Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-02-02

the picture, | am with the thought, and u
We will endeavor to find in a more congenial II
phe-e, womanly dignity. Nor is it woman's G
,lace to fill the pulpit and the ecclesiastical n
,ourt, aad for those who would arrogate to p
themselves such a right, | will only quote e
what st. Paul says: But suffer not a a
woman to teach nor to usurp authority over b
The man, but to be in silence" Others, with n
bold effrontery, maintain that woman's true a
consists in making for themselves a 9
name and an earthly fame. In the writing OF t
names among the gifted ones of earth, 9
upon the glittering scroll, who sung in more {
soui.stirring, melodious lays than a Hemans,
or in more plaintive, heart. breaking strains
than a Landon, or climbed higher up fame's
winding steep than a Sigourney or Joanna
Bailey? yet they would willingly exchange
their earthly fame for the more permanent
and enduring one of a Nevill, Judson or
Winslow. But this is not emphaticaliy wo-
mans sphere, though it may be granted her
to pencil her name upon the dazzling sheet
Of fame; yet other higher and holier duties
Of a more stbdued and soulstirring nature
await her in truth through lite's dark vale.
Again we ask ourselves the momentous and
all-important question, In what consists wo-
mans proper sphere and true dignity? The
first and only way is by properly fulfilling
the purpose of her creation, which was to
be an help-meet for man. She is then to
participate in all the seen and unseen events
which will overtake ham in life. Her place
is in the domestic circle, and the element OF
her power i. love. Laugh not when | speak
of this talisman which belongs to her alone.
With a love stronger, more faithful and en-
during than that of a brotherly or sisterly
affection, she ,wields the talisman. She is
to be the partaker of all the pleasures and
vexations which are to be drawn from fate's
dark urn, and share with him all the duties
and responsibilities which henceforth mark
their lives; and this to be accomplished thro'
the talismanic influence of her undying at
lection so strongly described in the following
bea ltiful extract
"Woman's love,
It's fondness wide as the limitless wave,
And chained by aught but the silent grave,
With devotion as humble as that which brings
To his idols the Indians offerings,
Yet proud as that, the priestess feels
When she nurses the Anne Of ths shrine where
she kneels."
The domestic circle is her proper sphere
Here she is chosen to be the presiding sc
MUS of his household; it is hers to bear wit
equanimity the many conflicting duties an
petty annoyances incident to domestic life
which seem endless in their number and mu
titudinous in their nature and collisions
Man, upon the stormy sea of life, is buffete
by winds of circumstance and heset by tt
demons of mistrust and uncertainty. 1t
then, oppressed by the turmoils ofthe worl'
that he turns intuitively to the wife of h
bosom for endearment. He dreams not tn
woman, in the sacred precincts of home, CIV
has a cause or thought to rack her brai
and he turns to her for comfort and consoI
ton. But it often happens that the genius
his household possesses the temperament
|, a Mrs. Caudle, and with hearty and Bit
words and s~cowling brow, causes him
launch his bark again upon the boisterc
, sea of life, utterly indifferent to what oug
. to be its safety moorings-home. Woman
. ask, is this properly filling your sphere a
I wife? Is it with lowering brow, dejec
u and repulsive manners, to drive him from
= home, him for whom thou vert created
No, It's thine with smiling face and cheer
, brow to meet the world-worn one, with p
childish love a0d confidence to bestow tn
- eFSotivus amp Establishments winch
= cause him to forget the WEAKNESS he has
~ sed through, to arrange the various mimi
Sc of your household duties that ~neatness
> content will smile from every corner, W
- happiness and trust will emanate from y
~ tell tale eyes; and if poor weak human ma
~ is insufficient to perform this, seek your clio
oi and ask strength and grace from Him
giveth literally and ~upbraideth not. 1t is
"' woman's duty to promote and sustain the
~ nifty of her selfconstituted lord. She goes
~ forth to WOO the ~vanities of an ear
VIC throng, but if the chosen one of her h
Nv by the vigor and activity of his intellect,
!" above the common herd" and his mar
i%' re-cchoed by the clarion voice of fame,
9.en the world bows in homage to his genius
rs places upon his brow the laurelled CT
Ivy the quiet breath of wife's praises m
us among the enthusiasm ofthe admiring or
like the sweet aroma of the tiny musk
re- among other flowers, the smallest bu
axe sweetest. But should he prove the re
of this, her wifely influence is all pow
lho still. When the Circean notes of ole
me- would vile him from the quiet of his
ION to spend the quiet hours of night at mid
%reyels, q~uafing largely from the fascin
anu bowl, and even stake his all upon the
of luck, and when, step by step, he f
the lowest degree of moral degradatio
'sh- then woman proves herself worthy the
partnership of him for whom she was CT
J VI When conscience with her scorpion
Iats! smites heavily, be it then your place t
MS viate the smart by the oil of kindn
'rlte endeavor by your talismanic power
place him in the position from which
fallen, and to prove that woman's tru
s." clings to the once noble shrine of
days-but now a frail prop shaken
IN slightest zephyr-ever seeming ready
OF buried beneath the dark sea of tempta
ough IT'S then the undying affection of a
arac- shown, and she merits for herself the
Eher, ing praise:
State
| fac "When envy's sheer would coldly blight hi
!, die And busy tongues are sporting with his fal
IL Who solves each doubt, clears every mis-
u u And makes him radiant in the face of day
high She who would peril fortune, fame and n
total For man, the migrate, the deserted Wife"
tirely
phere There are other positions a woman
d her cupy in the domestic circle equally
,esent tant as that of a wife; for is there al
a ton in life in which a woman can {
e du. much power and influence as that of
lntry. er? See that tiny babe slumbering !
Rights upon her knee. Ever and anon, an
t re- smiles fit over its dimpled cheeks;
instead scious of the petty turmoils and vici
their Of life, it slumbers on, but though t
women dreamer Is not disturbed oy any col
duels. emotions, yet there is one over VIII
II dig rich tide of feeling has thrown
be as thoughtfulness. She sees before he
canda- gem to be polished and fitted for tn
Q after of Him who has only lent it to he