Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1866-10-13
A Talk with the Ladies.

A lady correspondent thus addresses
the genlIer sex-+
For many months | do no, remember
10 have taken in my hands paper which
did not contain one or more recilals OF
woe and degradation, revolving to all that
is goo and pure in lhe heart, or of crimes
so horrid that the reading about them
would almost CONCEAL lhe blood as i! was
flowing through the veins. The question
naturally arises, whs; can be the cause OF
all This wickedness Am in any way
responsible or accountable for il Is
there any way 10 which | can mitigate
lhe e,l abroad in our land ! An answer
has come to me repeatedly, saying. Yes.
you and your whole sex are responsible
as those who carry an influence. not only
through The circle Of your acquaintance
but far, far beyond.
Tha, influence may be "bul as a drop
in The mighty ocean," OF it may be as the
glorious luminsry of day which lights the
earth. According to ,ha. influence you
will be held (n some degree) accountable
for its effects. |! has been SAID thai "man
ruled the world, but ,hal woman ruled
man" Now. if this be true. and all wo-
men are willing 10 think so, how fearful
is our esponslbIliy.
DO noI ask for my sex voice in the
halls of sale or a ballot al The polls; but
DO ask that many of The precious mo-
ments. now multiplying themselves into
hours. which ale spent Perverting or de-
slroy ing The beautiful adoTnmen,s which
God has given us. should be spent by
mothers planning in The hearts OF their
sons the rrue prime; ples and virtues which
will render them discerning patriots a,
The polls, and moral, upTigh. citizens, al
all times. Leave To the African the lrz-
zled hair as their Maker intended, and
brush your own long sIlLen ,Iesses in the
modest sly lie adornlng the true woman;
then discharge, TO the best Of y our ability,
The duty of training the immortal spirits
entrusted 10 your care. Remember Cor.
nelia Of old; was i. brcause she was the
leader OF fashion that tie grateful Romans
erected 10 her memory monument more
envIahle than the beautiful Helen eveI
achieved Alb no, but because she had
trained for them two jewels who were or
namenls TO their country.
call upon HE ladies Of our broad land
to think Of the grea, and useless exlrsva-
cance in which they indulge, and also TO
reflect upon the moral effects Of that eX.
lIavagance. | DO not now refer especial.
y 10 The exotblanl price paid Tor lhe fan.
cIful arrangements oi lace aud flowers
which is placed upon the crown Of The
head. nor TO The expensive silk which is
gracefully sweeping lhe streets; no. not to
these alone do refer, though they are q
few of the "lit.les" tina, 60 10 form the
ponderous whole which is crushing the
virtue and morality Of our people.
Perhaps there is one out Of every
twenty Ct the elegantly dressed ladies' on
our streets, who is pecunisnIy able lhus
10 add TO the Golfers Of our merchants Of
every class; then there are eish,,wen.
uelhs who, regardless Of the hsrdesrned
wages Of father or a husband. sre rying
to initiate the hercss Of thousands; there
may be lour.,weniieihs Who are thus wss,
ling their own honorably ~arned money,
but what then are the base means TO
which The other seven.twrnlieihs OF our
sex resort, in order that they may equal, if
not excel, The hefeSs in richness Of appa-
rel and in Incidence 1t may be that the
lady Of wealth who reads this will say,
ii, is not my fault if made sad by their
loved ones in allowing them 10 initiate
me; it is their weakness. not mine, Meth.
Ell. is il my sin that many sell themselves,
body and soul, in order 10 excel me If
possible" II is your fault; because you
delight in being the envied of hundreds.
not for your love and charity to suffering
humanity, but for The goigeoJsness OF
your hablilmenls. and becsuse II was
your hearty demesaor which has driven
many poor bui virtuous woman down to
the depths of degradation; it is in par,
your sin, and one for which you will
have 10 answer.
Pause TO think Of this; ask yourself If it
would have delrscted any from your 7o.
silion and importance as lady TO have
spoken kindly 10 that poor orphan sewing
pirl or that radesman t sensible daughter.
who chsnced TO wear a robe Of coarser
material than yours?
Perhaps some one will ask. is il, not
our duty to make ourselves (by adcrn-
menD as pleasing as possible TO those a.
round u. especially our husbands. or
may be lovers Ii is; but with all This
lavish expenditure are We any more plea
sing than Rachel was, for whom Jacob