Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-10-23
For the Ladies.

Through the columns of that ably conducted
and deservedly popular journal, the Louisville
Courier, lady seeks to have a friendly talk
with the ladies Of our land upon questions of
vital Importance both to our moral and nation
al character. Beginning with the assertion that
Tor many months she does not remember to
have taken inter her hands paper which did
not contain one or more recltals Of woe and de-
gradation revolving to all that is good and pure
arises, what can be the cause Of all this wicked
ness? The response has come to her that the
whole female sex are, In measure, responsible
as those who carry an influence in and even far
beyond, the circle Of their immediate acuuain-
tance.
She says she does not ask for her sex voice
in the halls Of State, or ballot at the polls !;
but she does ask that many Of the precious mo-
ments, now multiplying themselves into hours,
which are spent in perverting and destroying
the beautiful adornments which God has given
them, should be spent by mothers planting In
the hearts of their sons the true principles and
virtues which will render them discerning pa
triots at the polls, and moral, upright citizens
at all times. She admonishes ladies to leave
to the African the frizzled hair as their Maker
intended, and brush their own long silken
tresses III the modest style adorning the true
woman then to discharge to the best OF their
ability, the duty Of training the immortal spirits
lntrusted to their care. 1t was not because
Cornelia of old was leader of the fashion that
the Romans erected to her memory a monu-
ment more enviable than the beautiful Helen
achieved, but because she had trained two jew
els who were ornaments to the country
She thinks that too great desire to initiate
relgns In the hearts of her sex, and she estl-
mates that perhaps there is one out of every
\ ut 10 IadIo
streets who is pecuniarily able thus to add to
the Golfers OF our merchants OF every class !;
then there are eli ht-twentieths who, regardless
OF the hard-earned wages Of a husband or a
father are trying to initiate the helress OF thou
sands; there may be four -twentieths who are
thus wasting their own honorably y-earned mon
ey but then what are the base means to which
the other seven -twentieths of her sex resort, in
order that they may equal, if not excel the
helress in richness OF apparel and in Incidence
She declares that reform in the extravaganza
of both sexes is important is necessary to our
life as a virtuous people, and it cannot efficient
y begin with one alone. for she would only be
marked as odd and eccentric 1t must be made
by a number of ladies Of wealth and position,
who can then give the noble reason which ac-
tuates them, and by the silent workings Of their
power in few short years they will achieve
more than the eloquence Of Clay or Webster
ever gained Think, then, how rapidly homes
could be made to rise for our manned defenders,
our orphans and widows, schools for the igno-
rant, and hospitals for the suffering.
This amendment will rapidly abolish the
mercenary trade in matrimony, because then
there will be no necessity for ladies and gentle
men each to consult the assessors list for the
value of the one they love-
And in conclusion, this lady appeals to her
sisters, to awake to full sense of their duty
and its Importance She beseeches them to let
the work of reform begin at once; at once let
the light be kindled, and it will soon extend to
the shores washed by the peaceful Pacific, the
stormy Atlantic, and to the sanded strand of the
''sunny South" England domains will catch
the spirit of light and reflect it from her icy
peaks to the hamlets and cities of the cold
World whose people will universally don the
imperishable gems of virtue, love, and charity.
Only let these become the fashion, and they
will not need to be changed every three months !;
for the longer they are worn the more beautiful
and beautifying they become. What peace of
mind will then smooth the wrinkles from the
brows of our fathers and mothers, as we'll as
brighten the eye and tinge the cheeks of our
brothers and sisters.
1t is that lady's earnest prayer that the Spirit
of God may carry these truths to every heart,
and we say, Amen.