Mrs. _Holmes_ to _Myra_.
_Belleview._
HAVING presented you with several observations on Seduction, I
think it will not be _mal apropos_ to consider the question in another
point of view, and discover how a woman may be _accessary_ to her own
ruin—It is hardly worth while to contend about the difference between
the meaning of the terms _accessary_ and _principal_. The difference, in
fact, is small; but when a woman, by her imprudence, exposes herself,
she is _accessary_; for though her heart may be pure, her conduct is a
tacit invitation to the Seducer.
EDUCATED in the school of luxury and pride, the female heart grows
gradually torpid to the fine feelings of sensibility—the blush of
modesty wears off—the charms of elegant simplicity fade by degrees—and
the continual hurry of dissipation, supersedes the improvement of
serious reflection. Reflection is a kind of relaxation from
frolicking—it encourages the progress of virtue, and upholds the heart
from sinking to depravity.
WE may lay it down as a principle, that _that conduct which_ will bear
the test of reflection, and which creates a pleasure in the mind from a
consciousness of acting right, is virtuous: And she whose conduct will
not bear this test, is necessarily degenerating, and she is assenting to
her destruction.
LET a lady be liberal or even magnificent, according to her
circumstances or situation in life; but let the heart remain uncorrupt,
let her not be contaminated by wealth, ambition or splendour. She may
then take a happy retrospect of her conduct—her heart cannot upbraid
her—and the suffrage of her own mind is a convincing proof that she has
not strayed from the path of virtue.
HAPPY they who can thus reflect—who can recall to view the scenes that
are past, and behold their actions with reiterated satisfaction—they
become ambitious of excelling in everything virtuous, because they are
certain of securing a continual reward; For as a mighty river fertilizes
the country through which it passes and increases in magnitude and force
until it empty itself into the ocean: So virtue fertilizes or improves
the heart, and gathers strength and vigour by continual progression,
until it centre in the consummation of its desires.
DAZZLED by the glitter of splendour, and unmindful of the real charms of
economy and simplicity, the female heart sighs for the enjoyment of
fashion, and flutters to join the motley train of pleasure. But how is
it deluded by empty deceptions! Like the fruit which sprang up in the
infernal regions, beautiful to the eye, but which left upon the taste
bitter ashes, and was followed by repentance—A great quantity of this
kind of fruit presents itself to my rashly judging sex; and it
frequently happens that their hearts have as little inclination to
resist the temptation, as our general parent to refuse the fatal apple.
WE do not rouse to our aid fortitude to enable us to surmount the
temptation, but yield ourselves to a kind of voluntary slavery. Hence it
is observable, that a woman is often unhappy in the midst of
pleasures—and petulant without cause—that she is trifling in matters of
the highest importance; and the most momentous concern is considered
futile, as whim and caprice may chance to dictate.
THE progress of female luxury, however slow it may appear, unless timely
checked, works with infallible and destructive advances. The rule we at
first adopted might perhaps answer this check; for by the examination
thus recommended we behold the dangers of a continuation of such
conduct—Ruin and contempt, the invariable concomitants of vice and
immorality, proclaim their denunciations on a prosecution of it.
LET us examine the gradual steps, and the consequences of female
luxury.—A desire to be admired is the first. Behold a woman surrounded
by her worshippers, receiving the sacrifice of adulation—what was given
her at first as compliment, she now demands as her due. She finds
herself disappointed, and is mortified. The first desire still
predominating, she attaches herself to the votaries of pride, who direct
their feet in the paths of extravagance and irreligion. Thus sunk into
effeminacy and meanness, _she forfeits her virtue rather than her
pride_. Thus terminates the career of a woman, whose mind is
debilitated, and whose life is expended in the pursuit of vanity.
IT is said of some species of _American_ serpents, that they have the
power of charming birds and small animals, which they destine for their
prey. The serpent is stretched underneath a tree—it looks steadfastly on
the bird—their eyes meet to separate no more—the charm begins to
operate—the fascinated bird flutters and hops from limb to limb, till
unable any longer to extend its wings, it falls into the voracious jaws
of its enemy: This is no ill emblem of the fascinating power of
pleasure. Surrounded with temptation, and embarrassed in her
circumstances, a woman of dissipation becomes less tenacious of her
honour—and falls an easy prey to the fascinating power of the _seducer_.
HAVING traced to you, my dear _Myra_, the rise, advancement and
termination of pleasure and pride in the female heart, it appears almost
unnecessary to remark that this conduct cannot bear the test of
reflection and serious examination. We may, however, observe on the
contrary, that a woman who advances a few steps, often hurries on still
further to prevent thought. This bars the way to a return to that
conduct which can give pleasure on recollection. She behaves to herself
as the populace did formerly to women suspected of witchcraft—they were
tied neck and heels and thrown into the river; if they swam they were
hung for witches—if they sank they were acquitted of the crime, but were
drowned in the experiment: So when we only suspect our hearts of an
errour, we plunge still deeper into the sea of dissipation, to prevent
the trial of that conduct which impartial reason and judgement would
approve.
NOTWITHSTANDING I give this instance of an encouragement for virtue; yet
in all those I have mentioned is a woman _accessary_ to her ruin.
DO not imagine, my dear _Myra_, that I mean to argue against all
pleasure—Many of us set out on a principle of false delicacy and
destructive rivalship; we cannot behold a fine woman without wishing to
appear finer. A laudable emulation in the conduct of all women is
extremely praiseworthy—it stimulates them in line of their
duty—increases vivacity and good humour; and ambition, thus directed and
pursued, I beg leave to designate a female virtue, because it is
productive of the most happy consequences.
BUT it sometimes happens that particular virtues lose themselves in
their neighbouring vices, and this laudable emulation degenerates into
destructive rivalship.
A GENTEEL, handsome woman, deservedly shares the esteem and admiration
of all men; but why should this esteem and admiration, justly paid to
merit, give us disquiet? The answer is ready. That desire to be admired
so predominant in all females, by degrees works itself into the ruling
passion, and precludes from the mind the particular virtue of emulation;
for why a woman who merits the love of the world, should draw on her the
disapprobation of many of her own sex, can be accounted for, by no other
principle, than the mean, pitiful passion of envy.
THIS may possibly give rise to defamation. It is astonishing how this
practice prevails among a _few_ persons—because it is known by
experience, to prove subversive of its very intention.—The arrows of
envy recoil upon herself.
HOW foolish must that woman appear who depreciates the merit of another,
that she may appear unrivalled! She raises up the dykes of ill-nature,
and inundates the land with a flood of scandal, but unhappily drowns
herself in the event.
I LEAVE it to the result of your observation, my dear _Myra_, whether
the woman who is first to develope her stores of defamation, and through
false emulation, the first to traduce a woman of real merit and virtue,
is not also the first who becomes a scandal to herself, and consequently
the first that is condemned.
HOW opposite are the pursuits and rewards of her who participates in
every rational enjoyment of life, without mixing in those scenes of
indiscretion which give pain on recollection!—Whose chymical genius
leads her to extract the poison from the most luxuriant flowers, and to
draw honey even from the weeds of society. She mixes with the world
seemingly indiscriminately—and because she would secure to herself that
satisfaction which arises from a consciousness of acting right, she
views her conduct with an eye of scrutiny. Though her temper is free and
unrestrained, her heart is previously secured by the precepts of
prudence—for prudence is but another name for virtue. Her manners are
unruffled, and her disposition calm, temperate and dispassionate,
however she may be surrounded by the temptations of the world.
Adieu!