Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-01-16
FOR THE SPIRIT OF TIE AGE
The Female Sex.

Among a certain class of mankind an opin-
ion prevails, | believe, somewhat prejudicial
to the character of the temale sex, which
should be met and refuted by every liberal
ard hi ahm inded man who may wish to do
justice when it is merited and desired.
That opinion disseminates the false and err
roneous views that woman's mind is not as
susceptible of cultivation and improvement
as man's-that she is deficient in intellectual
powers, and does not possess those acute per-
ceptions which man in the pride of his heart
boasts of and which he prctends to claim as
being inherent by nature
In some respects it may be said that man
is woman's superior in others he is unques-
tionably her inferior; and, when the claims
of each are summed up, and weighed in the
scale of impartial justice, very little difference
Will be discovered to exist between them
Her feelings are more acute her sensibilities
far more refined and, when the gifts and
graces which she can justly claim from nature
are brought into action, she can shine with
resplendent lustre, and, as a beacon on the
! lofty pinnacle of virtue, she is fully compe-
tent to guide the young and inexperienced
! of her sex in the paths of rectitude, and in
struct all, ndiscriminately, how to be virtuous
and happy If she is united in wedlock's s
bands to the object of her affections and re-
gard, and becomes the mother of children,
her time and attention are almost exclusive
ly devoted to them and her other domestic
avoca.ions.
Man having been made out of the dust OF
the earth, and woman out of rib from his
side, she may from that cause be denomina-
ted dust refined or, in other words, perhaps
equally as consistent with sense and reason,
out of flesh purified and made as perfect as
her Creator would have it. Then, if there is,
or can be, any superiority in human beings
that superiority must be claimed and awar-
ded to woman, whose love of virtue Chris
tian bencvolence, and retiring modesty fa'
surpasses man, with all his boasted aGvanta
ges .... w.. ........-..
The virtuous and intelligent woman, in at
tending to her duties as wife, mother ant
benefac;ress, shedsa much lustre on her path
way as man does on his while defending Will
an irresistible eloquence the liberty of hi:
country or the lives and property of his fel
lows.
She shines as conspicuous in her privat
and domestic as he does in the public walk
of life, where he may have honors heaped uI
on him without measure Next to the slpe
ror excellency Of the Christian religion, tn
example and softening influence Of femal
virtue restrain, and, in a great measure, regr
late the passions of men, and subdue thos
propensities which often lead them astray
and finally end in their disgrace and ruin.
TO prove this position, it is only necessar
to contrast the wild and unsteady cours
which unmarried men pursue with that pur
sued 10y Others WHO have tasted the sweet
and enjoyed the happiness of the married lifi
The man unrestrained by virtue or religio
participates largely in the unsubstantal plea
ures and amusenents of the world. He ma
crafty every desire of the heart, though
may be at the expense of fortune and rep,
tation; but, as he advances in years, he r
fleets on the needless course he is pursuin
and, by some hidden impulse, he gains Il
consent of his mind to abandon them, and pu
sue the paths of sobriety and order.
But TO effect this change, and accompli:
this important object, he looks around hi
for partner for life; and, in due time,
finds one whom he bell ewes will make hi
; happy. A union is brought about and
: enters upon the duties of husband and ma
/ ter, with pleasing anticipations of happine
a and tranquility in the future
Q Virtue is to woman what an honest fame
: to man., And so long as she retains if, S
is beloved and esteemed but, divested of
g she is poor indeed-so poor that the tres
u utSS VI al COutu 1OL erase Lnc STAIN
incontinence from, her character. Not
: with man, He can do what yirtuous v
e man dare not think of doing. He can tarni
e his name, and brighten it again. He c
2 cverleap all obstacles in the qualification
S his lusts, and still hold rank among
fellox-men. But if woman (the weaker V
e SEP shall presume to violate any one of [
d established and fundamental laws of vrt
and chastity, she is forever lost, and infam
> grave receives her as its deluded victim.
In every age of the worlds existence
W sulled chastity has been esteemed and
ell garded as an indispensable garb to the ado
1T ment of female reputation Among the
~ cultivated, and, may add, the uncivili
TO portion, respect has been paid to virtuous
t. man; and, If it were necessary, numerous
stances could be enumerated where the n
II of prohigate habits has been made to bow
~ spectfully at her footstool, and acknowle
her worth and superior excellence
IS Tic wcman whose heart is made the s