The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-05-19
STUBBORN TRUTHS. +"

STUBBORN TRUTHS"
"Girls let us tell you a stubborn truth. No
young woman ever looked so wen to a sensi-
BILE man as when dressed in neat, plain, mod
est attire, without a single ornament about her
person. She LOOKS then as though she pos
sessed worth in herself, and needed no artificial
rigging to enhance her value. If a young
woman would spend as much time in cultivat-
ing her temper, and cherishing kindness,
meekness, gentleness, mercy, and other quail
ties, as most of them do in extra dress and or
naments to increase their personal charms,
she would, at glance, be known among
Observation-Disclosures.
Now, girls, let as tell you some stub
born truths. 1t may be as above stated
that "no young woman ever looked so
well to a sensible man" as when dressed
in calico and entirely without ornament,
but how is it that girls so dressed are
either not noticed at all in company or
are by these same sensible men" re-
garded with sort of patronizing air of
commiseration for moment, and then
neglected entirely for their sisters whom
dress and ornament make attractive d?
If any girl doubts this, let her muster
up the courage to dress plainly and
without ornament the next time she
attends party, sociable, or even church
or Sunday School.
Again, in the above choice extract,
which is sample one on this subject,
it will be seen that all these graces,
economy, 'good temper, kindness,
meekness, gentleness, mercy, and other
qualities" are to be cultivated in femi-
nine minds with one sole object in
view, 4. e., to attract the attention of
men with a view, of course, to matri-
mony.
Now, girls, before you begin this un-
wOmanly performance of making be-
lieve what you are not, crucifying your
love for the beautiful in personal adorn-
ment, playing meek when you feel in
dependent, gentle when every instinct
of your womanhood demands of you
firmness and decision, merciful when
justice is loudly calling upon you, be-
fore you undertake, we say, such a con-
test against nature as this with a view
to please some sensible man." let us
ask you question, more pertinent, per-
haps, than elegant-Is the game worth
the candle? What vice is he putting
under restraint that shall enable him to
meet your economy with generosity
how bridling his spirit that he may not
take advantage of your meekness, or
curbing his temper that your kindness
may not be used Gs a weapon against
you? If these things are mutual-well.
So far as they are so they are right and
form the strongest possible bond of un-
ioni but when they are regarded as vir-
tues only necessary to women, they are
wrong and would better not be culti-
waited with inordinate assiduity.
You are not angels, girls, land
blessed thing that you are not, else a
sorry time you would have in getting
properly mated on this side of Jordan,
and believe US, this curbing process that
dogmatical men and weak, crushed
women exhort you to engage in, will
grow monotonous before you have
mounted a score and a half of your
years. Unreasoning submission in all
things will be detrimental to your men
tai growth and physical health, and
with the one stunted and the other lost,
you cannot hope to retain the love of a
sensible man." which, perhaps, in the
first instance, you gained by artful
shams. So we say, girls, be yourselves;
preserve your own individuality; culti-
vate your minds, manners, and inn
pulses, not with a view of subordinating
them to the opinions or whims of 9TH
ers, but with desire to develop the
germ of free womanhood which God,
Creator wise, implanted within you,
and with spirit that would "blush
alike to be or have a slave;" demand
nothing that you are not ready to con-
cede, and concede nothing that you do
not of a right claim.