90 Duties of Females. VOL. I. unlike all that I had ever heard, a hideous naturally-and there are but few, comparamixture of howls, shrieks and groans. The tively speaking, who feel pleasure abroad flames rolled down the narrow street before when there is the least attraction at home. us, and made the passage next to impossible. While we hesitated, a huge fragment of the building heaved, as if in an earthquake, and fortunately for us fell inwards. The whole scene of terror was then open. The great amphitheatre of Statilius Taurus had caught fire; the stage, with its inflammable furniture, was intensely blazing below. The flames were wheeling up, circle above circle, through the seventy thousand seats that rose from the ground to the roof. I stood in unspeakable awe and wonder on the side of this collossal cavern, this mighty temple of the city of fire. At length a descending blast cleared away the smoke that covered the arena. The cause of those horrid cries was now visible. The wild beasts kept for the games had broken from their dens. Maddened by affright and pain, lions, tigers, panthers, wolves, whole herds of the monsters of India and Africa, were enclosed in an impassable barrier of fire.They bounded, they fought, they screamed, they tore; they ran howling round and round the circle; they made desperate leaps upward through the blaze; they were flung back, and fell only to fasten their fangs in each other, and, with their parching jaws bathed in blood, die raging. I looked anxiously to see whether any human being was involved in this fearful catastrophe. To my great relief, I could see none. The keepers and attendants had obviously escaped. As I expressed my gladness, I was startled by a loud cry from my guide, the first sound that I had heard him utter. He pointed to the opposite side of the amphitheatre. There indeed sat an object of melancholy interest; a man who had either been unable to escape, or had determined to die. Escape was now impossible. He sat in desperate calmness on his funeral pile. He was a gigantic Ethiopian slave, entirely naked. He had chosen his place, as if in mockery, on the imperial throne; the fire was above him and around him; and under this tremendous canopy he gazed, without the movement of a muscle, on the combat of the wild beasts below; a solitary sovereign, with the whole tremendous game played for himself, and inaccessible to the power of man." A fondness for visiting appears to belong almost exclusively to spinsters who have passed the meridian of life, or young misses who think that the world will not go right when they are not lending a hand to keep it in motion. But the female on whom has devolved all the sacred duties of a wife and a mother, holds a reverse opinion; she thinks that nothing will go right at home unless she is there. To her, there is music in the clang of the kitchen furniture, and what is erroneously, (in the opinion of editors and poets) called "setting to rights," becomes a duty from the force of habit and a desire to be considered nice. We think this same "setting to rights" an unlicensed privilege which house-keepers have taken upon themselves; neatness and cleanliness are always admired, but we do protest against the unceremonious amalgamation of our loose papers, the misplacing of our books, and the scattering of our ideas to the four winds of heaven, by the unpoetical clatter of the dusting brush! Married ladies are generally tenacious of their rights at home; and so they should be-within doors is their empire, and a good wife, while she gratifies a laudable pride in showing off her household stock to her advantage, will always be worthy of the comfort of a lordly ◄ partner. At home a wife should always strive by kindness and good humor to keep the affections of her husband as warm as they were in the young days of their union, for experience tells that it is easier to win a man's affections than to keep them. Abroad she should assiduously study to retain the esteem and good will of others, and avoid letting the world know how much she loves her husband, for it is generally believed that those who coo abroad are cats and dogs at home. The duties of a mother call forth her utmost energies, her patience and forbearance. On her devolves the high task of rearing her offspring from its tenderest ageto nurture it-to watch it with unceasing care-to cultivate its infant mind and train it in the way it should go. Many mothers we are sorry to say trust this natural duty to nurses who cannot feel their spirit lean towards the innocent heir to a life of care and toil. We have even known the children of the rich and influential parents nursed DUTIES OF FEMALES. and even nurtured by improper nurses-and So much has been written and said on the what was the consequence. As they grew duties of wives, that it were a sad pity in-up and began to speak, their words partook deed, if the matrons of the present day had not reaped profit