cy over her husband, and persuaded him to leave the daughters' training to her guidance. The consummation is, that the eldest, scarcely turned of sixteen, has they will make for themselves, this indispensable pro- || aided the temptation, Mrs. A. acquired great ascendanvision. But what advantage can they take of this concession? Some have books, and many who have not are themselves to blame. Whose husband will not buy his wife a book, when she furnishes the proper ev-just eloped with a stage actor; and the second, who is idence that she wants a good book, and that she will use, not abuse it? She who can say, "mine will not," has made a poor job of matrimony, unless extreme poverty pleads "her lord's" excuse. But before she reproaches her husband with such testimony, let her review her own domestic history. a year younger, laughs at her broken-hearted mother, and says it is a "romantic and beautiful affair, well worthy of imitation." Let not my readers for a moment suppose that I deem every woman who does not read Jay's Sermons, and Young's Night Thoughts, to be necessarily like Mrs. A.; or that I insinuate any such thing. It was not merely her want of books that ruined Mrs. A.it was also the use of such mischievous substitutes. These, always conned by the mother and her daugh She may be a little like the wife of my friend A. He, poor man, loved books and learning. He beat his way through college against wind and tide-keeping school half the time, yet always in advance of his class. At his graduation, despite the breaches in histers, unsettled their weak discretion, and finally plunged college terms which made much against him, he took the highest honor; and without waiting to catch breath after so strained an effort, turned in to study law and prosecute a courtship. He went to the bar one week and took a wife the next. He wedded for a little beauty, a little money, a little family distinction, and (which was the most generous of all) for a little smattering of bon ton education, and, as he supposed, love of books, How few of us can vindicate our most deliberate deeds, by so many and convincing reasons. And yet, with all his reasons, A. missed it. He married before he knew much of special pleading. To be sure, this would have been no matter if he had understood special courting; but ignorance of the latter half proved his undoing. I said he married one who, as he supposed, had a taste for books, (not novels; for A. never thought of reckoning them as books,) and would, by her correct mental habits and behavior, be a blessing to a family. But how did he come by this impression? Why, the young lady "set her cap for him." Her mother approved the project, and, as was meet, seconded her daughter's well-meant effort, The old lady saw that Mr. A. was a grave man, and had the sagacity to infer that his serious turn would require a cautious treat ment. The daughter, "being before instructed by her mother," adorned the center-table with the writings of Addison, Chapone, Hannah More, and Robert Hall, together with the choicest poetry of Mrs. Hemans and Mrs. Sigourney; but, for constant and devoted use, Bulwer's novels and Moore's Melodies occupied a certain position quite as convenient, and more retired; and never, until his wedding day, did A. set his eyes upon them. Once married and at house-keeping, the center-table changed its ornaments, and from that time forth the "Melodies" and half a dozen romances formed the whole circle of Mrs. A.'s reading, singing, and I fear one might add, closet devotions. She kept no library; for her husband found that, to preserve his books from the rude wear and tear of children, it was necessary to lock them up in his office, and his good|| wife had no objection. So far I record A.'s misfortunes with composure. But what remains is heart-rending. Like Eve who the whole family into a deep sea of misfortunes. If one amongst a great many of my readers has provided such unwholesome mental nourishment for a rising family, I entreat her to beware. Summoning to her aid all the conquering graces of her youth, let her bow, like Esther, before her husband, and petition him for "Harper's Family Library"-for Wesley's, Watson's, and M'Ilvaine's selected English Sermons-for the biographies of Rowe, Fletcher, Maxwell, Rogers, Ramsey, Graham, Newell, and Judson; and for Cowper, Young, Milton, and Pollok, together with Mrs. Hemans' and Mrs. Sigourney's poems. Be sure and add to these, if necessary, a new hymn-book and Bible. If desirable, let them be bound in a style fit to grace the saloons of a baron, or the alcoves of a royal library. As an argument in her petition, she may mention former indiscreet selections of books, and a penitent resolution to effect a thorough reformation. If her husband be the man I trust he is, though he should extend to her no golden scepter, he will receive her with complacency, and she will thenceforth have no occasion to complain of the want of books. Had Mrs. A. seasonably taken such a course, her husband would have kept a jubilee for the turning of his captivity, and to this very day her children would have remained to rise up and call her blessed. Books, in former days, were rare and costly. But now what can be more easily obtained? Their prices are so reduced that the cost of a silk dress or a fashionable bonnet will purchase a decent library. To the ladies of this generation