Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-11-19
@gee:S.
LADIES' DEPARTMENT..
For the Spirit of the Age.
Woman's influence.

and shut out from the eleyating influences OF
Christianity, did not exert 50 powerful an
influence over the sterner sex as she now
does. 1t is true that the Romans were nur-
tured by matrOns Of high and noble virtue,
who boosted that their brightest gems, their
priceless treasures, were their children-but
still. Woman, in the main, was plunged in
ignorance-she was limited TO the rude house
hold e~mployments of the age, and considered
little superior to q slave. She was a stran-
ger to the sublime truths Of s~cience-indeed,
was considered incapable of comprehending
them. But a change came over her destiny,
by which woman's power-that power which
had been SO long smothered only to burst out,
when H. found vent, like a long-hidden vol
canic fre-came forth in q fierce and bright
flame. Then, in that Roman age, Woman
was the presiding genius. She fostered the
nigh, chivalric daring of the knights who
flew TO arms In the cause Of the oppressed
she presided at tournaments and fetes, as the
Queen Of Beauty and the rewarder of noble
deeds. The knight, who breathed naught
but vengeance on the battle field, or deied his
implacablesfoe to morni COMBAT m the lists,
became "calm and gentle as an infants slum-
Der" in the presence Of The fair-his angry
passions hushed-his taunts and boastiul
words changed tp the language of love and
gallantry. lie acknowledged the potency of,
and Yielded q willing obedience to, the charms
uf woman. Hers, however, was not the mag
10 influence Of mind. The fair damsels Of
rank were but little versed in philosophic,
classic or poetical lore. The lighter and less
substantial food of Literature was alone al
lowe her for a repast. TO sing their love-
laws, and sic at their everlasting embroidery,
shading flowers thnt had no parallel in nature
was all they seemed to wish or require
But, now, thaHk Heaven, that age is past ;
and, / trust, its ideas, prejudices, feelings,
with IL forever
In the deep bosom Of the ocean buried"
Released from the arbitrary letters which
has hitherto bound her down, the genius of
Woman's mind now scars in power omnipo-
tent and she can point in triumph to a SID
p1Ss: q BAYLlE, n MoRg, an EDGEwoRTH, a
SFDGwICK,-name which, dare compare with
tho noblest of mans, in their respective
spheres. Literary Institutions are dotted all
over the land Tor Female Education, in which
are uught all those higher branches Of Learn
Ing which, until the present century, were
n sealed book to Woman's investigation, and
she mast, therefore, exercise a vast amount
uginiluencc over the present age; which will
10 carried far into the future. Not only Is
she now called TO tread the shady, green lanes
uc domestic life-it is not enough that she
should cheer the dropping head of sickness
and pour balm into the bosom Of the discon
FbINle-tO seek tue hDOuSs VI poverty II ~
minister to the inmates aid, advice and sym
patby these are her special duties, Blu
more is expected Of her. She must prepar
her mind to be IN equal aud agreeable com
ptuion 10 the partner of her joys and sorrows
not only in sympathiZing with him in dis
tressts, but to revel with and entertain hi
in the higher sphere Of intellectual and mora
culturc-to teach the way and point her OF
springs 10 that cminenee where
flames proud temple shines afar;"
and fill their minds with useful and instru
tive knowledge. These are Woman's duti
Of the present day. unseen, .he extends b
influence far aud wide. Her instructions q
reru-mn yreueucgfeg tng uesrrhy Jqtt
little pratler who now ncstles his curly be-
IN that fond Mothers lap. She is sowing t
sccds Of virtue, which will fit him for usefl
ness in this life, and for the joys Of Eternit
or those Of vice, which will render him
outcast from society here, and ensure h
eternal misery in the world to come. III,
responsible then is the task of an Americ
motber-how importast that it be well p
formed.
Mother of Washington Would thy ma
could be sounded, with q trumpet's vol
throughout tho land Would that the '
men of our beloved country, emulated by
virtues and glorious example, reared tn
tAAAA - ID AAo1t bAAN ID Will 1hCA WI
Columbia be, indeed, the land Of her
aud philauthropists! Not such as the
world saw-'basely ~trauplinG'' on the sac
rights of humanity-butp race born to bl
to humanizG the wonldl
Allow me to close this already too lengt
Communication, with the following app
TO Parents, to exert their influence in the
glorious cause VI Temperance:
Amidst the hosts of ills Misguided man
Permits to intrenCh themselves in his dom
HltemperdHce holds II dread prominence
1t winds its salreS, and plants its fatal lu
Among the flowers that crown the joe
path,
In which the needless feet Of childhood
IL binds the strength of manhood in its t
And digs its fiery pitfalls for the limbs
or tottering age. As its great nrchetyp
The prince Of iends, can clothe his no
form
In shining robe, like those pure angels w
And hide his hellish front in looks beni
So can this d,mon mark in bright array
Its foul defurmity, and veil in smiles
And winning Establishments, its aspects {
In these its most appalling dangers Turk
For while the heart in scenes of festive mi
Aud social JOY, INDUCES happy dreams
That naught Of harm is near, the mon
plies
Ills sly, seductive arts, free ingress fndi
To its exposed, unguarded citadel,
And Ger the yielding passions soon obt
An easy conquest. These, alas becom
Ills strong allies and their united powC
But rarely fails to crush their victims m
And send him prenataFely to the grave
lndulgent Fathers tender Mothers '
From your delusive dreams that all is So
With those dear objects OF your fcndcst h
Who daily mingle where the wine. cup 4
And unrestrained partake its char
draught.
Teach them there's poison in the spar
wave,
That deadly asps are twined amidst
wreath
Which crown the manting bowl. That
the veins
Have once imbibcd its sweet infectious
IL leaves a faint that %oftirpes maddens
And brain-and drives to ruin and to
M0LL
NJ. Il. Con ERENcE.-The North Car
Annual Conference convened in this
ON Wednesday morning, the 18th ms
large number of Ministers was present.
The Conference was opened at 9 o.
A. NJ, Bishop Early presiding wit
usual religious exercises, and the usua
mittees were appointed.
Among the visitors present was the
DIR. Hamilton, Editor Of the Methodist