Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-09-02
ssOur LadIes,s,

A saucy writer n the September number Of Har-
per's Magazine is likely to bring down upon himself
the indignation of American women, for the free
dom and boldness of his tongue in article on
sour Ladies'" We wouldn't stand in the boots of
this gentleman for small Kingdom. Conceding
that the American women are the most beautiful in
the world, he denies them nearly every grace ex-
eept virtue he says, these are especially def
cieut on the score of courtesy; that cunning as
they in most arts they want the art of peasine
and worse, still, seem unwilling to acquire it.
"They are content to dazzle, ard do not care to
warm and if they catch admiration are willing to
forego friendship" Hear what be says on this
point
What is society with us, for the most part, but a
show place for the external charms of woman
What do you find there but pretty female faces and
hne dresses, set off by contrast with insipid
oeaux IN sombre suits? Who thinks of going to
place where women congregate, with any
other purpose than literally to see theml Who ex-
poets any other than delight of the eye? You 90
and are dszzled with the gitterng array of bright
charms and gorgeous apparel and you come back
with vision fatigued and confused, until relieved
by welcome darkness. Whose fault is il that So
ciety is mere show place? How is it that there
Is nothing to cultivate the taste to the heart
or inform the head?
On the alleged rudeners of American women.
the writer comes out very strong indeed. sour
ladies' vii! insist upon stopping and getting into the
omnibus and car when they know they are full,
keep old gentlemen waiting half hour for tner
soup at hotel dinner, ia order to make an i'm
preston with their crinoline by late arrival and
for the same reason turn a row of gentlemen out
Of pew and disturb the devotions of whole con-
gregation.
"our ladies'" too in the opinion of this impu-
dent scribbler, lack reserve. "Where" he asks
Vunu hold I'll. IN, ~
with US ?"
"Where does she haunt her charms so freely?
Where does her eye look with steadier gaze Oh
manS Where does her voice sound louder and her
laugh ring more sonorously. There is nothing in
fact which our women deficient in as reserve
There is publicity of bearing about them which
reminds one more of the hotel than Of home You
see that they veterans in courage, however
young in years. and can stand steadily Ehe fire Ofa
hundred eyes. Where a more timid bashfuness
would not dare to show its face, they are as I'M
moved as bronze. II courage TO face an enemy
was all that was required, there would be no diff.
Guilty, we should think, in recruiting an army of
bold-eyed Amazons among our beauties, ready to
return look for look with the most formidable gall
liant that were ever marsh aled for mischief.
Whatever may be the cause, there is no doubt OF
the fact that our female youth more in the pub
lie eye, have holder face, lOoser tongue and
freer air than used to be considered consistent with
the character OF young gentlewoman"
The last paragraph IN the libel caps the climax
Ofimpudence. "Our Ladies" are not only discour-
teous, rude, selfish, and ignorant of the art of
pleasing but we blush to write the word-immo-
dest. They are reminded that
'Female charms are wonderfully increased by
avoiding too free a revelation, and trusting some
what to the imagination of man, which always ex-
aggerates hundred fold that which can not be too
easily reached and investigated by his senses. The
yelled Venus, recOect, was the most worshpped
OF ali the deities of Old and the greater the mystic
ry, aud the more close the retirement, the moIe
earnest was the devotion 1t would be polite,
perhaps if female divinities desire to keep their
hold upon the homage Of the male sex, for them to
enshrine themselves 10 darker temple, take their
stand on less prominent pedestal, and occasional
ly drop the veil over their attractions. All that
would be lost TO the glare by greater reserve and
a less defiant publicity, would Increase more than
hundred fold, the charms of beauty, by the soft
ening effect OF shade and distance.
goddess of Liberty in the shape of loose fe-
male in loose Dress with barred bust, naked arms,
and easy attitude, may pass current coin
from the intrinsic value OF the metal; but it is not
desirable that the daughters of our republic should
model themselves according to any such standard
OF outward appearance and manners, whatever may
be their basis or virtue.
We have no language to express our indignation
with such scandals.