FEMALE EDUCATION.

Written for the Casket.

FEMALE EDUCATION.

Yet the best blood by learning is resned,
And virtue arms the solid mind;
Whilst vice will stain the noblest race,

And the paternal stainp efface.-OLDISWORTH.
The inquiry," should females receive as com-
plete an education as males?" has been the
source of much speculation. It is an inquiry,
the settlement of which promises a signal tri-
umph either to reason or bigotry. In former
times, when knowledge was less extensively dif-
fused when every useful and brilliant produc-
tion of genius lay unknown in the cloisters of
ecclesiastical priesthood-when the peans of
Sappho and the elegies of Alcaeus were no
longer sung-when the voice of Thalia was
hushed, and the harp of Clio hung mute and life-
less upon the willow-and when the achievements
of the hero and the martyrdom of the Christian,
could only be perpetuated by the legends of tra-
dition-woman, lovely woman,

"Was doomed the slave of man to toil, Yoked with the beasts and fettered to the soil." But when the sun of knowledge began to diffuse his rays over the semi-barbarians of Europe-dissipating the darkness of ignorance which covered them, and the religion of the blessed Saviour began to be more extensively taught-her condition was improved, and the smiles of her hope, her peace, and approaching happiness, began to mingle with those of her beauty.

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equally destitute of strength of mind and those qualities which are necessary to command admiration! The reason why there are more poets, orators, and philosophers, among men, is because their education is an object of more care and attention. This education, which could be the means of great good, is often, very often, perverted, and applied to the more vicious and baneful uses. There are many, who, carrying with them through life the appellation of learned, gain an influence over the minds of their contemporaries, which the glaring absurdity and vicious doctrines with which their writings abound, are unable to erase when the hand of mortality shall have seized them, and their bodies shall have crumbled into dust. This is not the result of female education. Naturally chaste, modest, and unassuming-having been taught when young that the beauty and worth of woman consist in those qualities, improved and strengthened by polite literature, she aspires after no higher honor than to be a source of pleasure and happiness to those with whom she is connected, and a means of enjoyment to man, the partner of her bosom-the author of her cares. She labors not for the fleeting honors of time, but the moral tendency of her writings exhibits that they seek after a crown of glory beyond the grave-"a crown, at the sight of which the diadems of the Cæsars would sink to weeds." Who, then, can deny but what the literary productions of women, (when influenced by such motives,) will be beneficial to the males as well as their own sex? Is it reasonable With what reasoning are the enemies of female to believe that Paine would have destroyed his education able to satisfy their minds? Some ad- own happiness, with that of many of his fellow vance as an argument-an objection, carrying creatures, had he been blessed with a mother prejudice and absurdity on its face-viz.: "The endowed with these heavenly feelings, and these inability of woman-her want of mental strength precious accomplishments. Hume and Voltaire, and influence, which are necessary to ensure too, might perhaps (after living long and useful success and usefulness." Those who take this lives) have sunk to the tomb, with the same feelposition are opposing analogy, past experience-ings which accompany the Christian in that trythe fountains of experimental, unerring know-ing hour-bearing with them their crowns of ledge. Where are the sublime and useful pro- bliss, and leaving behind the disciples of their ductions of Edgeworth? Where are the trophies usefulness to pay the last tribute to departed of the genius of Opie, of Hemans, of Hamilton, greatness. of De Stael and More? To borrow the words of Story," man can no longer boast of exclusive dominion in authorship. He has rivals or allies in almost every department of science, and they are to be found among those whose elegance of manners and blamelessness of life, command his respect as much as their talents excite his admiration. Who is there that does not contemplate with enthusiasm the precious fragments of Elizabeth Smith, the venerable learning of Elizabeth Carter, the elevated piety of Hannah More, the persuasive sense of Mrs. Barbauld, the elegant memoirs of her accomplished niece, the bewitching pictures of Madame D'Arblay, the vivid, picturesque, and terrific imagery of Mrs. Radcliffe, the glowing poetry of Mrs. Hemans, the matchless wit, the inexhaustible conversations, the fine character painting, the practical instructions of Miss Edgeworth, the great Known, standing in her department by the side of the great Unknown!"

