Miscellany: Women's Rights

You aak what ore my opinions about 'Wotnen?s Rights. ' I confess, a strong difetaste to tha subject, as it has been gcnerally treated. On no otlicr themei probably, has ííiere been uttered so much of i'alee, mawkish sentiment, hallow phiolosophy, and sputtering, farthing cnudle wit. If the 6tyleof its advocates, bas often been oflensive to taste, and unoecep'able to reason, assuredly that of the opponents htvebeensüll more so. College boys have cmused themselvea wilh writing dreams, in wbich they paw women in hotels, with their feet hoieted, and chaire tüted back, or growl ing and bickering at each other in legislative halls, or fightmg at the polls, with eyos black ned by fislicufia. But it never seems to have occurred to these facetious writers, thnl the proceedings wliicli oppear so ludicrons and iinproper in icumcn, nre also ridiculoue and disgraceful in men. It were well that men should learn not to hoist their feet above tbeir lieftd, and tilt their choirs btckwarris, nol to growl and snap in the halls of legislntion, er give each other black eyes at the polls. Maria Edgeworth says, "We aredisgusted when we see a wornan's mind overwhelraed with a torreut of learning; that the tide of literature has passed over it should be betrayed only by ite ferlility .' This is beaot i ful and true : - but is it not likewiee applicable to man ? The truly great never seek to display thetn - elves. If they carry their heas high above the crowd, it is only made manifest to others by accidental revelations of their extended vis ion. 'Human duties and proprieties do not lie o very far apart,' said Harriet Martineau; 'if thaydid, there wou ld be two gospel?, nnd two teachers, one for man, and another for wotnan.' It would seem, indeed, as if men were wil ling to give women the exclusive benefit of gospel-t eaching. 'Women should be gentle,' Biy the advocates of sudordination; bul when Christ said, 'Blessed are the meek,' did he preach to women only? 'Girls should be modest,' is the languoge of common teaching continnally uttered in words and cnetoms. - Would it noï be an imp-ovement for men,also,to be Bcrupulously pure in manners, conversaron, nnd life? Books nddressed to young married people aboui:d wilh ndvice to the wife, to ontrol her temper, and nver to utter weariBomc complaintF, or vexalious words, when .the husband comes home fietful or unreasonable, from his outof-door conflicts with the world. Would not the advicebe as excellent ard approprjate, if the husband were ad'ised to conquer hts fretfulnes?, and forbear his comphints, in considerntion of his wife's illhealth, fatiguing caree, and the thousand disbeartening mfluence-i of domestic routine1 In hort, whatsoever can be named as loveliest, best, and most graceful in womnn, would likewise be good and graceful in man. You will perhaps remitid me of eouiage. If you use the word m its highost 6ignification, Iswerthnt woraan, above others, has abundjnt need of it in her pilgriniage; and the true woman wears it wjth a quiet grace. If you mean mere animal couraage, íhat is not mentioned in the sermón ou the Mount, arnon these qualities which enable us to inherit the earth, or become the children of God. That , the femenine ideal approaches mnch nearer to the gospel standard, than the prevalent idea of manhood, is shown by the universal tendency to represent the Saviour and his most beloved disciple with mild, mcek cxpro6sion, and femenine beauty. None speak of the bravery, the might, or the intellect of Jesus; but the devil is always imagined as a being of acute intellect, polirical ennning, and the fiorcest courage. These universal and m etinctive tendencies of the human mind reveal much.That the present potmion of women in society is the reault of physical force, is obvious enough; whosoever doobte it, let her reflect why she is afraid to go out in the evening without the protection of a man. What con atitutes the danger of aggreseion? Superior physical tirength, uncontrolled by the moral entlmenta. If phy6cal strength were in complete Bubjection to moral influence, there would be no need or outward proteciion.- Thaf animaJ instinct and bfüte force now goverii the worId,.ÍB painfiilly apparaat in the .condilion of women everywhere; from the Mordnan Tartars, whose ceremony of marriage consista in placing the bride on a mat) and consigning her to the bridegroom, witli the words, 'Here, wolf, take thy lamb,- to the Germán remark, that 'stiff ale, stinying tobáceo, and a glrl in her smart diess, are the bestthinge.' - The same thing, softened by the refinements of civilization, peeps out in Slephen's remaik, that woman never looks so interesting, as when leaning on the arm of e soldier:' and in Hazlitl's complaint tfiat I: is r.ot eosy to keep up a conversation with women in compony. It is thoiight a piece of rudeness to differ from them; it ie not quito fair to osk tbem a teason for what they soy.' This ort of poliieness to womnn Ís what men cali gallantry; an odious wordtoevery sensible woman, because she sees that it is mrely the flimsy veil which foppery throws over sensuality, to conoeal its grossness. So far isit from indicating sincere esteem and affection for women, that the profligacy of a nation may, in general, be fairly meaeured by its galiantry. This taking away right and condescending to grant privileges, is an old trick of the physicitl forcé principie; and with the immense msjority, who only look on the surfnee of things, triis mask effect nally disguisss an ugliness, which would otherwise be abhorred. The most inveteróte slaveholdere are probably those who take reost pride in dressing their household seivants handsomely, and who would be most a.shamed to havo the name of being vnnecessarily cruel. And profligates, who form the lowest and sensual estimate of women, are the very ones to treat them with an excess of outward deference. There are few books, whicíi I can read through, without feelmg insulted as a woman; but this insult is almost universally conveyed through that which was intended for praise. Just imagine, for moment, what impression it would créate on men, if women autbors should write about their 'rosy lips,' and melting eycs,' and voluptuous forms,' as they write about us'. Tliat women in general do not fee! this kind of flattery to be an insult, I rendily arímil; for, in the first place, they de not perceive the gross chattel-principle, o which it is the utterance; moreover, they have from long habit, become accustomed to coneider themselves as household conveniences or gilded íoys. Henee, they consider it fem inine end pretty to abjure all such uee 01 their faculties, as would niake Ihem co-work ers with man in the odvancement of those grent principies, on which the progress of so ciety dependa. 