from the schoolings of the censorious or the admonitions of the experienced. Women are domestic creatures largely of their peculiar slang, their habits closely assimilated themselves to those of their nurses, and for the want of a mother's tenderness, they were always attached to No. 6. To a Young Lady--Chivalry. the nurse who in their infancy was the first to satisfy their wants and per force treat them with kindness. Away with this unnatural custom-all mothers should exclaim with the Roman matron when she pointed to her children, "these are my jewels"-too precious to be trusted to other hands. Fashion may make imperious demands upon the time and inclination of mothers who have been accustomed to follow in her wake-but what are the calls of Fashion to those of Nature?—which is the brightest ornament to domestic society, the glittering married belle or the tender mother whose entire heart and soul rests on the little children that lie smiling in her arms? For the Ladies' Garland. AON HER PROGRESS AT SCHOOL. Fair maid, to thee I wake the wire, Proceed, fair child of genius, soon O mayest thou gain sweet wisdom's bays, Written for the Ladies' Garland. CHIVALRY. BY DR. W. BOOTH. 91 The origin of chivalry, both as regards its precise date, and the immediate cause that gave rise to it, is somewhat problematical; and what little is known of its early history depends much upon traditional and romantic legends, founded upon the fame of illustrious saints, monarchs, and heroes of antiquity. Authors, fond of the marvellous, trace its origin from the equestrian order of the ancient Romans; but the military character of that hardy and sanguine race partook but little of the gallantry of knighthood. Others, less extravagant, have imagined that the Franks and other German nations, who, on the fall of the Roman empire, conquered ancient Gaul, introduced the spirit of chivalry into France, from whence it is supposed to have originated; the German tribes, it is true, upon particular occasions, invested their young men with weapons of defence, somewhat resembling the arms of a knight, but the oath of a Frank and a knight were entirely different in their purport; the one devoted the candidate to the service of his Prince, without regard to the subject; whereas, the other was devoted to the fair and the oppressed, without regard to the Prince. Many, with still greater show of reason, attribute the origin of this strange plant, that flourished but once in the annals of the world's history, to the illustrious reign of the immortal Charlemagne. The history of the administration of this great man, although it enters much into the detail even the existence of the institution of chivalry, of private life, gives us no specific proof of even in its earliest infancy, during his magnificent reign. After the death of Charlemagne, his dominions were divided between petty usurp ers, who waged tedious and bloody intestinal wars, against divers sections of the state, and thus dissolved the union he had cemented; and each newly formed separate state the nobles and under officers now arrogated was held by a military chieftain, and all to themselves the undisputed right of holdformerly held in trust, and claimed the proing in fee simple the estates that they had tection of the soldiery, over whom they exercised control. Thus arose the Feudal system, out of the It is folly to call the joys of our child-breaking up of the extensive empire of hood the greatest. They are like the earliest flowers of spring, the crocus, lovely, and richly tinted, but small and scentless. It is summer that brings forth flowers of matured splendor and fragrance. Charlemagne: still all was confusion, and the greatest disorder prevailed imaginable, and the most shocking enormities were prac tised upon the people, and but little deference was paid to the venerable locks of the aged-nor to the delicacy and sympathy of unprotected female loveliness. Property and privilege were held by conquest, and the greatest injustice and cruelty reigned triumphant. VOL. I. under the protection of Chivalry, and the protector of the rights of others was also most solemnly bound to set the most brilliant example of correct demeanor in his own person. Every advantage combined to render a worthy knight estimable in public opinion, they were appealed to as arbitrators in settling differences, and in judging of the issue of important events. Thus the spirit of chivalry rose into im The inferior officers were greatly oppressed by those who claimed superior stations or posts of honor and emolument, these continued their influence, and pledged their honor their lives and their property to each other, to redress injuries, and to de-portance till it assumed the semblance of a fend their respective rights. great and powerful institution. Each sucThis want of security to person and pro- cessive knight was vested with power of perty, raised personal valor to a state