it is a peculiar favor that leisure and books are both at their command. Providence has favored them-it now remains for them to favor themselves. The leisure, the books, and the elements of taste are all theirs by the beneficence of Heaven. I trust that the gratification and the benefits of well directed reading will also be theirs by their own selfgovernment. Having considered the importance of time, taste, and books, and the facility of acquiring them, I will venture, in addition, to urge all who peruse these pages, to devote themselves to grave and profitable reading. Let them reflect that not to avail themselves of their advantages, but pine in mental atrophy while the And so highly did these accomplishments commend Helen to her admirers, that the noble Spartan maids, who are represented as leading a "comely choir" to bless, in song, her nuptial hour, devote to her the following beautiful strains: "Ere yet to-morrow's sun shall show his head, sources of intellectual health are scattered at accessible points all around them, would be so flagrant an abuse of the blessings of Providence, that the painful consequences would almost provoke indignation instead of pity. To avoid these consequences diligence alone is necessary. And shall they happen for want of diligence? That would not be like woman. Her history teaches that whatever else may, patient industry will never fail her. Surely the present generation will not belie that history. It cannot be difficult to persuade the mothers and daughters of this brilliant age to be diligent in the noblest pursuits of human beings. Like the generations past, they will strive to prove that industry is inherent in woman's very nature. Dismissed from the ancient toils of the spindle and the shuttle, let them not remit their efforts for the comfort of their species; but only, in the place If any of my readers should suspect that Helen's of outward decorations, strive to elaborate the orna-skillful use of the lyre was all that provoked so much ments of mind. praise from the maidens, let them carefully review the Shall all bedew the roots and scent the sacred ground. By Pallas, mentioned above as the competitor of Helen in the labors of the loom, we are probably to In illustration of woman's characteristic diligence, description, and their error will be corrected. She exI am pleased with the suggestion of some forgotten || celled all the nymphs in osier work, and in ornamentauthor, that in ancient times nearly all the female di-ing the well-wrought basket. In the labors of the vinities of paganism were unremittingly industrious. loom she surpassed mortals; and a goddess alone could There was one notable exception. It was Diana, who, pretend to vie with her. These are rehearsed as her I should wish all to know, lived unmarried, and devo-principal graces, and are placed at least on an equality ted herself to music, dancing, and the pleasures of the with her inimitable skill in music. chase, of which she was passionately fond. It is also well enough to mention, that she was honored with certain statues which represented her with three heads-understand Minerva, the daughter of Jupiter, who, like those of horse, dog, and swine. But the pagan goddesses were mostly fabled to be a working race, and were often more fond of business than of beaus. Amidst all their worshiped dignity, they did not despise the distaff. They condescended to regard the labors of the loom, and stooped to give counsel concerning suds and wash-tubs. Helen, once played on a musical instrument, (not the lyre,) but afterwards threw it away in disgust. Minerva was sometimes called Pallas, and was the patroness of the arts, being invoked especially by such as worked in embroidery. In some of her statues she is represented as sitting, with a distaff in her hand. As an atonement for the hint introduced in the notice of DiThese poetic pictures of the goddesses were borrow-ana, I ought to mention that Minerva also was what ed from the heathens' conception of the true charms of the English would call a spinster; or in home-spun woman; and were probably copied from the living orig-phrase, an old maid. inals of their times. Ancient matrons were industrious. Princesses once employed themselves in toilsome cares and labors. Of the cruel, exiled Circe, it is said, "In spinning or the loom she spends the night, And cedar brands supply her father's light." Helen is not more celebrated for beauty than for industry. Both are thus described by Theocritus"As when the night and winter disappear, The purple morning, rising with the year, Salutes the spring; as her celestial eyes Adorn the world, and brighten all the skies: So beauteous Helen shines among the restTall, slender, straight, with all the GRACES blest." And what are these graces? The poet thus recites them "Like her no nymph can willing osiers bend These were the graces of that "Rosy colored Helen, once the pride Passing by other examples of useful industry among the goddesses and heroines of fabulous antiquity, just take for a specimen of Rome's matronly domestic virtues, the inimitable Lucretia, whose character for industry as well as conjugal fidelity, is familiar to you all. But how pleasant it is to leave profane, deceitful fables, for holy, well-assured realities. I shall now pass, as from winter's night to summer's morn, from the mythologies of heathenism, to