Year: 1877

Respect and admiration tor women
are generally conceded to be character
istic of the American people, and trav-
elers often dilate on the courtesy and
attention shown to her here as COM
pared with that which she receives IN
many of the countries of Europe. No
woman, however humble her appear
ance may be. is ever exposed to insult
when journeying alone in our country,
even in the most forbidding situations
or Oramidst the toughest human elements.
and consequently our chivalry cad de-
vOtiOn have almost passed into a pro-
verb. But cases occur occasionally to
show that Young America fOrgets the
examples of its elders in this respect,
exhibiting spirit which is far from
being commendable or justitiable. At
a Wesleyan college lately, young lady
pupil was selected as the poet of the
class, a distinction corresponding to
that of orator on commencement day.
There was no pretence expressed that
she was not qualified for the position,
but the pride of the young men who
were fellOw-pupils with her was Of
Tended; their sensibilities were
wounded at such an uncalled for
usurpatiOD, and threat was made that
they would leave the college. The
young lady, although supported natur-
ally by all of her own sex among the
pupils and also by some of the boys, did
the most graceful thing she could have
done under the circumstances and re-
fused to accept the position. The inde-
pendence which the youth of our cOun-
try arrogate to themselves is not likely
to appear in a very favorable light if it
has its expression in such weak and
silly prejudices as these; and this incl
dent is only a stronger argument for
the admission of girls into our colleges
of learning. and their being allowed to
mix with those of the opposite sex.
We may disguise the fact as wewill, but
it still remains undisputed that loose
conversation, suggestive lnnuendoes,
and even profanity are too much in
dulged in by our boys. The youth who
has discarded button-ups and sports a
watch and CLAIM considers himself a
man, and the height of his ambition is
reached when he can initiate the fOibles
and copy the language of his elders.
There is no disappointed lover or office
seeker more sneering and cynical than
your youth of sixteen, to whom every
thing with moral tag appended to it
is nOrrid bore, and who would vote a
companion who cherished the memory
of his home, and who dilated on moth
erly or sisterly goodness and affection
as "muff' or spoon" We may jest
at the influence which woman wields,
and make light of her sometimes mis-
directed efforts to attain to undue prom
churlish amongst us are awed into ST.
lence and respect in her presence, and
the man who does not believe in Obei-
sance to courtiers would dOtf his hat to
her with as princeiy mien as Sir VAL
ter Raleigh showed when he spread his
cloak on the ground so that Queen
Elizabeth might pass over it without
wetting her shoes. The boy or the man
who associates with pure aud gentle
women, either in the flower of maiden
hood or the full fruition of maternity
will gradually imbibe the subtle es-
sence which flows from them. And il
will be sad day in the history of our
country when our youth forget this and
allow silly prejudice and feeling of
fancied superiority TO supplant the in
natetenderness and chivalrous courtesy
which every true gentleman extends TO
woman.