The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1872-08-23

Fashion from Paris to consume day
and nights, now III transforming her
self into tie Court lady OF the tim
of Louis Quatoize, with trailing trail
and all the grotesque exaggeration
and redundancies of that singular
epoch, and now in utter disregard o
age or character, whether "grave Of
gay, lively or severe" into the even
ever buxom, blithesome Dolly
Vardens.
The qOant of education, added to
other unfavorable circumstances, has
aided much III perpetuating the
mental servitude of woman. ,Super-
fetal education on the contrary has
too often made her the mere tou and
play thing of an idle hour.
But "Life is real, life is earnest,
and there are richer, nobler ends
de stined her than these.
In addition to those duties which
are connected with her domestic re-
lations, and which no woman can
neglect or disregard without abdi'
eating her sovereignty in that realm
of home where she is Queen, il is
hers by her taste and exquisite sense
of beauty, by her gentieness and ten
derness of heart, by her religious
sentiment aud devotional character,
to exert an influence en- our civiliZa-
ton not inferior, if not superior to
that of man. To woman's eye, we
owe the grace and order Of our
homes, the tasteful arrangement Of
its interior, its adornment with
things of art, its shrubs and vines
and flowers. To her; indeed, we
are indebted for the development of
most of the fine arts which one has
termed the feminine elements of civ
ilization. To her sympsthies, we
must largely attribute the generous
impulses which have covered our
Christian lands with hospitals, asy-
lums, homes for invalids, or the des-
titute, and the multiform institutions
of charity which adorn our age.
To her religious sentiment and
devotional character are due, more
or less directly, the many noble edi-
fees, CathedraIs, Churches, Chapels
which rise on every side like Pal
aces "to show HIS milder face" in
whose worship they are eonsecrated.
Sometimes even here her labors have
furnished the materials by which
these massive structures have been
reared. At Rouen in France one of
the most elegant towers ofthe Cathe-
dral-a noble specimen Of the Goth
ic-is called the "Butter Tower" in
memory of the means by which the
women of that city in the old time,
raised the funds for its erection
Often the proceeds of her jewels
have helped rear noble edifices
which serve through long ages as
memorials of her devotion and self
denial in works Of bene6cence. At
times even her own genius has erect
ed the edifce itself. When Erwin
of SteinbaeIe died, while building
the graceful Cathedral of Friburg in
Bresgau, his daughter took his plans,
herself designed the details, and
successfully carried the work to its
completion.
The home, the social circle, the
fields of affection, charity, devotion,
of art and literature and education,
give complete scope for the full ex-
ercise of her varied talents, without
trespassing on that sphere assigned
by custom and physical adaptation
to man.
When Napoleon said, ''No woman
should have any thing to do with
politics." "Ah mon General" said
Madame de Stael, "when you men
cut off our heads we just like
to know the reason why" The
remark is perhaps the best argu-
ment ever made, for woman's right
to some voice in the social system,
which claims such fearful power
over her person. Yet they are
doubtless wise, who think, that
while they know Of no principle,
which should debar her OF this right
when demanded, its exercise would be
attended with serious damage to her
own best interests, and might often
sully the bright crown of her pres.
ent influence.
You are living in an age in which
the sphere of woman has been much
discussed. There is without doubt
great error in many demands which
have been made, and we may earn
estly hope that the dispensation of
"monstrosities," which certain Con-
ventions yearly propose and often
illustrate, may be far distant; yet
the agitation is of value and is re-
vealing some new avenues for wo-
mans usefulness and remunerative,
as well as agreeable, employment.
1t has been lately said by distin-
guished Frenchman that 'there is
no revolution without some necd' and
some things in this direction have
deserved amendment.
Perhaps l have already said
enough, to hint the various fields Of
usefulness which await your action.
These alone demand high culture
and intense activity. Not these the
L.. L., G!;JIo JoII;ooo, /"