The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-10-25

seldom receives practical application as an
agency constantly and powerfully at work
81, every social result. THIS IS not TecoS.
nized ii, the aggregate until some cnange
=, ,,,nrals. manners, or customs, PLAINLY so
or,o;nase9-is handed down as the fixed
characteristic Of a community or nation.
We fail in progress-in the present interests
If stake-to see that it is the most effective
lever in the machinery of circumstance and
destiny around MS.
Women of Virginia, accept and understand,
pafiently and kindly, an effort to estiniaee
with YOU some Of the realities OF your ms ~:
sion now. The masculine tendencies culkl-
waited by the woman's rights assoclasl9;t ,E,
have done harm, not only in the minority
converted to those views, but in effect on
LARGER n,ouortion who with propriety ut
terIv reject them; they are liable to err on
tho other extreme, and to neglect respon-
sibilitv In the public welfare so truly theirs.
pass In rapid review over the history OF the
world. and wherever excellence has been
attained by man we find that the women OF
that ace and race had adopted some stand
ard calculated to encourage and stimulate
such emulation and advance. In the me-
rarv periods Of England this IS strlkingy
illustrated, and forcible example ma! De
seen in the female character, North ana
South. and the corresponding national tialts.
we are in the midst of q moral conflict OF
greater magnitude and risk than the pfEsi-
cal warfare we have been engaged IN. Inc
influence Of woman, for good or evil, must
be deeyly felt i'm such a crisis. The much-
discussed facts that our laboripg population
must gradually give place to class less dls-
tinct from our own, and that we must also
have the emigration of property-hold-
ers, present q prospect of preponderatlnS
foreign element. To preserve an ndlVldu-
alitv, of which in many respects we are
Justly proud, we must gain and estaDlisn lCf
our people the known ascendancy OF Tell-
gion, intellect, and refinement. some OF inc
transitions we have experienced have al
fccted every one who had az honorable oc-
cupation and aim; many young men, ma
turing for our future disgrace oraggrandlzc-
mcnt, are contending. under peculiar dlSad-
yantaocs of insufficient means ana cducaIloii,
with Temptation to Incidence and despair.
They must be sustained-urged on IN Their
efforts. The change from the easy indie
pendence Of our old agricultural system 10
almost universal necessity may serve TO draw
out far greater intellectual eXertl0n, ana Il
higher development and use OF all our BEST
faculties for the general beneflt,. than we
have realized before. 1t is n question natu-
rally suggested, Why did the recent revo-
luton force forward so few men capable OF
controlling the minds of other men! ana
how had the North, for so many years OF
peace, drained the likelihood from our land
except by the energy, perseverance, ana III
dustrv in which her population (partly from
difference in her institutions have learned to
excel? Women of Virginia, urge your nus
bands, fathers. brothers. and all within
your possible influence, to pursue with un-
firing manliness any legitimate employ
ments they have undertaken, Whetner III
theology, law, merchandise, MECHANICS, OF
in the arena of politics. Again, offering
some incentive to hope and action, remem-
Der, by such means is your country 10 be re-
stored to vitality as the basis OF growth
hereafter, and lend your unscltish cheering
aid. Maintain Christian consistency, pray
ing in private for your country in her peril,
and elicit respect for those prayers by your
outward walk and conversation. Cultivate
yolr minds with asSiduOus care to be capa-
bic not only of sympathy, but prompt anG
judgment.
One prominent hint would occur TO any
adviser for the public good-avoid the artl-
fetal adornment prevailing at the North
for can your instincts and opinions deserve
or obtain rs much While you prac-
tice such artitce to please the senses? with
simplicity, pitSetNe a Soou ''''''" i4A NAN'>'
to be always attractive, as no means APP
proved by self respect, can be insignificant
with the object III view. Be bright and
cheerful in your daily life, showing Zest in
every innocent amusement, to draw the
student Of many weary hours to such recre-
alton rather than to hauntS of dissipation.
An improving book, read with circle OF
friends too intimate for restraint or at
tempt at display, may often suggest noble
purpose to lead to noble endeavor. In quiet
scenes of instruction, or in halls of gayety,
YOUR presence euer purifying and eleyating
Cherishing the refinement for which you are
as the brightest gem i'll your
crown. seek not to assume the career OF the
other sex in competition with them, but
proudly see them on any pedestal they may
mount as the goal OF honor-eXultlng IN the
feeling that you helped to place them there
by your great good womanhood.
Women of Virginia, especially IN our
towns-now the school Of probation ana
effort for so many Of the youth of our colln-
try, and resorted to by those also who have
lost offices of dignity and profit, and, com
late in life, must contend with
rivalry and doubt to rise OF fall in the struS-
glc-true southern women receive the ap-
peal to do all your hearts and consclences
dictate, with the charge that in your lndl-
rect. silent. and feminine sway, you have
the shaping of nationality perhaps glorl-
Gus through all time. Let the anthem
echoed from heart to heart IN the years OF
suffering through which we have passed,
80 Blessed are the women who console De
succeeded, in another generation, ny the
ioyous tribute, "Blessed are The women
who eXalt." Z. Z. A.