The same objection, which has been answered, might be urged against the general education of males. How many are there among the males

The benefit originating from female productions is more plainly seen in the effect they have on the young. The tender and tractable mind is easily influenced by those writings, which are intended not simply to instruct, but also to interest. It is argued by some, that the many vicious and obscene books met with in the higher branches of literature, are calculated to have an injurious effect on the morals of females; and for this reason there are many who even go so far as to say, that their education should be restricted to reading and writing, etc.; or should their education be prolonged or extended, they should be robbed of every literary production not immediately connected with their domestic affairs. That the reading of vicious books is calculated to injure the morals, is what no one will pretend to deny; but that females, with proper care, are much exposed to this evil, is much to be doubted. It is supposed that, in the first place, parents endeavor to keep such books out of the reach of their children; and if this is not the case, the parents neglect the performance of their duty. And if the character of females, when grown, is

not composed of modesty, chastity, affection, and every other virtue, we conclude that the reason is, their parents were themselves destitute of the blessings of polite literature; and had this not been the case, such would not have been the character of their children! Besides, the time is fast approaching when every production calculated to injure the morals, will be excluded from the libraries of the polite and patriotic. Great revolutions have taken place during the last century, in relation to the worth of the productions of mind, as well as the actions of the body. Mental struggles must have an umpire, as well as bodily; and he who aspires after Tully's" aliquid immensum que infinitum," in oratory, the "magister boni" of Horace, or the "sana mens in sano corpore" of Virgil, must consent to submit to the scrutiny of the present, as well as hope for the generosity of futurity. The empire of the mind will be triumphant. It must be obvious, then, to every man, that such objections vanish when considerations like these are fully examined.

deprived of the blessings of learning? He spreads his influence-injurious and destructive-to the most distant corners of his country. Thousands feel this influence; thousands sink beneath the stroke of oppression. The empire of force is fast fading from the face of the earth. The time is rapidly approaching when the chains of tyranny will be broken-broken so that no artist will be found ingenious enough to mend them; and the spirit of free principle, of universal liberty, will be seen ushering from the shades of darkness, the abodes of ministerial oppression! Yes, the time is fast approaching when physical power will be no longer required to lead man to the goal of prosperity. There will be a mental government-a government of reason. All nature proves it.

Why is it, that man will resist to the last gasp the hand of the oppressor? What is that for which man has been toiling from the time when he rose from his cradle in the west, until he reached these last limits of his wanderings? Is it a spirit which is leading him through moOne of the greatest pleasures which man en- rasses to the gibbet and the stake? Ask the ruins joys is conversation: and the pleasure of con- of Athens-go thunder these questions among the versation is certainly increased by an increase hills where once stood imperial Rome-the land of knowledge. And why not employ every of Brutus, the home of Cassius. Go ask the spirit means which are justifiable for the purpose of which hovers over the plains of Marathon; go increasing the pleasure of those whose cares are inquire of those who are still living monuments great, and whose worth (experience proves) of our own glorious revolution, and an answer has never been duly appreciated? But, alas! will be received which none can doubt. If, then, such arguments as these are calculated to have this is to be the result of the labors of the good but little influence on those who inherit the and patriotic, are there not reasons why female cruelty of their fathers, and who are always education should be improved? We know that ready to resort to any means for destroying every the influence of woman is great. To them is left vestige, of justice and prostituting every call of the formation of the character; the turn of mind humanity. And if it be granted that every pur- is always acquired from maternal admonition. suit of females should be composed of innocence, It is in the infancy of man, when resting on the virtue, and pleasure, what employment is more knees of the mother, when those principles are applicable than the pursuit of literature? The implanted in his bosom, which, in after life, are best way to destroy vice, is to place before it to sway the sceptre of despotism, or lead him to something more fascinating. Lay before fe- the temple of fame. There are many striking inales, when young, something worth the appli- examples of the influence of females over their cation of their strongest faculties-the employ-husbands, and those with whom they may be ment of all their time-and there will be formed connected. When Bonaparte had extended his a more impenetrable, a more insurmountable harrier against vice, than all the exhortations which may be given by the philosophic tongue in after life. In fact, this is necessary to produce that perfection which Cowper has expressed in a few beautiful lines-

