Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-03-23

Virtue-BY i. 3. JOHNSON.


character splendid and IoycabIc, l.r.a.
most important, and the most ml.,re..
Friends may die around her, and ,l.,. T..
whom she has the right u oxn... ..
prove recrcant; all the smile, # f-..
comfort, and ease, may leave her o. ...
her way through dark wori-the Ur,.
health may iorsake her cheek. and lease.
constitution weak and frail; and in a...
woman can triumph, aud win a g.....
which will rebound at once To her ....
and TO her worth but if her virtue +, ..
nished, even if the quick eye Il >g,,
| observes her acts of seeming wruu. n.
preston goes forth which mars Ter DID,.
and whole lifetime is inadequate tod.
or remove it.
Notwithstanding the mind Of the p.
is often sickened TO nausea by the ,.,..
panegyrics which are laviShed "a H.. .-..
nal charms of woman, he mus, in ~.
his derision for the authors OF them.
her to be the jewel of creation and the
Of society. Gallantry, too, is - often
founded with presumption, that il i>l@
"
latter begins; and nicely tincturcl viii
elimination must be- the ink in the De-.
him who can amid 50 MANY c.A,,....
tastes, yield the need of praise Ia hrra.
God in His wisdom designed 10 be- The ...
tdant and companion of man ,ug4--
the changeful scenes of life aud To- b..
prompter through all the yici>>'uic>
i
by deprayed beings whom il wrr" uni ..,.
ing detraction 10 denominate women: l,,
good passes unperyertcd, aud even d. D.
very females who are 81 readily auI U.
simoniously denounced by the world. az
inseparable from that degree II lrn'yIv
should mark our conduct towards 4 "a.
fellow-creature for vice is the tJWl..-
education, and in too many instance,
causes of their fall from yIr'ur. a
misplaced confidence, and the willy l.-.-
verance on the part Of those prrlrn.0
possess the attributes If man. Ihrrr'-
woman must have great deal OF ualai
Virtue in order TO associate safely with
a man: for she to greater or Ic,, ac-
places her good name in his keeping. ~. /
often beguiled by lending a charmed ,.
the elastic voice Of hattcry and deception
All will admit, too high price rann.,
placed upon female Virtue, and no hlaa
ment should ever induce woman 10 dr BE-
from that course which the first emotion.
her soul always indicate as that which
should pursue: for Virtue surround, .
name with a shield which enable, be-
brook triumphantly the r"ycr>c~ o' ..
causes her to look up with pride from 81
humblest sphere of society, and give,
fdence and buoyancy To her bearing IN u.a.
ever circle she may move: but If the lr
ness of this Jewel has been furnished
goes through life with mark upon her a.-
which makes her feel that the world
stantly sees and recognizes her shame, F..
her voice is less confident and tier >tcV .."
firm. and no familiarity with wee eau d ..
gether prevent the hidden attribute, Of .
instinct from causing Seli-reproach tn I'u-
in her heart. and nj times, the thought. b.
lost purity from coming over her AMI ma,
her shrink from the gaze Of the world.
1t is thus when Il woman falls tha.
sting most surely follows and leave, 10
wound poison which is never rrat..a',
Indeed, there is no antidote. and all ia' ,
her that once rendered her shrine 81
miration and delight. When once tha 30.
is taken in the fatal path Of wrom-, ia".
no way by which she can retrace II.
A man should, under all circumstu
be the CONSERVATION of female virtue. aII.
as he too frequently does, asSum" frn'
wiles in order to destroy it: for woman
every respect, save her instructive shrn,
from crime, the weaker, and man III au
every instance is responsible for her i"l,I
ture from that line Of conduct which IT.,
pride Of the female heart to boast n D..
legitimate path: for he is not only the l.-
ticlpant in the crime. but the perpetual.
her shame. His sins are often forgiven
passed over by the worId-bu woman
not once err without losing forever her o..
respect and her character. She may ,i.a
this unjust, and repine that it j. 10. h"'
should rather regard it n hlSh r.U.
ment to her sex, and feel herself place.
moral position TO which man rarely a'ta''
for she is the very mother Of moraIi'f
from her proud and glorious position r.'
the moral world, and makes man the "I''.
being he is. She plants the seed Of
and teaches the hearts Of all that onI : ...
and suffering follow the destruction "' I
tue and chastity. These are the const.
tons which should ever induce MAJ
crush the hand that would use its Gun
TO despoil a woman's virtue: for her 81
is his dishOnor.
All heads involuntarily bow to
and virtuous woman. First and fare.
creation, she is ever by mans SIDE .,..
watchful angel ministcring Ia IN, o..
cares, and when disease with its withr
grasp makes his mind a. infantll" .'a
child's, she, after stouter natures has" .f.
worn by watching and fatigue, still iir..'
by his couch to smooth his tcyercd brow
to stay the raving Of his mind by th" m..
Of her voice and the magic Of her ,ou.
This she does without murmur or comp
and desires no dearcr boon than '"...
word or q cheerful smile Nir,u" I'
crown and glory.
Alexandria, March 22, 1889.