border-creating others, so that every facility was ing on desperation. Thus, naturally, arose afforded them to strengthen their bands to the spirit, or rather the semi-organized insti- almost any desirable extent--and as the order tution of chivalry, from the condition of were exceedingly jealous of the intrusion of those ages in which it prevailed. any unworthy member, it became necessary to guard the entrance to the post of honor, by certain distinguishable signs or symbols; but the military class only was eligible to furnish candidates to the order; and this class was extremely small, in comparison with the original or subdued proprietors of the soil; the serfs were kept as distinct The initiation of the spirited youth to his from the military race, as are the slaves of profession was attended with peculiar solem-Russia, who are sold in common with the nities; the church lent her sanction to an enterprise so noble, and the institution became still farther advanced by the enthusiasm of religious zealots. Among the Franks, the profession of arms was esteemed almost the only employment that was deemed noble or honorable, and as it aroused the ambition of the aspiring, and afforded them ample opportunity of travel, of ease, and indulgence, it was an employment eagerly sought after. The Chief of the tribe bestowed his sword on the candidate, as a symbol of his fidelity to his God and to those who would look up to him for chivalrous protection. The vassal received on his knees the benediction of the priest, at whose feet he plighted his vows. Duly authorised and armed he sallied forth in quest of adventure, which was esteemed honorable in proportion as it was fraught with danger and with difficulty. In those days of feudal aristocracy, when the castles of the nobility were the courts of petty sovereigns, the persons and the purity of the fair found protection in such fortresses from the prowess of the knighterrantry. These exploits of the romantic vassal had "It hath been throughout all ages ever seen, That fairest is, and from her faith will never swerve." cattle, the chattles, and the landed estates. on which they dwell, and to which they are attached, from the autocrats; or as are the blacks of the south, from the planters, or proprietors of the soil; this lower, or as they were ever and anon denominated, the rustie race, could no more be dubbed with the honors of the military, than a southern slave can be promoted to the office of representative of his respective state. This inauguration into the knighthood, was performed before large audiences of the chivalry, ladies of distinction, and officers of the state, and the church; and a faithful record kept, by persons appointed for this purpose, of the names of each candidate in the public ledgers: he was required to call persons to witness to his solemn vow in the presence of that assembly-"To speak the truth, to succor the helpless and oppressed, and never to turn his back on an enemy.' We may, therefore, conclude that chivalry, in its first organization, was an institution well deserving the patronage of the intelligent and the virtuous, in those benighted days of its origin. How much religion is indebted to chivalry for its purity and importance in the twelfth century, or how great a tribute is due to the church for the sanction it gave to chivalry, are questions that might admit of considerable discrepancy of opinion; but certain it is, in those ages when woman was The knight was bound by every consid-degraded in proportion to the barbarousness eration of honor and of duty, to protect in- of the times in which chivalry arose; that nocence and virtue: every moral virtue came woman, must feel herself under everlasting No. 6. Chivalry-To the Absent One. 93 obligation to the spirit of chivalry, for rais- stature, he rose in the estimation of his pa ing love, above the instinct of the mere ani-trons, and was applied to more and more mal, and for giving the present adored object robust exercises, such as lifting and carryof that pure flame, a dignified importance ing enormous weights, wrestling, running, in the scale of being which she has since leaping, springing upon his horse without her moral elevation, so amply sustained. the aid of his stirrup, under the weight and The feudal system grew up out of the un-encumbrance of an unwieldy coat of arms; settled and disordered state of the govern- turning summersetts, riding and menacing ment, and had now reached its acme: it had his arms, throwing the javlin at a mark on in fact become the virtual government of the the full gallop, &c.: and to such perfection land, and the only means of protection to did they often arrive in their performance of the property and lives of the nobility, and their feats of valor, as to us, unacquainted of their dependants. with such sports, would seem almost incredible: and as we proceed with this narrative and take a view of the field of danger, of privation, and