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On The Character And Virtues Of The Fair Sex.
ON THE CHARACTER AND VIRTUES OF THE FAIR SEX .
To the EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE . _
SIR , TT has been at all times , in my opinion , too much the fashion A to exalt the dignity of our own sex , by attempts to degrade the understandings and good qualities of the female part of the creation . I am one , however , of those who have ahvays entertained the highest sentiments of esteemI had almost said venerationfor the
, , fair sex ; and , I am sure , a fair examination of the subject will satisfy any unprejudiced person , that they are capable of the exercise of every noble and generous sentiment and virtue that can adorn human nature . Thoug-h it is scarcely to be deemed an evil , yet it certainly is a disadvantage to the ' female sexthat womenthrough various
, , causes , either natural or accidental , are prevented from engaging deeply in literary pursuits . From their attention to the more elegant accomplishments , and to the discharge of domestic , conjugal , or maternal duties , they are not prepared to oppose the attacks of those
petulant writers , wtio , . vithout generosity , and witnout reason , vimy t ' he most amiable , and perhaps , on the whole , the most virtuous , part , of our species . With impunity , and , therefore , with unwarrantable licentiousness , have the most celebrated of ancient and modern writers ridiculed and satirized Woman ; as if , forsooth , Man Avere not heir to the same infirmities of mind , the same frailties , the same vicesas WomanThe cultivation of letters has fallen to the share
, . of men ; and grossly have those abused their talent , wh- > have directed the poAvers of their imagination , and vehemence of their spirit , against the female sex . Indiscriminate censure is on all occasions cuipabie , because void of candour : it is doubly reprehensible when it cruelly insults those who are considered as unequal in capacity fo" self-defenceIf leen or wit must be gratified at the
ex-. . sp pence of human nature , let not the satirist be partial to his own sex , and violent against the other , as though imperfection could be imputed to one side only , and the other Avere immaculate : rather let him lash or ridicule , according to his inclination , the foibles and vices which characterise all mankind in general . Had women relinquished the stations intended for them bProvidenceand applied
y , themselves to the pursuits which men have followed , they might have found abundant matter for retaliation on our sex : AvvJcT . U .-V < . _ , \\/ £ - ( / £ "_ :., _ .. • G ..-.. V A ' u / . ii 77 ( , -I . « t-fs , & C . Eurip . Mei . 413 . EJ . Barnes .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Character And Virtues Of The Fair Sex.
ON THE CHARACTER AND VIRTUES OF THE FAIR SEX .
To the EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE . _
SIR , TT has been at all times , in my opinion , too much the fashion A to exalt the dignity of our own sex , by attempts to degrade the understandings and good qualities of the female part of the creation . I am one , however , of those who have ahvays entertained the highest sentiments of esteemI had almost said venerationfor the
, , fair sex ; and , I am sure , a fair examination of the subject will satisfy any unprejudiced person , that they are capable of the exercise of every noble and generous sentiment and virtue that can adorn human nature . Thoug-h it is scarcely to be deemed an evil , yet it certainly is a disadvantage to the ' female sexthat womenthrough various
, , causes , either natural or accidental , are prevented from engaging deeply in literary pursuits . From their attention to the more elegant accomplishments , and to the discharge of domestic , conjugal , or maternal duties , they are not prepared to oppose the attacks of those
petulant writers , wtio , . vithout generosity , and witnout reason , vimy t ' he most amiable , and perhaps , on the whole , the most virtuous , part , of our species . With impunity , and , therefore , with unwarrantable licentiousness , have the most celebrated of ancient and modern writers ridiculed and satirized Woman ; as if , forsooth , Man Avere not heir to the same infirmities of mind , the same frailties , the same vicesas WomanThe cultivation of letters has fallen to the share
, . of men ; and grossly have those abused their talent , wh- > have directed the poAvers of their imagination , and vehemence of their spirit , against the female sex . Indiscriminate censure is on all occasions cuipabie , because void of candour : it is doubly reprehensible when it cruelly insults those who are considered as unequal in capacity fo" self-defenceIf leen or wit must be gratified at the
ex-. . sp pence of human nature , let not the satirist be partial to his own sex , and violent against the other , as though imperfection could be imputed to one side only , and the other Avere immaculate : rather let him lash or ridicule , according to his inclination , the foibles and vices which characterise all mankind in general . Had women relinquished the stations intended for them bProvidenceand applied
y , themselves to the pursuits which men have followed , they might have found abundant matter for retaliation on our sex : AvvJcT . U .-V < . _ , \\/ £ - ( / £ "_ :., _ .. • G ..-.. V A ' u / . ii 77 ( , -I . « t-fs , & C . Eurip . Mei . 413 . EJ . Barnes .