Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-12-10
LADIES' DEPARTMENT..
For the Spirit of the Age.
Woman's Mission.

Dn from ono degree to another, until she
the greatest advances possible Or,
she, fettered by the CALLING shackles
Of ignorance, remain a mere cypher IN the
AMI literary world? Is there a
heart SO c%allous, 50 entirely lost to every
sense Of right, as to assent to the latter pro-
position? Reason revolts at such gross in
Justice. Conscience, the echo Of Jehovah's
voice, pr0claims in thunder tones, the for
mcr her rightful due. Revelation, the i'm
press Of that all powerful Being who has
framed her immortal mind, adds testimony
e TIC fact that sannot be resisted. What
have hscu the educational advantages of
woartu n all past ages? Turn TO the page
Of authentic history and read them there.
Though the civilized world may now just
Is boast many female schools Of high re-
pu'e, yet the mass of the sex is almost en-
tirc'y ~uncddcated. "Can the rush tgrow
without moiJIre, or the flag without
water p H6~ then can woman. without
o.ju-otiou, meet Tho numerous demands OF
her mission She may possess talents
tat these precious gems, like the d almond
wrapped in the desert sand, remains con-
eraled; or, if they force their way to the
light, their brilliancy is much dimmed by
tgeeo rrodipgatmosphcrc through which they
pass. ScJ the verdIut vine. How grace
fully il cntwines its tendrils, and how beau
iiful'y it waves its broad leaves and purple
fruit over the sustaining tree. Fell the
tree, and the viue also falls a useless and
unso mly thing. So woman, deprived of
the requisite accomplishments, is Invested
of her sweetest charms, and incapaeitated to
perform to the best advantage the impor-
tput duties e%njoined upon her. Give her
these, aud sue will yet cntwiue around her
name intellectual garlands fron which man,
with al his boastad originality, need not
Supra to pluck a flower, or blush to inha|e
its fragrance. Give woman her.rights, We
say, and she will yet insert in the future
corouct Of literary renown, gems as bright,
rs rare, Us pure, as were ever inserted in
that Of the past by the ~oulogized Virgil OF
Cicero.
We do admit that woman is peculiarly sub
iect to sorrow and physical weakness. But
go do not, at the sam time, admit that she
is tpr this reason incapacitatcl for useful
ness. As the plant aspen, whose boUghs
culver at the touch Of tue slightest zephyr,
often survives the storm which eradicates
the uuyiclding oak, SO woman frequently
surmouuts the obstacles undtr which the
s,crncr heart is crushed. Some Of the
most noble sentiments Of the mind are iu-
culcascd by woman during the period Of
carly youth. She in part gives tone and
character to the moral anl religious insti.
W'ions Of the day. Where is the nation
e~2ultjug in a sublime system of morals
Wat docs not acknowledge this happy stat,
Of things due in part to woman influence
Amarira, which y oxaltOd, iH point o
privilege, above all the earth. is proud t
attribute her national superiority to tb
u,b'e deeds Of the immortal Washington
and never did this il.usuious patriot, ever
i'm his palmicst days, refuse to acknowledg
that his ability to do good was owing i
81 CREST degree to the instructions OF hi
Iluus mother. W0man's warning voice
rot heard from the sacred staui. As t.
fragile tubc-rose is most lovely and shed
thc sweetest perfume in It's seclude
vail, 50 woman accomplishes most good j
her own narrow sphere. 1t is obligator
on her to lead, by gentle admonitiou, til
oring in the path Of roctitude to seek OF
TIE hubble aud neglected, AMI minister
their necessities. Her earnest expostul
t.5as often gain access to the obdura'
heart, which the eloquent discourse hi
long ceased to move. Woman is first
s~ympuhilc with the afflicted, and last
ljng3r near departing worth. Look doa
the long dark vista Of the past. Beho
the Majesty of the most High nailed
tha aecur.cl tree the grave lumiuary
day yelling his face in dense darkness, I
fuses - look on the heinous deed A
mature clad in sabla mourning wecps tea
Of bitter regret at tie sight! Where nC
is man? Is he sympathizing at the Gre
Of bis cracifed Red emcr? M, rom,
lasers there.
Turn We now t1 our own age. Wolaa
t4e times aud the spirit of the age urge y
10 press On with renewed Zeal act "
your part, and nobly fulfill your holy N
si'n. Zach day, hour and moment brir
vita it new duties, and as surely does ca
of lhcs' bear its account to the Great 1
haa1l, Of the manner ia which these dut
are discharged. Every benevolent ell
justly claims your aid and irRuenee.
your own land there are youth growing
in ignorance, and dcmaud instruction
your hands, Millions Of your fellow CT
lures, in heather lands, are groaning un
the calling chains Of superstition and id
Try. The power is yours to impart that
atruction which will enable these fallen
ings to rise from their state of ignora
and degradation, aud aspire to the higl
Of spiritual intelligence. Noble work.
you possessed the powers of an arcbap
it would be obligatory on you to con,
trate them all in such a work. If you '
as holy rs the cherubim and ~scraphim
now bow in spotless purity around
Eternal Throne, you would yet desir
taste the unalloyed bliss which results t
the consciousness of having been ms
mental in the salvation Of souls. Won
Mission! How extensive, how compreI
siye, how holy! Too extensive to adm
limited views; too comprehensive to a
OF any dormant power too holy t
abused. Then, woman, let your as
tons rise. BE not content to luxuriate
for Il few feeting moments in the suns
Of intellectual culture, but aspire to {
the celestial courts, where your powers
continue to expand throughout an en-
eternity in the acquisition Of that k
ledge which cannot be fathomed. B
sOlicitous for mere Temporary ronovn