Page:Advice to young ladies on their duties and conduct in life - Arthur - 1849.djvu/142

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ADVICE TO YOUNG LADIES.

many evils exist in society, and that women do not suffer sorely from these evils. This, alas! we know too well. But that which is pointed out by the persons we allude to, as the cause, is not the true one.

There is something really so absurd and revolting in the idea of taking woman out of her present sphere, and her present high and holy uses in society, and placing her side by side with man in the world’s rough arena, and in contest with him for honor, and fame, and wealth, that we cannot seriously argue against it. We have deemed it sufficient to show that, in the very nature of things, such can never be the case.


Chapter XIV.

Conduct towards Men.

There are two extremes which we constantly see among young women on first going into company, and coming into the society of men. The one is a simpering bashfulness, that looks and is very silly, while the other is exhibited in a bold,