The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1873-09-10
Womanly Dignity.
Nature, which has given weapons of
assault or means of defence to almost

In fact, wOmanly dignity may be a(
cepted as one among many explanation
of that legendary power which turne
the bravest man to stone, and made tn
might of the strongest like water j
their bones. What can any one d
against it? As well try to penetrat
the armadiIlo's coat OF mail by needle
Or make hole ill a pachyderm by
pOpgun, as fire a woman to passion o
melt her to pity when she has once en-
trenched herself inthe stronghold of he
dignity. No argument can shake her, nt
reasoning convince her; despair die,
away in querulousnoss, aud the plead
ings Of love itself fall dull and bluntet
from her stately self-possession like 81
many toy shafts hurled against pol
ished and impenetrable surface. Indeed
how can you rage in anger, or abase
yourself in entreaty, to creature who
is icily polite, loftily unmoved, not tc
be gOaded into the smallest demOnstra.
ton which would put her in the wrong
and give you vantage-point against
her, and whose calm eyes look at you
with q kind of superior scorn which,
whileit maddens you, offers no point OF
attach, ? Whot oon vnn dnp Cirnnlu
nothing: The means of defence which
nature has given are unassailable, and
difniged woman is mistress Of the sit
uatiOn by the very power of negation,
if by none other But there are various
kinds of dignity, and if some are more
exasperating than others, some are very
lovely, and among the greatest charms
of WOmanhood. There is in particular
that soft dignity which belongs to wo-
men who are affectionate by nature and
timid by temperament, but who have a
reserve of self-respect that defends
them against themselves as well as
against others. These have quiet dig
nifty, tempered by much sweetness of
speech and manner, that is the lOveliest
kind of all, the most subtle as well as the
most beautiful. They are like the lady
in COmus, and seem to cast the spell of
respect on all with whom they are as
sociated. No man, save of the coarsest
fibre, and such as only physical strength
can control, could be rude to them in
word or brutal in deed for there is
about them, very indefinite
but very strong withal, which seems to
give them special protection from inso-
lence and a loving woman of soft
manners, whose mind is pure and who
herself, is armed with q power
which none but the vilest can despise.
This is the woman who gets precise
obedience from her servants without ex-
acting it, and whose children do not
dream of disputing her wishes who,
though 30 gentle and affable, stops short
of that kind of familiarity which breeds
contempt, and with whom no one takes
o liberty. For this, one can scarcely
give reason. She would not ramp or
rave if she was displeased, she would
not scold, she could not strike; but
there is a certain quality in her which
we may not be able to formuIarizo, yet
which would make us ashamed to pass
beyond the boundaries of the strictest
and which restraints others less
critical than ourselves as
as fear. 1t is the respect we
pay to those who respect themselves
the consideration and honor which all
real purity of nature demands and OBJ
5ains. This is woman1y dignity in its
Ioveliest aspect, and the kind we all de-
sire to see in women, whom it would not
harden, nor render less than loving.
THE INFLUENCE OF CHARACTER ON
CHILDREN chief influence by
which any one can move the world has
10 dependence of situation, fortune or
condition, it is character the principle
us, the affection animating,
5he spirit prevailing our lives. In the
little circle where we are best known
his influence remains even after we
have passed away and upon all those
whom culture has brought into perfect
sympathy with us; and through these,
whose hands spiritually clasp ours as by
IN electric chain, into other hearts and
other homes. First of all, children feel
It. Where the light of noble example
las shone upon their path they carry
With them a spiritual illumination,
when the sun has set that kindled them
hey beam down as with the soft luster
If the moon. They go out into the
great world bearing lofty standard.
They may be assured that such costly
virtues as integrity exirt no longer
hey know better; they have seen it de-
ivering from temptation, they have felt
& sustaining under calamity, they have
Known it triumph over fear of death. If
t is only to the grave of such a parent |
hat they can go back there is a virtue
which blossoms from the dust, which |
here reveals its fresh vitality which |
springs up thence to better harvest.
liberal Christian.
CHINA is building up navy that will |
ioon be more formidable than that of |
Japan. At Foochow, English and |
American engineers have been for sew
,ral years engaged in teaching Chinese
vorkmen to construct steam vessels. |
eleven have already been launched, /
md four more are under contract to be |
inished before February, 1874. One of |
he steamers is a frst-class corvette, 200 |
eet long, 81 feet beam, and carries a
ormidable battery. New York may be
risited by Chinese man-of-war before |
many months have passed. The object |
# the Chinese is, no Doubt, to main
ain the supremacy which they have al |