William Andrus Alcott. The Young Woman's Guide. Boston: 1840. G365 A355 Y845.
Modesty
Pp. 98-99 Under this head I will just add, that since by modesty the weaker
govern the stronger, it is of immense importance that woman should know
the true secret of maintaining her power; and also by what means she is
likely to jeopardize that power. And without undertaking to determine what
means she is likely to jeopardize that power. And without undertaking to
determine what shall be the precise rules of female action, and the precise
limits of the sphere within which the Author of her nature designed she
should move, is it not worth serious inquiry, whether she does not, as a
general fact, lose influence the moment she departs widely from the province
which God in nature seems to have allotted her; when, like a Woolstoncroft,
or a Wright, or others still of less painful notoriety, she mounts the rostrum,
and becomes the centre of gaping, perhaps admiring thousands of the other
sex, as well as her own. So did not the excellent women of Galilee, eighteen
hundred years ago; although they were engaged, heart and hand, in a cause
than which none could be more glorious, or afford a greater triumph, especially
to their own sex. They probably knew too well their power to endanger it
thus in the general scale; or if not, they probably yielded to the impulses
of a spirit which could direct them in a path more congenial to their own
nature, as well as on the whole more conducive to their own emancipation,
elevation and perfection.
Invention w/in Sphere
Pp. 154-155 When I speak of the appropriate sphere of woman, and of her
taxing her powers of invention there, I would by no means indulge myself
in any narrow or circumscribed views in regard to her field of operation.
I should have no sort of objection to the application of her inventive powers
to the work of facilitating the usual labors of the other sex - particularly
in the departments of agriculture an horticulture. But I do not perceive
any necessity for this. I believe there is work enough - profitable and
philanthropic work, too - to task woman's powers of invention for many centuries,
without her going out of her appropriate sphere. In the art of cookery especially
which certainly has a great deal to do with physical education and physical
improvement - there is great room for the exercise of her inventive powers.
This important art is, as yet, entirely in its infancy; and where any progress
has been made, it has been chiefly in a wrong direction, and under the guidance
of wrong principles. Be it yours, young women, to give this matter a right
direction, and to bring it to bear as efficiently on the happiness of mankind,as
it has hitherto on their slow destruction.
LOVE OF DOMESTIC CONCERNS
Pp. 175-176 But, lastly, young women should love domestic life, and the
care and society of the young, because it is, without doubt, the intention
of Divine Providence that they should do so; and because home, and the concerns
of home, afford the best opportunities and means of moral improvement.
The prerogative of woman- the peculiar province which God in nature has
assigned her- has been already alluded to with sufficient distinctness.
Let every reader, then, follow out the hint, and ask herself whether it
is not important that she should love the place and circumstances thus assigned
her; and whether she who hates them, is likely to derive from them the great
moral lessons they are eminently designed to inculcate.
Is it asked what moral lessons, so mightily important, can be learned in
the nursery and in the kitchen? In return, I may ask, what lessons of instruction
are there which may not be learned there, and what moral virtues may not
there be cultivated? Each family is a world in miniature; and all the necessary
trials of the temper and of the character, are usually found within its
circle.
Beauty
Pp. 262-263 What I believe, is this. That in falling, with our first parents,
we fall physically as well as morally; and that our physical departure from
truth is almost as wide as our moral. I suppose all the ugliness of the
young - not, of course, all their variety of feature or complexion, but
all which constitutes real ugliness of appearance - comes directly or indirectly
from the transgression of God's laws, natural or moral; and can only be
restored by obedience to those laws by the transgression of which it came.
Fashion Expense
Pp. 292-293 That many young women, who read this chapter, will wholly lay
aside their ornaments, and fit themselves, as fast as possible, for the
noble purpose of ornamenting those around them, by promoting their physical,
intellectual and moral well being, can hardly be expected. But I do hope
that I shall lead a few to expend less of time and money in dressing and
ornamenting their persons than heretofore, and more in dressing and ornamenting
the immortal mind, as well as more in promoting health of body.
I cannot but hope to live to see the day, when every person who professes
the name of Jesus Christ, and not a few who make no professions at all,
will entertain similar views in regard to the purposes of dress and their
own duty in relation to it, to those which I have endeavored to inculcate.
Such a day must surely come sooner or later; and I hope that those who believe
this, will make it their great rule to expend as little on themselves as
possible, and yet answer the true intentions of the Creator respecting themselves.
Intellectual Improvement
P. 311 The long agitated question, whether woman is or is not equal to man
in capacity for intellectual improvement, need not, surely, be discussed
in this place. It is sufficient, perhaps, to know that every young woman
is capable of a much higher degree of improvement than she has yet attained,
and to urge her forward to do all she can for herself, and to do it with
all her might.