The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-03-29
NO. 49,.
reason that they "have nothing else to

destroying the inner sentiments CT her ma
ture, or detraeting one iota from the grace
and dclicacy which it is her duty to keep
fresh, in the heart of the busy world
| would think a woman deficient in
Bomanly modesty who could be a sue
cesssul lawyer, or display her eloquence
before promiscuous audience upon any
subject, whether political, religious or
scientific. Aud, who could admire the
woman that could mix with the motley
crowd Oh election days, and side By side
with the vulgar adherents of psrtyism,
use her influence in obtaining votes for
her favorite candidates?
We do not find man, in all his strength
imperyious to the attacks of bribery and
political corruption; and can it be expec-
ted that woman will remain pure and
single. hearted mid the tumultuous bill
lows of life, that has too frequently ex-
tinguishcd all the finer and better feel
ings of Lis sterner nature?
We often hear it asserted, by those
who would have females exercise the
right Of suffrage, that their presence would
exert refining influence on even the
rude passions of a crowd of voters; but
We have no proof that they woald be less
Incorporate in their behavior than men,
were they equally interested in political
campaigns; and besides, if they have not,
in the heaven of home, instilled enough
of the love of refinement into the hearts
of their children to prevent the rough,
disgraceful scenes so often enacted at the
polls in their absence, their presence would
be Of little benefit in restraining them
1t is more than probable that the infu-
ence of wife and sister would be less than
1t now IL, were man to behold them bold
ly rushing into the arena Of political life,
in competition with himself Woman's
influence is strongest when ezerted in her
own peculiar proVince-Home.
Still there are occupations, in which
those who are leading an almost useless
life, might be engaged, without disobey-
ing the dictates Of native modesty, and
with benefit to themselves and the world.
Females have long been con.ii11227T5,il g.
quail, and by some superior, to males in
teaching the elementary branches; ana
even the fact Of their failing in the high
er departments does not prove iucapa-
biity in the sex, but only that those per-
sons who have failed have entered upon
the discharge of their duties, before their
iDtellectS had been cultivated and their
reasoning powers trained, by the same
careful course Of strengthening studies
pursued by men.
As physicians for their own sex, and az
authoresses and editresses, ladies can ex.
ercise and improve their abilities, with
out losing the charm of sensibility which
50 properly belongs to them; for, even
with the small opportunity afforded, Eng
lish literature has received no little ornL-
ment from the contributions of females.
The poetry of woman's nature is the
poetry of hope-thc poetry of the affec-
tions; and here she can revel with all the
true artists fervor, and all her own wild
enthusiasm, combined with the daily,
hourly experience of her life. The drap-
cry OF her thoughts may not be as gorge
ousiy brilliant as that which adorns the
productions of man; hut who shall say
that the rich, yet delicate imagery with
which she paints her. faHeies, is less at
tractive, or less graceful than his bolder
1t seems to have been the idea, that
girls destined only to be fashionable
young ladies and mothers, needed moth.
ing farther than a mere smattering of
science and the usual list OF snowy ac-
eompIishments, to prepare them for the
duties OF life; and our literary men have
not failed to assist in rendering this sup
position prevalent. With but two honor
able exceptions, have never heard any
gentleman introduce sensible subject
for conversation in company of ladies,
or advance single idea worth remem-
bering.
They appear to consider the sex crea-
ted for their special musement; and, as
q desire to please is inherent in the fe-
male charat ter, so women, as a necessa-
ry consequence, exert themselves to i'm
prove in whatever faculty gices them the
most friends. To this cause alone ws
must attribute their proficiency in pro-
iucing ''small talk" and "whispered moth
ngs." They knew very we'll that pref
.y, affected ways, and pert little sayings,
are surer passport to popularity with
The world, than all the erudition OF Mar
iineau; and they practice on this knowl-
edge.
There arc fe%, however, who have
caught the infection of this age of steam,
and are trying-and that earnestly-to
obtain more than the fimsy education Of
fashionable capacities; and, gentlemen,
We ask you to look upon US as something
more than aythings; converse with Us
Is if you thought We were intelligent hu-
nan beings, gifted with intellects similar
o your own. If you expose our igno-
ance, so much the better:-it will be an
additional incentive to hard study, and
ultimately prepare us to be beings with
whom you can Interchange thought and
entiment, and fit companions for the