The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1865-01-19


love mercy"
The womanly woman possesses positive
character, vindicates the claims of her
sex, and has consciousness of her moral
power The estimation in which woman
has been held by man has undergone
material changes in different periods of the
worlds history. In the first ages of the
Roman Empire, her condition was little
better than slave, whose very life was at
the mercy of her lord. Thus Rome, in all
her "wolt- nursed greatness" despised the
power of woman. In Greece, where the
beauties of her external form were arrest
ed In the marble by the artists chisel, the
value of her noble nature was disregarded
Their most accomplished historian said it
was sufficient for her ''to sit at home an0
spin WOOL and Thucydides, breathing
the spirit of the nation, declared, "The
best woman IS she of whom the least can
be said, either in the way of good or
harm, thus reducing her to a cipher.
Even in our day there are self-important
ninnies enough, who would fain establish
their own superiority upon the assumption
of woman's superiority. With lordly
dignity and pompeus air, they strut the
world boasting of the greatness of the
"lords of creation" and with significant
nod of the head they essay to how the
''softer sex" into reverence for their cox
comb suficiency! They have strangely
enough concluded that woman only Olives,
moves, and has her being" under the agis
of their presiding genius that she ''sur-
wives or perishes'' through their smiles or
trowns; that she has no protection outside
OF the shadows Of their umbrellas, and
that her only sure defence is a tight gripe
upon their arms akimbo. But our pattern
of true woman, although she gratefully
the protection afforded by
the guardian of her virtues, yet scorns to
be accounted "Flora NJ Fl;msy," to fut-
ter in the sunshine of such false gallantry
as this.
TIE Womanly Wonsan as not ashamed of
domestic employment, Home is the centre
of attraction, around which the tendrils of
her heart are closely entwined; it is the
Sanctun1 sdnctorun1 where her affections |
are enshrined. A knowledge of domestic |
duties is to her beyond all price, and no |
one of good sense will think lightly of |
them. 1t is growing conviction of the |
most cultivated minds, male and female, |
that the dignity of woman requires re-
formation at precisely this point. In |
many circles, it is thought not to be gen. |
teel to come down from flights of fancy, |
piccadilly work, and parlor philosophy, to |
the commonplace, carking, care-wearing
drudgery of the household Too often |
has the ban of disgrace been attached to
domestic labor, while this so called drudg- |
ery is committed to servants alone, and |
refined, selEstYled ladies disdain to touch |
such menial service with so much as one
of their lily fingers /!
Health, if nothing more, demands ac-
tive employment in life. If the position
assumed by DIR. Spurzheim be correct,
that "the physical education of woman is
of more Importance to the welfare of the |
world than man" then, certainly there is
a demand fer a reform in the enervating
effect refinement and affluence have pro-
ducec. The prayer of the classic poet for
the ''neens Sana IN corpore sano," proves
that ever Pagan wisdom knew a sound
mind could only dwell in sound body.
Take that wasp-waisted, sofa-lounging,
novel-reading, good -for-nothing "belle,"
pampereG by smiles and fattery, who
scarcely ever Feposes herself in the re-
freshing breeze or gushing sunlight, lest
her radiant, exquisite, and unmatchable
beauty" might be spoiled-who sits like
| white statue lest it might be thought
ndelicate to move-Who thinks it Uultydr
or a lady to walk, except upon Broadway
,r some other fashionable promenade, and
Who never touches domestic employment
no, not she lest it might soil her
lelicate white hands. / ask you how long
t would take our race to die out represen-
ed by such 10Y as this?
Let us turn from such a sickly picture
o one of different finish, aud behold ycn
vinsome damSel, SO ''buxom, blithe and
Iebonaire," whose artless life and active
xercise ''blush and beautify the cheek"
While through her flowing ringlets play
ne dallying wind, and along her veins !
ances the joyous life-blood quickened by
lonest industry. Her eyes sparkle with {
and her hands are ever ready !
o administer to the wants of the needy
'.She looks as whole as some serene
reation minted in the golden mood !
Of sovereign artists not thought, a touch j
ut pure as lines of green that streak the white ]
Of the first snow-drop's inner leaves" {
"Loox first on this picture, and then on {
hat" and it will not take you long to de-
srmine which is worthy of the title of the e
Vomanly Woman. i