"Her eye is meek and gentle, and a smile Plays on her lips; and in her speech is heard Paternal sweetness, dignity, and love. The occupation dearest to her heart Is to encourage goodness." But the consideration which ought to have most influence in the examination of this subject, remains yet to be mentioned. It is this--"if females were better educated, the education of males would be improved,"- -new lustre would be added to their public and private careers, and new energy to their counsels. Take, for instance, a man of high standing-a prince, a general, or any man whose influence promises to be great-what would be the effect of his influence, if destitute of moral instruction--destitute of maternal admonitions unacquainted with the solicitations of parental affection, and

arms over nearly the whole of Southern Europe, and had seen his colors flying triumphantly over the walls of the capitol of Egypt, it was womanthe accomplished Josephine-who added vigor to his arm by her counsels, and infused mercy in his bosom by her affectionate disposition. But though her influence was great, her sufferings were soon disregarded. Such were her qualities, that had her admonitions been listened to, had her sufferings been regarded, the conqueror of conquerors might have died among the "vine hills of his own dear France," exulting in the triumph of liberty, the emancipation of Europe from civil and religious despotism. But, alas! when he turned a deaf ear to her entreaties, his honor, his power and happiness faded away like the dew drops of the morning. The influence of the female is strikingly exhibited in the education of our immortal Washington. The instructions which he received, when young, from his mother, were such as to enable him to lead our fathers through the doubtful period of '76-overcome the powers of temptation, and after having lived "the first in war, the first in peace, and the first in the hearts of his countrymen," to

sink in peace to the tomb, honored with the ap- | confiding soul of youth had fondly dreamed of. pellation of "Father of his Country."

Just emerging from a state of pupilage and Such is the effect of female influence, and theory, he at once appears upon the broad stage such the force of female accomplishments; and of experiment, full of ardent hope and confident without these accomplishments, what would be expectation of the glorious success and complethe result of female trials and female admoni- tion of the noble purposes, which his native magtion? Here would rise a Cromwell, with hands nanimity has dictated. He has been early incrimsoned with his country's blood; there would structed in all the principles of morality and be seen the car of a Cæsar, driving swiftly over virtue, and while immediately subject to the the "forbidden Rubicon." Here a Tiberius, salutary instructions of parental affection and hastening with rapid strides to the goal of pow-care, has been induced to perform all the gener; there a Sylla, trampling on the bodies of his erous and noble acts which characterize an unmurdered countrymen, and rejoicing at the fall sophisticated heart, fixing this noble purpose of of liberty! With mother and wife, gifted with doing good, permanently in his mind, and renall the accomplishments which polite literature, dering it an established principle; for the aca due cultivation of the mind, can afford, how complishment of this, he has been instructed in happy is man! But deprived of thesethe belief that reward is always the consequent "Oh, what is man?-a world without a sun." result of thinking rightly and acting nobly; none When we cast our eyes over the chronicles of of his worthy actions are suffered to pass unpast ages, and contemplate the treatment which praised; virtue and vice are pointed out, and dewoman has received from man, reflecting, at the fined to him in a manner so decidedly obvious that same time, on her many charms and accom- he requires no hesitation in the choice of the forplishments which are calculated to produce hap-mer and in abhorrence of the latter. The dispiness in every circle, we are forced to exclaim tinguishing marks of either, when fairly reprewith the philosopher of old, "O homines! O sented, he does not mistake, and in his heart, tempora!! O mores!!!" As she was called into from having so plain and pleasing a duty before existence for the happiness of man, was such him, from the faithful performance of which, treatment expected?" All was sad without her; such ample satisfaction results, he determines at man himself was sorrowful. Yes, how beautiful once, to be in his future life, the pattern of all has the poet expressed itthat is magnanimous and worthy, and he wonders in himself,why it is that such odious anomalies as bad and intriguing men are found to exist in this fair world. He has to learn, by dear man is a system of policy and circumvention, bought experience, that in general the life of where all act from some latent principle of selfinterestedness, where appearances are assumed to accomplish some favourite object, and where every one is in masquerade; every one assumes a guise which he thinks gives the most specious semblance of the specific qualities which promise most respect and influence in the character be wishes to bear.

