The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-10-31
SHREVEPORT. LOUISIANA, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 81 1866
a Perfect Womanhood.

We extract from the Chicago Times, of the 8th, tn
following abstract of lecture by the Rev. W. w
Everts D. D.:
Obviously perfect womanhood can only be attaine
through perfect physical education. As the grace
ul laurel shoots up through the ground, and as tht
rose acknowledges its dependence upon the earth fo
It's color and fragrance so the human soul rising int
being through earthly media, and though rising in in
telectaa statue and moral excellence towards heaven
1t maintains its dependence upon the body. No more
surely does the flower the tree depend upon the sol
Tor nutrment than does the spiritual beauty of man
upon the humble support of the body 1t is said a
generation of slaves is destroyed in seven years in
Cuba, and 1T may be said that generation of women
Is destroyed within given period by the vices habits
and manners OF corrupt ciyisaton. Dress diet
deness false occupations kinde diseases that sap the
vitality OF life SO that rule woman does not live
out half her days With the loss of health the bloom
ing cheek, the flow Of spirits ringing out in merry
laugh, the powers of endurance depart Woman
must seek perfection by careful observation Of
the laws of health
But perfect womanhood cannot be attained except
through rect intellectual discipline Ii is remark
able that the degradation of woman has been in all
ages through the obscuratcn of her reasoning power
In Africa woman is sold for cowres, like a dog or Il
sheep. IN Asia She is denied BY law the participation
OF social equality with man She cannot sit with him
at the table; she cannot walk with him in the streets;
even her son is her superior, socially in western
ASA she IS only makeweight in diplomacy In many
nations OF Ea:ope she is mere drudge. This comes
principally through false education Woman is ed
ueated IN our time, in music and in the arts but is
peeVed to be inferior to in intellectual powers
II Is great mistake. Fassar college is the ONLY col
lege that marks an in the education of women Of
our country since it aims to give her that more com
plete education which is necessary to make her the
equal OF man. This intellectual perfection of woman
hood carries with it the perfection of the race
Aomanhood must be perfected through perfect
of ItF1 fptnl l.. L..
all 1t is necessity of nost-it is the duty of ALL
That education that rear3 our daughters without teach
nS them to be of use TO somebody is false educa-
son. The wise man, in describing the noble woman
1f his timc does not notice the arts of music paint
ng and drawing; but She rises in the morning orders
Ter household, uses the spindle and d8taI and thus
gives US proper ideal of well ordered industry But
n this age the opinion is growing that to Be truly
indies must be ignorant of all pursuits
\ lawyer might we'll be ignorant of Blackstone or
physician Of the diagnosis of disease
But finally this perfect womanhood is to be reached
'ny through life Of spiritual discipline. Woman is
more religious than man Man has more vigor and
trengh OF body, more grasp of intellect more power
# penetration more power Of analysis but woman
mans superior spiritually. Man is ike Gothic
Fchi massive and grand; woman is like a Corinthan
oiamn. In the highest scale of excellence woman is
lans superior The vesal virgins keptthc fires burn
ng on the altars OF ancient temples there phi
osophy in this Womankcpt alive the fame Of piety
i the heart of the race. This is her missionhood
The trce-thinkers OF Europe, few years since; com
afned that there was great obstruction to the pro
agation OF their sentiments in america from the in
diligence and religious culture of the women of this
ountry. John Randolph once said {" should hive
cen an intidel if my mother had not taken me atshe
lose of the day and, kneeling down and placing her
ands en- my head, tapght TO say Our Father who
TT in heaven"
Thus woman nurtures the frIth-of the world