The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1857-02-11
From the H'oman.' Advocate
C1ViLIZLTION AND WONEE

'lv!'Hai;on dees not CONSIST in p,iilical
power, or military proves, or extending
conquts'S, hdt IN PERSONAL eud soci"l cult.
ure, intelligence and refinement. Ciyiiizs-
u1n is >ymbo!:zcd rather bv q Sc,co.-
aonse than fortress; ta,hoi ty a cook
'nS stove or power loom, than by ? can
ron ora ha"h"r; rather by poem or q
picture than by trophy. 1t dots not con.
sist in political forrus or in laws for these
are hut the outward shell and depos;ts Of
civilization. The state of perple's
civilization is TO be seen the cletres,
IN the spheres OF private and do
mest'c life, in the kitchen, the parivr, the
bedchamber, the nursery, the church, the
school room, the art.galiery;rn the shops,
stores, ships, factories, dwelling houses.
farms and gardens; in a peoples dress
amuscments, and books. Civilization is
the pcricctng and beaulifying Of the Ind-
vdual, of the Hume-and Of that essen
'Ia' society which exists Independently of
all political change and power.
It's evident, therefore, that the very CEN
ter and heart OF civilization IS the Home
lor 1t is the Home that enshrines private
NE, compose domestic life, and gives rise
10 al! social life. And il Is woman lha,
makes home without her there can be
none; her condition is It's condition. Ii
she vrtuous, intelligent and refined, the
iloine is vlrtuuus, intelligent and refined.
II SHE be happy, the Home is happy too.
lhc more sweet, and true and elevated
woman there are, the more dltfused and
requentiy are beloved Homes. and all the
narme.es facilities Of Home.
II, then, there be "A ties: of the state and
progress OF clviIlzston, it is the condition
ot The female SEX. This test reveals Itself
~ all history, aud IN all thought. In eve
fy age aud c'IInr, savage society has been
The oppressive depreciation OF women,-
In every sent barbarlau'S society, "woInan
tIas been oniy the toy and vassal of man.
~" '-''n" "'Vili7"Iinn WAS iuIl O, uculIr.
hess, intellectually and exquisite Iasre
iull OF nature, grace, aud deantiess bcautr |;
but It lacked high moral tone and rever.
! ent feeling. Ii WAS IA civilization Of poe
try, sculpture, art, fable, elOquence, aud
arms ; not Of phlIanthrophy, industry and
religion. II was rnwardIy imperfect, and
this imper!cctlon is strkingly illustrated
III this Grecran ideal of woman. The
Gree.,s invest her with every dignity, and
grace, and beauty of form and gesture
| she is enchanting 20 the eye, and ear, and
sense; ; but she ,acks the QUALITIES that ap-
peal TO the SoWt. There Is u marvellous
want OF tdciU expression in tue Mlnervas,
Venuses, Dlsnas and Junos Of the classic
masters. They had no conception of such
Oie>sc !, adored spouse and mother as
entrances the gaze Of the world in the Ma.
donnas OF MurIo and Raphael.
Amd who does not recoIIect that the
vgor of Roman civilization is Significantly
expressed by the famed purity OF the ear
her Roman nations. the Lucretias, Volum
Mas, Cornclias, Vwginias and Portias of
immortal story and who does not know
that the decline and fall OF Roman Clviii.
cation are ioreboded 10y degeneracy of the
JuIias and MessaInas
Among the Eastern Nations civilization
is antique, partial, deiormed, stationary,
sentuai, and superstltiOus without hu
! mamty and without progrcssiVeneSs.-
And acc"rd'ngly oriental women are moth
ing more than the stIndvd tops Of CHINA,
the. secluded prisons OF the Z.nana, or the
slaves and vdt!jsques OF The Harem.
Superior 10 G'i other Ci.iGatiors is the
irving, Progressive, Christian culture OF
huroperu aId modern society. And IT
Is il Europe and America, and IN modern
history hat he female sex .xers its chief.
IS, Influence, "usins its highest sphere ex,
hiD''S IL rarest I"vohucsS, AID promises
us div.n"st development