Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-05-19
From the Springfield Republican.
LETTERS TO YOUNG WOMEN-No.9.

Young women, this is my last !ct'el
addressed specially to You; and as / take
your hand, aid give you my adieu, |
with to say a few words which shall be
wort! a great deal to you. Ii Is my
orrinion hat to a certain extent, in Ger
tain directions, God meant that you should
be dependent upon men, and that in this
dependence should exist some of your
profJundest aud sweetest attractions and
your mobiles, characteristics. Ynar bod
( les are smaller than tho.e o! m'n. 1oI
were not made 10 wres:Ie with the rough
G1rces of nature. You were not made
for war, nor commerce, nor agriculture.
/ In all these departments, the iron wills
and tie iron muscles Of man are alone al
home. The bread you eat and the
fabrics you wear are 10 be gathered from
I the earth by men. You arc 10 be pro
iecled by men. They build your hous $;
they guard your persons. /. /, entirely
natural for you TO rely uFon them for
much that you have. You give. or may
give, great rewards for all this. Il is not
meuiaI relation, nor one which detracts
from dignity in The least. The circle Of
human duties is only complete by ;he
union of those of man and woman. Man
has his sphere-women, hers. We can
not talk Of superiority among spheres and
duties that are alike essential. Suffice it
that, in the degree in which you are de-
pendent upon man for support and Proiec-
ton, does he owe support and protection
10 you. He is bound to do for you what
vou, through, the peculiarilieS of your
constitution, are unable 10 do for yourself
You are never 10 quarrel with this ar
rangemeut. You VIII only make your
selfunhapy by it, because, by quarreling
with Gods plans, you essentially unsex
yourself, aud become a discoTd. There
FIRE, recognize your dependence gladly
and gracefully. Be at home in it, for in
it lies your power for influence and FOL
good.
This advances us step towards the
oo;nt 10 which wish 10 lead you. Now,
you will 60 with me into circle Of
pray ing Christians, or if you will take
UP, wilh me, list Of the members of any
church, will show you flct which !
wish To c5nnoc, with the fIc's stated in
the proceeding paragraphs. You will
find, suppose, that at least two thirds OF
the members of the prayer meeting are
women, and that the church register will
show a corresponding proportion offemale
names. Why is Ihisl Is it because
women are weaker than men, simply
Is il because women are subject 10 small
er temptations that mcn2 Is it because
their passions are less powerful than
those of menl Not at all-or not in any
important degree. II is because a feel
ing Of dependence is native in the
female heart. Ii is because the pride OF
independence has little or no p lace there
It is because the female mind has TO
undergo comparatively a small revolution
To become religious. Rather, perhaps,
should say, that one powerful blrrier
tina, stands before the path Of every man
in his approach 10 the valley of humilia-
ton does not oppose the passage of the
true women. suppose it is very rare
that those who are denomiiated ''slrong-
minded women" become religious. The
pride Of personal independence is built
before them by their own hands.
So sweet and 50 natural i thing is pieiy
among women that men have come 10 re-
gard a women without it as strange, if
not unhealthy. The coarsest and most
goddess men cfien select pious wives, be-
cause they see that pieiy sofens and
deepens and elevates every natural grace
Of person, and every accomplishment of
mind. Now my opinion is that Heaven,
seeing how important it is for you to be
It's own children, in profession and in
spirit, has given special favors 10 your
sex, through this simple fact or principle
OF dependence. 1t is your work TO soften
and refine men. Men living without you