever Is popular Is important. As showing
the spontaneous sense of the hour, for the As.
piration of this century will he the code of
the next. A masculine woman was not
strong. but lady is. The lonelest thought,
the poorest prayer, Is ru>hin. to be the his
tory OF Il thousand wears Let us have the
true woman, the adorncr. the ceremonial. the
hosritatlc, the religious heart; and no law
yer need hc called in to write the stipulaiions
with cunning clauses OF provisions and strong
instruments. Then, he ought to saw, he
thought it impossible to separate the educa-
tion and interests Of the sexes. Imrroy,,
and refine the men, and YOU do the same bv
the woman, whether you will or no. The
slavery Of woman happened when men were
slaves of kings. The amelioration of man.
ners had brought woman's amelioration. Of
course; hence this huge desire of better laws
This new movement, he said in conclusion
he looked at as tie shared bv the spirits
OF men and women; /; and they might proceed
IN faith that whatever wOman's heart was
prompted to desire, mans mind was simulta.
neously prompted to accomplish. (Applause.) }
-AN UNFOETUNATE ROoSrrR.-Therc
are objections to Shanghais, no doubt. but we
had never thought of this
Mr.. S.--, an old resident of Still
water, on the upper Hudson, introduced A.
mong his family of hens few Shanchais, in
clud'ng rooster of formidable dimensions,
who had run to legs" good deal. His
crow was peculiar, and easily distinguished
from that Of the other cocks One morn;no
he had waited to hear repetition of the H.
sual summons, after being aroused bv the
- shrill clarion once sounded, but he heard
it not again. The pre-eminent chanticieer
was still. Mr.. S---- went out, to sec
what had caused the silence. He found the
rooster lying on his back with both legs out
of joint. After an examination, he set both
legs; The cock walked of. and gave vent to
bis satisfaction in lusty crow. In the verv
act he droDped As IF h, had huon ,b,A II,