of noble daring, that these young knights were to become subjected to, in the prosecution of their arduous avocations, we shall not be astonished that such taxes were laid upon their patience, and their strength: their whole life was to be a life of uncommon adventure and peril they were to ford the deepest and broadest rivers, and to stem the strongest currents; they were to travel on horseback and on foot hundreds of miles thus habited, amidst clouds of suffocating dust, and under the scorching rays of a tropical sun, they were to endure pining hunger,-to sojourn amidst an invading and relentless foe,-and to encounter the most athletic and well trained combatants that might give them or accept from them a challenge. Each lord in his own dominion, assumed the importance of a prince, which state he was vain to imitate, and in his own feelings was to all intents a sovereign: all the subordinate grades of officers were proud in their turn, to imitate the importance of the lord of the manor; even the monks and the nuns went forth, accompanied with their marshals, whose offices were held enfoff. The castle of each noble lord, became a distinct school of chivalry, and attached to it as many domestic soldiers as his security required, his circumstances allowed, or his importance demanded. The sons of the poor, and orphans' whose circumstances had become reduced, were apprenticed out to the landlord of the pallace as pages, esteeming it an honor to perform for their knights the services of a menial: as the chiefs of Western Africa at the present day, send their sons with avidity to the colonies, on the coasts as servants, in order to afford them an opportunity of learning something of the American language, religion, and fashions. It became the duty as well as the pleasure and pride of the knight of the castle, to bestow any pains upon the chivalrous education of their pages; they were carefully taught all manner of gymnastic and manly exercise, that would make them vigorous and athletic; and were subject to occasional and severe privations, to render them patient of fatigue, fearless of danger, and intrepid in action nor was a graceful demeanor of the student considered less important to an accomplished knight, than his aptitude in military tactics; hence we find in his younger days, his attention was partially called to the services of his mistress, or the lady of the palace, who taught him all that courtesy of manner, necessary to render him interesting in his after attention to the fair, whom he was expected more immediately to protect, and otherwise to serve. During his apprenticeship, he passed through several degrees, the solemnization of each of which, was performed by a priest and accompanied by a paternal injunction. As he ripened in experience and grew in TO THE ABSENT ONE. We miss thee in the morning hour, To cheer the hearts of all: In vain we turn to hear The voice, so sweetly borne along To every listening ear. We miss thee, when a much-loved band To thee she gave her heart and hand, Yet thou didst spread thy wing We miss thee, dear one, when at eve Our fond farewells are said; Kind thoughts for thee in store; Albany Female Academy, April, 1837. A. D. W. SUNDAY. IDOL OF THE SUN. In every nation but the Jewish, a gross system of superstition was gradually established. Human folly chose out strange objects to represent the Diety; the most ancient of these were the heavenly bodies, the worship of which was so strictly forbidden to the Israelites; "The sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, which the Lord thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven." (Deut. iv. 19.) The departed heroes and kings, belonging to heathen nations, were raised into gods. Foolish fancy soon added so many others, that the air, the sea, the rivers, the woods, and the earth, became stocked with divinities: and it was easier, as an ancient sage remarked, to find a deity than a man. At this happy period of the world, we cannot reflect on the idolatry of ancient times, without some astonishment at the folly which has, in various regions, so sadly clouded the human mind. We feel, indeed, that it is impossible to contemplate the heavens above us; to view the planets moving in their governed order; to find comets darting from system to system in an orbit of wonderful extent; to see stars beyond stars, and to have evidence of the light of others, whose full beams have not yet reached us; we cannot meditate on these things, without a feeling of awe, that this grandeur of nature proclaims an Author tremendously great. But it is difficult to conceive, how the lessons of the skies should When the Saxons had settled themselves have taught that narrow and confined idola- in England, they had many gods, and wortry, which their amazing grandeur and al- shipped various images. Speed, the histomost endless extent seem calculated to for-rian of Britain, observes, "As in virtues the bid. |