'There is perphaps no anima!,' snya Hannnh More, 'so rnuch inde.bte to subordination, fnr ita good behaviour, as woman.' Alas, for the animal age, in whicl such utteronce could be toleraled by public sentiment! Martha More, sister of Hannah, describing a very impresgive soene at tliè funeral of one of lier Charity School teacher?, says: 'The ppirit withm seemed strugling to speak, anc I was in a sort of agony; but 1 recollectec that 1 heard, somewhere, a womnn must not speak in the churdi. Oh, had she been buricd in the church yard, a messenger from Mr. Pitt himself should not have restrained me for I seemed to have received a message from a higher Master wilbin.' This npplicaiion of theological teachers car ries its own cernmentary. I have said enough to sbow tfrt I consider prevalent opinions and customs hihly unfavor able to the moral and intellectual developmen of women; and I need not say, that, in pro portion to their true culture, women will be more useful and happy, and domestic life more perfected. True culture, in them. a6 in men, consiste in the full and free development of individual character, regulated b) their own perceptions of what is true and their orvn love of what is good. This individual responsibility is rarely acknowledged, even by the most refined, as necessary to the spiritual progress of women. - I once heard a vcry beautiful lecture from R. W. Emerson, on Being and Seeming. In the course of mjny remarks, as true as they were graceful, he urged women to be, rather than seem. He told them that all thelr labored edncation of forms, stn'ct observance ol gentee! etiquette, tastefol arrangemets of the toilette, fee. all this seeming would not guin hearts like being truly what God made them; that earnest simplicity, the sincerity of nature, would kindie the eye, light up the countenance, and give an mexpressible charm to the plainest features. The advice was excellent, but the motive by which it was urged, bronght a flush of indignation over my faee. Men were exhortcd to be, rather than to seem, that they might fulfil the sacred mission for which their souls wete embodied; that they might, in God's freedom, grow up into the full stam ie of spiritual manhood; but women were urged Jo bíhiplicity and trutbfulness, that they might become more pleasing.Are we not all iinmortal beings? Is not each one íesporsible for bimself and herselt? There is no rneasuring the mischief done by the prevailing tendeney lo teacli women to be virtuoua as aduty to man rather tban to God - for the sake of pleasing the creature, rather than the Creator. 'God is thy ]aw, tknu mine,' eaid Eve to Adam. May Milton be tbrgiven for sendmg thac thought (out into everlasting time' in such a jewelled setting. What weaknesg, vanjty, frivolity, infirmity of moral pnrpose, sinful flexibility of principie in a word, what soul-stifling, has been the result of thus putting man in the place of God! But while I see plainlf that society s On a falce foundation, aml that preniling views eonc?rniag women indícate the wtnt U" wiedoitt and ptirily, which thcy serve to perpetuate - stil), I must acknowledge that tnuch of the talk about Women's Rights oifende both my reason and my taste. I am not of those who maintain there is no sex iu sools; nor do 1 likc the results deduciblefrom that doctrine. Kinmonf, in his admirable book, caüed the Natural History of Man, speaking of the worlike zourage of the ancient Germán women, and of their heing respectfully consiilted on important public oftairs, says: 'You ask me if I consider all this right, and deservingapprobation? or ihat women were here engaged in their approprinte tasks? I answcr, yes; it is jast as right that they should take the interest in tho honour of their country, as the other sex. Of course, I do not tbink that women were made for war and balt Ie; neither do I believe that men were. But since the fashion of the times had made it so, nnd seüled it, that war B?as a neceesary element of greatness, and that no safety was to be procured without it, I argue that it shows a healthful state of feeling in other respecte, that the feelings of both sexes -vvere equally enlisted m the cause; that there was no división 'm the house, or the State; and that tii9 serious pursuits and objects of the one were also the serious pursuits and objects of the other.' The nearer 6ociety npproeches to divine order, the less separation will there be in the characters, duties and pursuit9 of men and women. Women wül not become less gentle and graccful, but men will become more so. Women will not neglect l ha care and education of their childreo, but men will find themeelves ennobled and rsfined by sha ring those duties with them; and will receive, in return, co operalion and sympathy in the discharge of various other duties, now deemed inappropnate to women. The more women beco.Tie rational companions, partners in business and in thought, as well as in affection and nmnsement, the more highly ivill m2n nppreciate home - thatblessed word, which opens to the human henrt the most perfect glimpse of Ileaven, and helpa to carry it thither ps onan angel's wings .--[Leiier of Airs. M. L. Child.