Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1860-11-08
FEMALE

The Atlanta (Ge0rglaJ AWer'cdH, FepollinS
the third day of the Fair, says:
sNot the least attractive feature of the day
was the appearance on the grounds of q party
of twenty. seven ladies, teachers and pupils of
the Spring Hill School," under the supervision
of that gifted advocate of the development of
Southern agriculture, and actual independence in
the Union, Rev. C. W. Howard, all attired in a
substantial check homespun dress, made fash
ionably full and flowing. When this spirit of
independence seizes upon the minds of our daugh-
tiers and wives, Invested of its fanaticisrn, as
manifested by the sterner sex, we may look for
rood practical results. The members OF this
school brought for exhibition, but not to con-
test for premiums, a large number of very beau
tiful articles, such as tidys, embroidered slip
pers, and various articles of dress, and fancy
bead work for table mats, SC. But twenty-sev.
en- blooming, bright. eyed Southern lasses, in
cloth of Southern manufacture, of which the
staple was peculiar to their homes, was Indeed n
sight worth seeing on a Southern fair ground
Thus has women, at all periods of national
danger, whenever and wherever she has been
allowed to give voice and utterauce to the noble
impulses of her heart, proven that her devotion
to the veal of her country and the welfare of
posterity, is equal to mans. The mothers and
daughters of Rome once gave up all their gilt
teriue Jewels to save the ~"eterual city" During
the heavy night" which hung dark over our
own shores through the dreadful era of '76,
some of the most thrillingly glorious acts of the
drama were performed by women. We need
not, and we dare not even attempt to enumerate
their deeds of queenly heroism. And in the
q~uieter walks of life, by the sacrifice of every
luxury, the endurance of every hardship and the
performance of the most drudging as well as
laborious toll, they left the impress of their lof.
ty patri otism upon the history of their times.
Let no one hastily conclude that we are the adj
vocates of Amazonism either in the feelings or
behavior of woman. No amount Of energy,
strength of purpose and courageous resolution,
will atone in her for the lack of the more femi.
nine qualities of modesty, grace and true spirit
ual beauty. Yet there is o silent heroism be-
longing to her nature, which, in times of peace,
pervades society with its leaven of self-deniaI
and charity, and which varies, enlarges aud pop
la,izes its effects in proportion to the public dan,
ger or necessity, before she can lay claim sue
c~essfully to the highest distinctions of full
grown womanhood. 1t is this principle that
makes her mans administering angel" indeed
his stay and support his companion and friend
the unfailing fountain of his own courage, reso.
luton and hope.
How much is every home energized ant
strengthened, where the mother, the sister, the
wife, not only refnes the inmates by her match
less grace and d~elicacy, but also casts then
in the mould of her own high-toned spirit anc
INDEPENDENCE! And the nation which receive:
the impress of e race of such women, canno
fail to become great. The mother of Washing
ton made him the purest patriot and the nobles
hero the world has produced; and she was wha
is too often sneeringly called a woman Of ''irol
will and masculine qualities" We have no pa
thence with that sickly sentimentalism and kid
eloved philosophy, which makes woman a mere
chit, too feeble to do anything but faint in thu
hour of danger; frightened at the fall of a lea
and oppressed with the perfume of a rosebud.
Nothing can be truer than that her nature IL
best nourished and guarded by peace, and tina
her whole soul is attuned to the mission of do
mestic love and social charity. But so sure as
she can rise to the sentiments Of patriotism and
philanthropy, just so sure these virtues will WORK
out for her that latent heroism which denies sell
and braves danger, for the present and future
veal of her country. Even in times OF actua
struggle, however, it is not for her to draw the
sword and inAict wounds, but to follow in the
wake of strife and heal them.