The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-12-19
a Lndy's PIea For Reform.
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EDS. CLARION Let us look at our stand
ing, how is it AS noble a race of people
as all creation can boast, with traces and
features OF former greatness becoming paler
and more indistinct; and how noted for
love of pleas IRE and fine dress, blinded to
all our best interests we drift along uncon-
scious of our approaching ruin. Having
eyes we see not" Strangers come among
Us, see our weakness and dwarfishness, hear
our laments, and return to ridcule US j; they
find what capital there is in this ailapidated
country all locked up in iron vaults; conf
dence between men destroyed, and they are
afraid to invest in enterprise because of so
many failures among US; in tact there is
nothing visible to recommend US a great
people. Let contemplate the great
suits of "A different state of affairs, which
looks to regaining our standing politically
and socially, We needed none to tell us our
duty when our sons and husbands were
camping on the battle-1ields all over our
South, but were all equal to the emergency,
and displacng our elegance and style, we
all become workers, thus by the introduce
tion OF the wheel and loom, with firm will
did we clothe our families as well as SOL
diers.
The same mothers and wives to-day pos
sess those energies, and need only to realize
that there is need for their influence and
example to regain, not our lost wealth
and fortune--that can never be-but to dis
courage the rivalry and show and dress,
make all expenditures more commensurate
with our means until we regain our posi-
ton. Then, ladies of REFORM may we not
creditably at least share our honors with
our peerless cham pions who are advocating
our rights presenting and urging our claims
to place, at least equal with the other old
States. In our homes, In our i'm mediate cir
cles do we see the baneful effects of this in
creasing evil, having ruinOus effect on our
youth, which reflects some diseredit on us as
educators, which seems to drop moral worth
aud industry in the scales, giving preference
and precedence to riches. Forexample this
single instance will represent a thousand,
and not be overdrawn either. A man with
plenty ofassurance and brass, with only pass
able address, if he is known to have money
to keep him from work and support him
in pleasure pursuits, can find his way into
any fashionable society of the present day
they are not questioned. But is he rich
Is the question of the day. Then he will
do, and is taken into consideration, receiv-
ing tlatteTy aud attention, finally he capti-
Yates and wins most worthy lady, one
whose culture and graces show her his de-
ficiences, almost amounting to deformities,
yet she fatters herself to change him, per-
haps from drunkenness or some other vice.
They marry, yet are not made one, her ma
tive refinement added to culture makes her
revolt at his depravity. She labors in vain
to reform him, for he has nothing within to
build on too late she finds herself sold to
wealth, no union, no congenialitY of heart
or feeling, love fees the domain, letting in
reckless passion to take possession, for she
knows not the consultations of true relig-
ion. l will not follow further the picture,
suffice it to say here are entailed and reali-
zed all the misery and unhappiness arising
from misdirected education. Wealth does
not make happiness; though it sparkle and
glitter with gilt, happiness may remain a
stranger to it. A bare floor, and an una
dorned room, except by the inner graces of
the heart, often is the abode of that happi-
ness sought by kings. l will instance an
other picture more lovely. This one occurr-
ed in my own day of observation, and fear
this will be called the exception. A poor,
modest, refined young man in selecting a
wife, looked out for a lady equal TO him
self in all those qualities which he battered
himself were his own; he CHANGED to be an
editor, and found her in fashionable society.
They were married and made one, which is
to see alike feel alike, and think alike, save
he wa oh
the power and captivating influence, going
forth from daily christian example, soon
saw her husband interested in those things
which permeate and make the renewed
man, and soon they were one in regenera-
ting power. In a comparison of talents he
ascribes to her superior merit in original
writing, which she modestly accepts, and
writes for his editorial columns, while he
did something else, as she wished TO be his
help-meet in its literal sense, often excn-
sing herself from former society, and in that
way it was known. That man was Wilt
fed and abused, called lazy, too lazy to
write his own pieces, but they are fortified,
aud heed it nots love sits as umpire nc the
shrine of those hearts, watching and guard
ing all their best interests, keeping out all
unhallowed influences which dare intrude
into the saaetity Of that holy life. 1 need
not add that power for good went forth
from them whose Influences are being felt
to-day.
There Il still another which confemplates
glorious results In the future. / say there
knee to Ball. Thousands scattered over
our land who regard not fashions. who
have accepted their situations, and are liv-
her n.