Imatges de pàgina
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liarity expressly condemned in Scripture - 5 Armor-
ship:- caims of Women in this respect — 6 Theatrica
talent. - (7) Woman concluded to possess as metica.
strength; op.mons of female writers as this p—
The true sphere of Woman is of the heart.

EMPIRE OF FASHION.

§ 1.- Faston, a creature belonging more particulary

to Women. Its m.schievous agency over that sex :-cm-

tagious in its nature, it affects other than the privezet.

classes. —(2) Boundless influence of fashion in this country.

- (3) Uulty of fashion?—(4) Contempt of morality

among person of this class-(5) Fashion, ridiculous as

well as vicious.- (6) Its tastelessness and inelegance.—

(7) Fashionable assemblies:-misery which characterizes

those frequenting them.- (~) Such an influence especially
mischievous, as exerted over Women: its agency over the
mind, and upon health.- (9) Modish amusements: the
Italian Opera; Fancy-fairs.-(10) Ridiculous and con-
temptible exclusiveness of fashion: vulgarity of the Ex-
clusives; their abhorrence of one another. The Woman
of fashion described.-(11) The evils of Fashion not un-
observed, but not as yet resisted-Common sense ap-
pealed to!

class of reading.--(5) Tendency of works of fiction to an-
nihilate vigour in the mind.-(6) Novels are, under
certain aspects, to be dreaded as a crusade against morals.

§ 1. The inclination for outward ornament natural in
the fair sex? Unworthy mimicry of the French in dress.—
(2) Real effect and influence of ornament: how far beauty
is its debtor?—(3) Indelicacy of present modes in female
dress. (4) Absurdity and tastelessness of the age, in this
respect, equally on a par.-(5) History, on the subject of
Dress: remarks of distinguished writers.—(6) Fashionable
dressing, considered in its effect on health.―(7) A word
as to the pecuniary extravagance.—(8) Love of dress, as
to its effect upon the mind.

ABUSE OF THE MARRIED STATE.

$ 1.-Worldliness of the present age in the affair of

Marriage. (2) The misery entailed on persons united in
such manner. - (3) Women, seldom more amiable for the
endowments of fortune.—(4) Matrimony, by no means in
itself productive of human misery. 3) The married
should yield to each other: this duty of conciliation es-
pecially incumbent on the wife.- (6) Vast importance of
deliberation in entering on this state of life.

WOMAN:

AS SHE IS, AND AS SHE SHOULD BE.

CHAPTER I.

FEMALE POWER, INFLUENCE, AND PRIVILEGES.

O ye men; it is not the great king, nor the multitude of men, neither is it wine that excelleth: who is it then that ruleth them, or hath the lordship over them? Are they not women?

By this also ye must know that women have dominion over you. Do ye not labour, and toil, and give, and bring all to the woman?

Yea! many there be that have run out of their wits for women, and become servants for their sakes.

Many also have perished, and erred, and sinned, for

women.

ESDRAS.

§ 1.—The supremacy of the weak over the strong is a very remarkable phenomenon, and

VOL. I.

B

it is as mischievous as it is remarkable.

What

ever nature or law may have denied women, art and secret sway give them all: they are influential to a degree perfectly unguessed, and men are possessed by, not possessors of them.

"Woman was made of the man, and for the man:" this is the language of Scripture. Yet, though "expressly given to man for a comforter, for a companion,-not for a counsellor," Woman has managed to overstep her sphere—she has usurped the dominion of the head, when she should have aimed but at the subjection of the heart; and the hand which ought to be held out to man, only to sustain and cheer him on his journey, now checks his steps, and points out the way he is to go! From moment to moment his purposes are thwarted and broken in upon by a capricious influence, which he scarcely dares to question, yet makes it his pride to indulge. Of this mighty evil it is that we are desirous to give a plain and unbiassed view.

There is, perhaps, no country on earth where women enjoy such, and so great privileges, as in our own. The phenomenon has never passed * Sr Walter Raleigh.

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