The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1860-02-21
False and Pernicious Education of
American Women.

False and Pernicious Education of
American Women.
n. P. Willis, in recent number of the
Home Journal, thus truthtfully dis
courses:
That our ladies begin sooner and leave
of sooner than the ladies of Europe, may
be compensatory Americanism; but is
it to be approved altogether? A word or
two upon both ends ofthis social dilemma
will at least give our readers an instructive
topic to discuss.
In England, and still oftener in France,
woman of 'ffty and upward" is often
leader of society and most admired
object of attentions from all classes of
gentlemen. The charming "Memoir"
Literature of tho most polite nation in
the world owes half its fascination to the
portraitures of such women. Why should
the like Of them be almost unknown in
our American cities? The more obvious
reasons--difference of education and
climate, and difference of social habits Of
gentlemen--will readily occur to you;
but, let me call attention to point or two
upon which the habitual feeling ur i'm
preston of our fair countrywomen is
errorle leous-leading uncOnsciously and
most mistakenly to this abridgment of
their natural term of Office"
The complexion and hair are thought
too much Of An American lady, to re-
assure herself as to what she has that
will be agreeable to society, consults her
mirrorl While dressing, in the morning,
she anxiously studies the reflection of
her face--and Of the mere face, of course,
without expression and without the air
and movement of conversation. Unless
it retains its juvenescence, or unless she
can produce what will pass for good
complexion and youthful hair, she de-
spairs of being still attractive, enough for
"mixed company. Fearing to be re-
marked upon as growing old" Or unwill-
ing to show her Incl pient wrinkles or gray
hairs TO any but relatives or family friends,
she sighs over the doom pronounced by
her dressing glass; gives np the world,
and retires to seclusion Of saddened In
activity or discoutented performance of
the mere duties of home and relationship
And this, at the very period of her life
when she might be most agreeable
when her mind is ripest, her manners
most refined, her tact most disciplined,
her sympathies truest and most womanly,
her perception and appreciation and
power of communication at their fullest
capability of giving pleasurel
Now, we venture to say that middle.
aged lady" would think nineteen
twentieths of the value of mere youth
fulness of face, if she could look at her
self through the eyes of the linked
society" for which, thus mistakenly, she
thinks herself too old. Her sisterhood Of
''lady friends" would he likelier to look
lovingly upon her, in the first place, for
the very change which she laments-
rivalry and envy, like the shadows of the
trees, disappearing at the days first dip
below the horizon, and not heedful of the
greater glory of the sunset. But, to the
eyes of gentlemenl we could write a long
discourse upon the greater attraction she
may now have, if she pleases, to all the
gentlemen of her acquaintance-excepi
one (There is here and there lady
of course, who dresses, goes into society
and levels all her artillery Of charms, at
if every gentleman in the world were
that one lover--but this more genera,
homme-ily is not for her.
A middle.aged woman can still dress
beautifully, and all men admire that
Nineteen-twentieths Of her presence, as
an object for the eyes is unaffected by hel
ages, therefore. The remaining twentieth
the facets the small portion of hel
person which the dress maker is com
PEELED to leave unembellished, Mature
having ordained that her own heart shall
do the dressing Of this, with smiles an(
geod-humor,) and, as to the attraction 0
this remaining twentieth, for mems eyes
let us make single remark.
A face which is alphabetically genia
will leave complexion and hair unthough
Of by the male beholderl This is tru
1--WE solemnly declare, from our sex
point Of viewl) even where there ar
incipient wrinkles and gray hair. TIL
features Of any woman may be NOR
charming to man than beauty ooul
make them, if they but express what
possible and easy--sympathetic inquir
for his present thought or feeling
appreciation Of his worth, discriminatin
and sincere pleasure in talking with hir
\ ~, a., ond tha hara nd this charm-Whic