"The world was sad! the garden was a wild! And man, the hermit, sighed, till woman smiled."

What could have been expected, but that her situation would have called forth the attention of men? But not so! For ages has she been regarded, not as the messenger of glad tidings, but the object of hatred and oppression. Compelled in some countries to toil with unceasing ardor in the bloom of youth, and linger out her latter days in poverty and neglect. But with all this cruelty, she still exclaims

"Man, with all thy faults I love thee still." Unceasing in her love, uncorrupted in her morals, charitable in her affection-abroad a friend and comforter, at home a source of pleasure and delight-who can not exclaim, with the genius of Mocre:

The novice, when first embarked in what he afterwards learns is the capricious and fluctuating sea of life, is delighted with the imagined bright prospects before him, and he joyously promises himself infinite enjoyment in the consummation of those schemes of life which his ingenuousness has suggested. He has been told,

"Oh, woman whose form and whose soul,
Are the spell and the light of all we pursue!
Whether sunned in the tropics, or chilled at the pole, 'tis true, that all men are not alike generous, that
If woman be there, there is happiness too!"

Y. S. R.

For the Saturday Evening Post. THE EXCELLENCE OF VIRTUE.

Among all the complexities and multiplicity of experience which go to make up the man who may be said to possess a requisite share of the knowledge of the world, there occurs to my mind one kind of experience which is very prominent in my recollection, and which must necessarily be passed through by every young man, before he can become in a tolerable degree capable of managing with success his pecuniary concerns, in this calculating world of intrigue and self devotion, or with any degree of exemption from the disgust and disappointment arising from the mistaken anticipations, which the generous and

some are envious, vicious and intriguing, and that we must expect many crosses and disheartening vexations to intervene and cbscure the brilliancy of intellectual happiness; but theory is not practice-his reliance on the superior power of virtue and his own honest intentions, is to be encouraged, and to the widest extent commended, as in this are based all practical virtues; but experience alone must teach him that virtue without policy, is insufficient to counteract the ills arising from the officiousness of some, who have acquired the art of counterfeiting virtue so exactly that they are mistaken for what they seem to be; by these means, the confiding spirit of youth becomes obnoxious to all the envy and malignity which can be concentrated in the foul hearts of envious and malicious hypocrites, whose chief ambition seems to consist in sinking virtue into degradation. The youth who still

THE ITALIAN BRIDE.

Written for the Casket. THE ITALIAN BRIDE.

In the crowd

They could not deem her one of such; she stood
Among them but not of them-in a shroud

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the comfort of her beautiful nursling, in the publicity attendant on her line of life. The principal part of the company, who thronged the studio, being of "the opposite sex," (to adopt the apt distinctive epithet of the "immaculate Fredegonda,") the quiet and respectable appearance of the matronly Monica, who was always kept in waiting, effectually nullified all attempts at flirtation, and proved her prudent mistress to be quite in earnest in her determination to hinder ought that might tend to interrupt or depart from the proper business before her. This precaution was by no means unnecessary; for though the Americans-to their praise be it written-are of all men most observant of the courteous usage due to every woman of repute, however lowly her degree, still there were not wanting every where some who arrogate to themselves the privilege of a little freedom, towards one dependent on public patronage for bread. But the lofty Italia soon taught them other things: those who came merely to lounge, or to admire and criticise the fair limner and her superior works, were dismissed without a particular regard to ceremony-while the patronising gallantries of such as felt disposed to pay for a portrait by the Signora di Franzoni, the enormous price, which greatly enhanced its value, were at once discouraged by the imposing air of the humble yet haughty girl, who bore in her looks a stamp of native nobility, before which all involuntarily bent. The winter thus wore away; and a busy and profitable one it was to "la bella Italiana," as she was called by her only countryman resi

