'Tis she receives our parting sigh — - 'Tis she who hears our latest breath"Tis she who seals the closing eye, And whispers peace and hope in death. And when the mournful scene is past, 'Tis woman weeps upon our bier; yet long her sorrows last; Unseen she sheds affection's tear! Silent, On earth she is the truest friend That is to man in mercy given; O woman, woman! thou art made, Like Heaven's own pure and lovely light, A sun to cheer life's desert shade, And gild the gloom of sorrow's night. WOMAN THE GREATEST SOCIAL GIFT TO MAN. "Hail, woman, hail! last formed in Eden's bowers, Thou calm'st our thoughts, as halcyons calm the sea, In the present age, when the advantages of education and the facilities for acquiring it are so numerous and so widely extended, the treasures of knowledge are laid open to all. There is no longer what used to be styled the royal road to knowledge, of which the children of fortune could alone avail themselves, and from which the mass of mankind were excluded. A highway has been cast up for all a way so plain that the feeblest mind need not err therein; which the infant as well as the giant intellect may explore, and all may reap the reward of their labors, if not contribute to the general stock of knowledge. The old distinctions between the sexes, founded upon a supposed radical difference of their mental powers; the antiquated prejudices against female education which had their origin, if not in the love of superiority, in the ignorance of the true nature and destiny of mind, are now rapidly passing away. The nineteenth century has the honor, if not of discovering the great truth, of bringing it out more fully, that THERE IS NO SEX IN MIND; that mind is the same in all intelligent beings, angelic or human, male or female; that its attributes and its exalted powers are the same in the infant as in the seraph, and if its attributes and powers are the same in all, it must be created for the same noble purposes, and fitted for the same high destinies. Mind is, in its own nature, independent of the modifications of matter; it is a spark of that living intelli-. gence which nothing can extinguish there is no distinction but that of mind in heaven, "for there they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God." A just and proper appreciation of the powers and capacities of woman, has not only clearly indicated her true position and amazing influence in society, but also awakened a deep and universal interest on the subject of female education, which has of late especially employed so many able pens and powerful minds. She is no longer viewed as a mere housekeeper, or as the object of mere fond, idolatrous attachment in the social circle, or the plaything of man's idle hours, but as occupying a position of immense responsibility, and contrib uting largely to the elevation and happiness of her species. ← Heretofore, with some rare exceptions, in fictitious writings and light literature, she has been made to figure as the heroine of some romantic love scene, adored for her beauty and personal charms, and celebrated for her adroitness in captivating and deceiving the weak-minded of the other sex. Christianity, combined with education and the cultivation of refined literary taste, has exalted her to her true position as an intelligent moral being; and these advantages, far from being inconsistent with social qualifications, and her domestic duties and relations, are found admirably harmonizing with them, and in an eminent degree beautifying and perfecting them. The true sphere of woman is the domestic circle; and she should endeavor to invest herself with every qualification calculated to render her interesting and agreeable, as well as useful, in that sphere: this is the way to impart lustre to her most unostentatious duties, and to give dignity to the humblest station. It should be deemed a matter of no small importance, that, while every power of the mind is cultivated, the external graces of manner are not neglected. Though good manners, from the operation of adverse causes, are not always found attending high intellect and great learning, yet in general they furnish a correct indication of the progress made in mental cultivation. The re mark admits of but few exceptions, that coarseness of manners evinces an uncultivated mind. The society which an individual frequents has a great influence in moulding the manners. Books of an elevated character have also a potent influence, especially an intimate acquaintance with the sacred. writings. A degree of refinement and liberality of sentiment is acquired by the study of the classics, which contributes more to dignity and elegance of manners, and to form the true lady, than all the substituted ornaments of external graces. The brilliancy of a cultivated mind will shine through the most ungraceful exterior, and give an intellectual beauty to the plainest features, more pleasing than the vivid tints of the ròse, and more enduring than the fading hue of the lily. There is nothing which gives to beauty a greater finish than the look of intelligence which makes the eye appear as the index of the soul; and without that charm there is little permanent satisfaction in the mere brilliancy of the eye, or in the most exquisitely moulded features. When we look upon an inanimate countenance, we feel much as we do when we gaze at a finely chiselled statue; we consider it beautiful indeed, but the soul is wanting. Personal beauty is indeed a pleasing and a valuable gift, but it is surely an unworthy and degrading idea of that sex which was created for the solace and comfort of mankind, to consider them merely as objects of sight. But beauty blended |