GODEY'S LADY'S BOOK
Philadelphia, March 1850

EDITORS' TABLE.

AMONG the Romans, March was the first month of the year; and, in some ecclesiastical computations, that order is still preserved; as, particularly, reckoning the number of years from the incarnation of the Saviour, that is, from the 25th of March. Romulus, the founder of the "Eternal City," divided the year into months, and gave to the first the name of his supposed father, Mars. It was in this month the Romans sacrificed to Anna Perenna, whose festival was celebrated on the fifteenth. This Anna Perenna, who was worshiped as a goddess by the ancient Romans, was, according to tradition, the daughter of Belus, King of Tyre, and sister of Dido, whom she accompanied in her flight. The month of March was also under the particular protection of Minerva, and always consisted of thirty-one

And so, as the fabled goddess of wisdom and the liberal arts has the tutelary care of March, we think no apology is needed for urging on our young lady readers the importance of entering on some grave and profitable studies, or, at least, some one study, at the beginning of this long, cold month, and making this the era of a new literary year.

If leisure and opportunity are not allowed for the prosecution of a new study, then commence a systematic course of reading. It is doubtless true, that 'young ladies generally leave school with the determination to continue their studies, and allot stated periods of each day for this purpose. But, few are aware of the difficulty of adhering to such a resolution, in the midst of the employments of home and the attractions of society, until the experiment has been made. By a methodical arrangement of time, however, it is possible, in spite of difficulties and discouragements, to accomplish the object in question. Let, then, a systematic course of study or reading be marked out and strictly adhered to, as a part of the duties, or rather pleasures, of every day, and an amount of information quite wonderful, to those who have never computed the value of one hour in the twenty-four employed in one pursuit, during the whole year, would be the result.

Let those who doubt the good effect of this theory try the plan for one year: those who approve will, of course, pursue it.

LOVE AND MARRIAGE have, naturally, a deep and abiding influence over the thoughts of woman. It may amuse our young lady readers to know what is said on these interesting subjects by men of genius and learning, possessing also the wisdom a thorough knowledge of the world imparts. And first, we give the opinion of one whose writings have flooded our land.

Fly from a load upon the heart, or the genius, the energy, the pride, and the spirit, which not one man in ten thousand can bear – fly from the curse of owing everything to a wife! It is a reversal of all natural position, it is a blow to all the manhood within us. You know not what it is: I do! My wife's fortune carne not till after our marriage – so far, so well; it saved my reputation from the charge of fortune-hunting. But I tell you fairly that, if it had never come at all, I should be a prouder, and a greater, and a happier man than I have ever been, or ever can be, with all its advantages; it has been a millstone around my neck.– And yet my wife has never breathed a word that could wound any pride.– Bulwer.

AND here are the opinions of a German celebrated in literature and political life: –

I never desired, at any period of my life, to hold a near position either to a girl or woman much younger than myself; least of all could I have married under such circumstances. I am convinced that such marriages are not usually productive of happiness; they generally lead the man to treat his wife as a child: and whenever there exists much discrepancy in point of age, it is impossible that that freedom of intercourse should take place which tends to the mental elevation and happiness of both parties, or that that pure stream of thought and sentiment should flow between them, which peculiarly constitutes all that is blissful in the intercourse betwixt the two sexes. Equality of mind is indispensably necessary in the married state; and the man can only expect to find happiness in this condition when the wife, as far as the powers of her nature will permit, and yet with the full independence of womanhood, yields to his opinions and recognizes his will as her own.– Wilhelm Von Humboldt.

A MAN must possess some external object to which he can attach himself, upon which he may work with all the collected powers of his existence. But although this inclination is common to all, yet it is the privilege of the sensitive and highly cultivated soul alone, to feel the desire, the aspiration after true friendship and true love. Minds less delicately constituted, or blunted by the world, form but transitory and changing attachments; they never attain to the tranquillity which results from a perfect exchange of sympathy. Viewed in reference to each other, love and friendship, under every form and circumstance, differ in this respect, that the former is always colored with sensuality: but this does not militate against its excellence, for even a sensual inclination may comprehend within itself the greatest purity. Love originates in the very soul, and changes the nature of all things subjected to its unspotted brightness. In young girls who have never once recognized the emotion of love, much less arrived at the consciousness of its existence in themselves, it is nevertheless this emotion which lies veiled under the guise of friendship; these two feelings are not yet clearly and definitely separated; but, as womanhood approaches, every emotion passes insensibly into that of love.– Ibid.

THESE opinions on love and marriage remind us of a beautiful poem, by one of our gentlemen contributors, who makes his appearance in this number of the Lady's Book. The portrait of J. L. Chester cannot fail to be admired, when we know his fine head can coin such rare and true gems of thought and feeling. We give it with the name by which he has been known as a writer

ON A SLEEPING WIFE.

BY JULIAN CRAMER.

IF it is essential to the interests of our country, and the world, that American females be well educated, it certainly is a matter of no small importance, that the means of securing such an education be brought within the reach of all. Place the advantages of such an education on such terms, that every enterprising young lady may avail herself of them, even by her own industry, and there will be a rush for the temple of science, among those whose circumstances now exclude them from most of our seminaries of learning, but who, if permitted to enjoy their facilities, would improve them to a degree undreamed of by the effeminate daughters of affluence and luxury. The great army of female missionary teachers which the world demands must come from this class, for they only will brave the hardships and surmount the obstacles which such a work involves. The good work of providing suitable places of education for woman is progressing We give here a brief description of the noble institution lately opened in, Cincinnati.

The Ohio Female College is located at Pleasant or College Hill (post-office, Cary's Academy), about six miles from Cincinnati, on the road to Hamilton. The position is quite elevated, and from it you look down upon the city in the distance. The property consists of ten and a half acres of land and four buildings. One of these is a four story brick, 50 feet by 65 feet, admirably arranged for school purposes. One chapel, 35 feet by 45 feet, with a second story for rooms. One building 40 by 40 feet, and two stories; and one 15 by 50 feet, of two stories. The' title to the property is in the principal; but the buildings have been erected by means of stock, redeemable in tuition, and secured by mortgage. The trustees are an advisory body merely, whose business it is to oversee the institution and decide upon the books used, attend the examinations, &c. It is the design of those concerned in getting up this institution, to make it in all respects a first class seminary, not only fitting young ladies for general usefulness, but preparing those who desire it to become teachers. The name "college" seems at the Fast too full of pretension, but here at the West, unfortunately, it does not. The names of the teachers and the course of study can be learned from the circular which is transmitted with this. The seminary has commenced under very favorable auspices. There are now more than seventy young ladies within its walls.

THE article by Professor Blumenthal, "The Niebelungen Lied," &c., found in this number, was commenced last June. In consequence of the ill health of the author, the first chapter only was furnished; he has now completed it; and we can promise our readers a story of intense interest as well as great research. Of course, we re-print the first chapter, otherwise our legion of new subscribers would have a story without a beginning, which would be more perplexing than to have one without an end.

TO CORRESPONDENTS. Articles accepted: " Crazy Mary," "Cloud Musings," "Simon of Cyrene," "Twilight Dreams," "Lament for a Wife," " Song of a Dying King," "A Young Mother's Reverie," " Fading, Still Fading," and " The Mystery of Providence."

We have a number of communications on hand not yet examined; – report in our next number.

We should like to know the address of the author of " A Legend of the Second Crusade in the Holy Land."

Will B. B. furnish the" Topographical Description," &c., alluded to? The subscriber who has taken and paid for the Lady's Book twenty years, must be richly qualified to contribute to the value of its contents. We shall welcome his article with much pleasure.

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