The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1856-09-25

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houseke,pers and nurses. IL MI er G. eek
cities the spinning ofw'si ike the dt'roeh.l
IN rnodern j.itain. WAS tlp, s.,itsus n,i con
siant occupation Of ,l,e female mind. Ly
curgus,N hwey-,, j,stl, ,e,;B, ide e,i ,irsi
spinning aud weaving were hes: I'm to the
slaves. How is il possible" lie thought,
for mothers brought mp in such occupa
,iohs TO rear a beaitl,, ans! handsome p'"g
eny the lofty mission and p,ced dnt, ct
ever! free daughter of Sparta ~ !. He there
fore introduced bodily exercises f,r ihe Spa
ia maidens analogous 20 those of the Spa,
tan Youths; and the beauty Of the women
soon became the general theme Of praise
throughout Greece and especiai, The, were
fsinous for fine shapes aud masculine vigur.
Thus .were formed the herpinrs. of Spa,ta !;
they would sooner sce their SONS a. ing at
their feet than turning their backs cn AN cit
emy or failing in their duty to their conn
try; they Who said TO their sons, when
marching To battle, disgrace not yourselves
by abandoning Jour shields; either retmh
with them or else upon ihem!" When a
foreign lady said, ''the women If Sparta
are the onl women VINO rule The men tie
wife Uf Leoni.ias Justly replied Yes. aud
the women of Sparta are the urly womcn
Who are einntleis cf neu." r# $. r.l
We al lasi COME to The most interesting
topic of all, namely, the Spartan marriages.
Many uf the laws uf Lyc,ugu, iu c"iinrctiun
With this subject would undnabtecl, meet,
with The appreciation nf The fai sex OF n,o,
ern times, and would equally as undouL,cd
ly contribute I" the happiness of ail The
present baclelorlIu"d "f Britain. The time
for marriage was iiAcd by statute; that If
the men at about tAen,y tivt years; tlat Of
the ladies at about twenty or 81 liule Young
er. All men VIM continued unmarried at
ter the appointed time wcrc Liable 10 a pros,
ecuiion-; and aii The old bachelors were pro-
hititel from hciug present at The public rx-
ercises of ilie Spartan mai,i.n>, and were
denied the usual respect and honois pai,l To
The aged. why si, ul. | give You place"
cncd yonng man to all, unmarried general.
when y"u have no child 10 give place tn
when | ana old /" n, marriage portions
were gwen with any of The inaidcns. so that
neither lspverly SHOULD p.evcn, gallant,
nor arhes tempt him 4" mar:y contrary Ia
hi, incIinaii,ns. The parents If ih,e.:a chill
'lren enjoyed considerable inmuuilies. and
th,,se viii, fou, children paid no taxes what
cver a yegulatinn which all marie! uI, u
with iargr families will reality admit tn be
u"st nirc and equitable. Erery m"iiiagc
N pf-vv,!.-i D., i,.,r~.tI-i. ~ IN ,ttIIct
G."rk ellie, hut IN, m" ,ii.c itself wa pc:
{ m.d b., the. y,'lIng Sps;'ian ca,r, ing oti
IL. brit.c by Il prc,rnded abduction, aud fr
some time aft-rward the wife cum'iuu,d L.
reside with her own fnnily, AMI only nr'
til" husband ON stolen occasions. rhi- tx.
t'a"r.'inar! way "f spcndimg tie hone! moon
was tir>i introduced by Lycurgue 10 prevent
the husband fmn wasting too much of hi
tim" IN lis ~ifes society," ,!u,iiig the tir,t
yeats "F their marriage; and in order 10 e
c"n'.lnrse the brides charms. II WAS custom
m. for her bridesmaid to Gu, otf all hcI hai
"n the wedding day. SO that for some Time
at leas, her personal attractions should hi
crea.e with heI years.