Of thoughts that were not their thoughts.-ByaON. "Signora Italia Franzoni, portrait and miniature painter, at the Haymarket." Such was the simple card which, inserted daily in the Richmond prints, and backed by letters to persons in the very first world there, drew successive crowds to Pryor's Garden, as the Haymar ket used to be styled in familiar parlance, by the good citizens of that town. In those days, the visits of distinguished Europeans to the capital of the Ancient Dominion, fell like those of angels, "few and far between:" even the arrival of a foreign artist of celebrity furnished, therefore, food for curiosity and comment; especially when, as in the present instance, the one advertising was young, unwedded, and a woman! Besides these powerful claims to admiration, and some superb specimens of pictorial skill, exhibited by the Italian, Le Brun, a splendor of personal beauty establishing and illustrating her nationality, was not to be passed over as the least attractive item about her. Her manner, too, was full of the picturesque gesture of her country, blending the extremes of soft and abrupt grace-and alternately delighting or disconcerting her numerous visiters, as pride or politeness predominated: yet, though at times disdainful, abstracted, and even stern in mien and address, these characteristic changes ren-dent at Richmond, as a teacher of " the true dered her but the more piquant and interesting, for her speech was still melody-her attitudes always perfect-her tout ensemble as novel as her name and avocation; and taken all in all, she was generally accounted a most rare and fascinating creature, and favored by the ladies patronesses of the place, with a fine chance of being shown about as lioness of the season. But all participation in the fetes and festivity of the gay world, was contemned and avoided by the distant signora, who, devoting herself with a praise-worthy assiduity to her professional labors, repelled, sometimes in scorn, then in sadness, every advance to acquaintance and social intercourse. There was often visible, amid the dignified self-possession and elegant ease marking her ordinary demeanor, a momentary con fusion as sudden as it was overwhelming, accompanied by a cast of deep and pensive thought, amounting to absolute melancholy, and softening the natural glow of her animated charms like a tender twilight stealing over the brilliant hues, which emblazon heaven and earth in the glorious sunsets of her own fair and forsaken land-that classic land whose name she bore, and of which, in person and mind and desolate estate, she moved a lovely emblem. An elderly female-obviously of far inferior rank, but cherished by Italia as a sacred relic of country, home, and perished friends-was the sole companion of her wanderings, and solace of her leisure hours; with her she loved to dwell on scenes of lost delight-on vanished times and things in sunny Italy. Nor was this venerable presence less essential to the reputation than to

Etrurian." Every body of fashion was eager to be painted by the admirable hand of the radiant stranger; and those to whom the distinction was accorded, accepted it as such, and treasured up the costly counterfeit, as connoisseurs do an original by Raphael or Rubens.

In addition to the worthy towns people, the vernal season brought with it a concourse of strangers to attend the races; several of whom were" ambitious of immortality from her pencil," as, in flattering phrase, they expressed it to the proud Italian painter. Two of these, meditating a call on this famous foreign wonder, sauntered forth, one fair morning, from their quarters at the Eagle Tavern-then, as now, the first house of public entertaiment there. It was May-day; the flush spring had arrayed herself in "all the bloom and verdure and breathing sweetness" belonging to that most poetical and pastoral of the twelve months; and the friends, who were junior officers in our navy, strolled their idle way along sundry streets, giving glimpses through the vistas occurring at each corner, of the distant river scenery. At length, after passing through the western suburbs, they stopped on Gamble's Hill, to enjoy the full prospect that expanded around them like a glorious panorama. On their right stretched a dark skirt of woods and sylvan hills, on one of which, standing close to the water's edge that divided it from them, arose the heavy towers of the Penitentiary; before them, the James river, rushing onward to the Falls with a deep, continuous murmur, pleasant to the ear as a fine thoroughbass, rolled in thundering sheets of white foam