Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-05-24

correctly than polished Greece TO have estimated
the s'weaker vessel" Here and there, upon the
sform-driyen 5llows of her history, some solitary
form towers upward in majesty and the mother
of the racchi still stands forth in strong relief
amid imagery over which time has no power.
Both Britain ana America owe their greatness and
glory to the character Of their women. Who in
spired the infant mind with love of knowledge
and truth-who tntored the youth and formed his
habits and character as man it not the tUis-
dom and e!rRe Of the lgfe, the mother and the sis
tef land does not her influence accompany him
through Hfe even to the ballot box and the legisa
tive hall where it should be of the most reHning,
consoling and ennobing character a-shonld she
not possess the necessary information 2-does she
reap no benefits from wellregulated government
has she interest at stake when it is badly
managed cares she not whether the principles
upon which it is founded and carried right
wrong, and has she no responsibility in the mat
ter? Therefore, is not the encouragement of her
education the great secret IN political economy2
II has been asserted, and very ungenerously and
uHBGnIy TOO that she is untitled ior the position of
teacher in the higher departments of study-that
she is eoaStitHti0nGlty as well as nentGiiy tncaPa-
citGted 10 influence, govern, train up or in other
words, 10 educate. This is a contunely to the
| 6elieaey, moral sentiment, and mental ability,
which every true hearted and undetermined woman
should resent. 1t is an infringement Of our prlEa
| leges-and they not many and large-that
we afford to lose bright link from the chain
of respect and influence without murmur. 1t is
/
! the true teacher for the Young, the one whom God
has appointed and fitted Bloraly-that she has not
been mentally qualified has been the fault of man
1 and he ought not to take advantage of defect
which he himself has caused to usurp her rights. -
1t will be admitted By all that the great mass of
! man kind have devoted vastly more attention and
means to the instruction OF their soRs than their
daughters, aud the I0ealth to very superficial
intellectual education, have merely superaddsd the
| fashionable accomplishments.
TnokH Har5r tall "a o1a Effrsr and
scientific attainment. has under all discourage
ments receiYe too much demonstration to be longer
| questioned. That it has been established beyouG
doubt, that in natural and moral philosophy in the
higher branches of mathematics, i'll geometry and
trigouometry, IN aigebFaical sciences In demon
strlting tie most complex propositions of Euclid
I she has eqnalized, if not surpassed, boys of tho
same age, in skill and degree of proficiency. In
| composition, also, either in prose or poetry, she
exhibits an intellectual maturity, compass Of
thought "a correctness and cultivation of taste aud
an elegance of dtctioii, which unattainable by
| males at the same period Of life. That many wo-
men have acquired knowledge of the dead
i languages and with resolution and perseverance,
scarcely outdone by Demosthenes, has been clearly
IToven to those who have been sufficiently interes-
ted to inv esfigate the subject We have examples
on record of those who, to the study of Hebrew,
Greek and Latin, have added French, Italian Span
iSh and German, and also, Portuguese and Arabic
| and to an Uncommon proficiency in classic and
historic lore they have added a knowledge Of as
/ tronomy, ancient geography, poetry and theology.
1t his also been affirmed and that in proof of her
incapacity, that she has produced such works
as Shakespeare, Byron, Moore and Others-that hel
intellectual i1ferioEity precluded the possibility
attaining sucha degree OF literary perfection TC
which, We reply-Such affirmation is unworthy
the noble Of man and the injustice Of Il
causes to curl the lip OF indignation, and instructive
! ly the finger of scUrn points to him, who woult
thus degrade the protectreSs Of his childhood the
preceptress of his principles.
The composition Of such works, adds not lustr,
to their culture, either morally or relgiousy -
Woman, naturally, is ambitioU&-endowed with
lively and brilliant imaginatioa-and tina. alone il
essential to the existanee of amhtion-she inv est
all with the beauty Of her own bright creatioas.-
| Perseyering and untiring. in her researches afte
knowledge-and only when her physical constitu
ton fails does she TelinquiSh her chase in the in
trieate wndings cf the labyrinth of intellectual
love. But the office Of rHe poetTy is to eter0te, L
1 purifg and soften the human character and thu
promote civil, moral and religious advancement
1t is encouraging TO meet with respect ard com
mendaton, and especially to find men, wh
are disposed to atone for the iFjustice hay
received from others-ihe cutting wrong Of Young
the despOtic edicgs Of Milton, the sneers Of Pope
the polite sarcasras of Addison, the riuadl
of Shakespt are, 1Sth the lcentious wit of Byron
and the degrading yoluptu"usness of Moore. hav
been re echoed back by Of inferior minds
who thought what dsgraced their wives, mother
and sisters, h0nored them.
Thus have the name and character of woma
been degraded, and man, the defender, the protec
tor, smiles complacently upon, and stamps wit
the seal Of his appreciation such unparalleled injus
tice. Shame upon 'Ecreation's Lord, the prou
monopolist of Intellect 2 But sHope still whisI
ors,'' that to woman, well as to man,
-ssThe time will come
When goodness, like the sun wit hout a cloud
To dim his afIluent beams, shall shine on all,
And fame be virtues guardian, and fair truth
And heart-warni love, twin graces, shine to charr
The intellectual miDdi-'
A NEAp SInN IN THE HFANFNS 10Y