New-York tribune., 1900-12-28
IDEAL WOMAN A CENTURY AGO.
HER PARAMOUNT OBLIGATION WAS TO
MAKE HERSELF ATTRACTIVE TO
MEN-COMMON SENSE WAS
QUALITY TO BE KEPT IN
THE BACKGROUND.


An air. half of mystery half romance fingers
around a small worn, lavender scented book bear
ing the title, "A Fathers Legacy to His Daugh
ters" which recently from the keeping Of
sweet faced dame. past fourscore years. with the
message: MY father gave it to me when was
seventeen. and I always kept 1t my dressing
table. beside my Bible n my young days every
girl had copy of it,
This Legacy published in London late in the
last century and republished after in this
country. accepted generally a standard
work female proprety," according TO good
thority. Hardly note in the scale of manners and
morals is left unsoupded by the author-the late
DR.. Gregory, the title page tells Conduct
and behavior amusemeRts. friendship, love and
narriage-an these subjects deftly touched
as TO be brought into harmony with the great
motif OF the Legacy. the paramount obligation of
woman to make herself attractive to man.
Womankind is urged to conform to religious OBJ
servances. because "even those who them
selves unbelievers dislike infdelity in you. since
every man who knows human nature connects a
religious taste in your with great softness and
sensibility Of heart. Women are greatly deceived
when they think they recommend themselves to
by their Indifference about religion"
Throughout this chapter there is underlying as
sumption that religion called. is one thing to
woman and quite another to
After calling attention to those chief beauties in
feminine Characteristic modest reserve, the retiring
decacy. which avoids the public eye and is dis
concerted at the gaze Of admiration (Which" the
author adds 'rejoices the heart'')-he bids them
be rather silent in company. and them that
wit is the most dangerous talent they possess,
for while 1t is perfectly consistent with softness
and deicacy. they are seldom found united. Then
comes the subtle advice ''be even cautious in
displaying your good sense; if you happen to have
any learning, keep it profound secret especially
from the men, who generally look with jealous
and malignant eye a woman of great parts and
cultivated understanding" The really highest note
in the whole book is struck when the writer rec
| which is not much a quality itself a the high
polish of every other that which difuses ineffa
| bic grace over every look, every motion every
tence you utter, and which gives charm to beauty
without which it generally fails to please. 1t is
partly personal quality in which respect it IS the
gift OF nature he says, but he speaks of 1t princi
pally as a quality of the mind. In word. it is
every. virtue and every excellence in their most
Regarding heaIth-which is classed under amuse-
| ments-Dr. Gregory writes: Though good health
| be of the greatest blessings of life you
! silence This is necessary to keen up the proper
| feminine charm, because men naturally asso-
ciate the idea of female softness and decacy with
a corresponding deHcacy of constitution that when
a woman speaks Of her great strength. her ex-
traordinary appetite, her ability to bear excessive
| is little Of" Concerning other amusements-
shades OF the athletic girl and the cluD woman OF
to-day!-the father advises his daughters to learn
needework, knitting and other domestic accom-
many solitary hours they must necessarily pass at
hooks generally: there is no ipropriety he thinks
In their reading history cuItivating any art or
science to which genius or accident may lead then
But his treatment of friendship. love and mar
/ riage, Dr. Gregory surpasseS himself He tells his
! daughters that a great obstacle to the sincerity
and steadiness of their friendships is the great
6ion Or " 1any He @ bids them make friends Of
men rather than women, adding that the friend
| ship Of a man for woman is always blended with
| a tenderness which he never feels for one of his
| own sex. With this he dismsses the subject of
| friendship wisely warning them however, against
! that weakness so common among vain women
| ticuar notice of them Is a lover.
With love Dr. Gregory concerns himself only as
| called love among you, he writes, lis rather
| you the of your sex; and such a you
! often marry with little of either personal esteem
or affection" Then follows page upon page of de-
tailed advice all about the undesirable effects of
heart Of circumstances in which coquetry is justi-
! fable and the proper course OF conduct during
| courtship
Dr. Gregory's comments on the unmarried state
are highly entertaining in these days of sunshiny,
bachelor maids. He is of opinion that his daugh-
tiers may attain a superior degree of happiness in
the married state because he knows the forlo-n
chagrin and peevishnessr which are apt TO infect
the temper and the great difficulty Of making
transition with dignity and cheerfulness from the
into the calm. silent unnoced retreat of declin-
ing years" What follows brings rush of pity for
the restricted eighteenth century maiden: IF you
have hearts disn0se5 bv nature for love and friend
to enter into ali the reffnements and deIicacies of
those attachments consider well, for heavens sake
and you value your happiness, before you give
them any indulgence"
The Fathers Legacy long ago outlived its use
fulness. Yet the book is vastly interesting be-
cause of its curious mixture Of worldly wisdom and
pages is picture. more or IeSS accurate, of the
deal 2qeI % 3 % or agG Sen
Gregory that famous donkev and divine" there
ments But most of all it brings 10 present day
readers a deepened sense Of the fuller richer life
which is wonians heritage on the threshold of