the temple-to the ark-to the place of the holy oracles of God. Do not fail to follow me from the relics of the dead to the glory of the living. The living is God's word-a verdict divine, ultimate, eternal. It also, as well as the idyls of Theocritus, affords sketches of female character. I shall select one. In the 31st chapter of Proverbs you will find a record, gentle reader, which intimately concerns you. You have read it, I trust, a thousand times; but it is so beautiful, and so directly to my purpose, that I will transfer it to this page. Without any unwarrantable fancies, it presents the following picture of a "vir tuous woman whose price is far above rubies," as she || none is dwelt upon so particularly as diligence. How was in the "preacher's” day, as she was in the days of our exemplary mothers, and as she must always be in the essential features of her character. "Who can find a virtuous woman? Her price is far above rubies; The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her; She seeketh wool and flax, And worketh willingly with her hands: uniformly the matriarchal and Israelitish females exemplified this and its sister virtues, we cannot determine. But the scanty hints of Scripture warrant the inference that, from the times of Sarah, who obtained the promise, to the times of Mary, in whom it received its ultimate fulfillment by the birth of Jesus, the sex was not, on the whole, degenerate. It not only furnished eminent examples of the proper domestic virtues of woman, but it gave to the Church prophetesses, whose She is like merchants' ships, she bringeth food from inspired compositions rouse and admonish the devout afar; She riseth also while it is yet night, She considereth a field, and buyeth it; With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard; She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms; She stretcheth out her hands to the poor, "Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain; Give her of the fruit of her hands, In this sketch several graces are represented as forming the character of that woman "whose price is above rubies." The first is vigilance in the supervision of her family-"she looks well to the ways of her household." The second is industry to accumulate-"she worketh diligently with her hands; she is like the merchants' ships." The third is charity to distribute-"she stretches out her hand to the poor; yea, she reaches out her hands to the needy." The fourth is the overflowing sympathies of benevolence-"in her tongue is the law of kindness." The fifth and last is a discreet, an instructive conversation—“she openeth her mouth with wisdom." This is the divine reckoning of a good woman's virtues; and though it is less to the point, let us glance at her rewards. to this day. Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abagail, Ruth and Esther may be named as answering Solomon's description of a "virtuous woman." On this point, how striking the harmony of sacred and profane testimony. The Jewish and Painim Scriptures are here consenting to the same thing. They afford the same pictures of woman's exellences as consisting eminently of industry, without which it is not to be presumed that the cardinal moral virtues can adorn her life and character. We have now seen, that long before Christianity had inspired woman with heavenly virtues, royal rank and peerless beauty devoted themselves to the pursuits of useful industry. But we have the Gospel. It inculcates diligence as a Christian virtue. It presents for imitation the charitable labors of a Dorcas, and the maternal fidelity of a Eunice and a Lois. Its power on human society has created for woman a sphere almost new, and has opened to her the noblest possible field of action. Shall its oracles and its blessings be trifled with, when even those of heathenism were coveted and revered? Shall woman become indolent and ignoble, because she is no longer doomed to those servile occupations which consumed the industry of ancient Gentile and Jewish females? With her severe and almost slavish toils, were her virtues also abolished? Because she no longer gathers "wool and flax," by painful inquisitions, or barters "fine linen, and delivers girdles to the merchants," is she to do nothing but eat and breathe? Then may Heaven speedily reendow her with all the deserted cares of her ancient domestic regimen. Otherwise, the world is a second time undone. But, if she would consider, the Gospel has procured her a new installation, and proposes to clothe her with more honorable functions. It has now become her prerogative, as well as that of man, "to seek and intermeddle with all wisdom." As if to perpetuate the memory of a deed which blasted a sorrowing world, the tree of sanctifying knowledge has been half guard First, her sons and daughters glory in her name-ed from her approach; but thanks to the Son of God, "her children shall rise up and call her blessed." Second, her husband's trusting heart pays her the tribute of conjugal devotion-"many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all." Third, her graces, diffused like fragrant odors to the very entrances of the city, provoke public homage-"let her own works praise her in the gates." the prohibition is at last removed, and she may now innocently "take and eat" fruit which is "good for food, pleasant to the eyes, and to be desired to make one wise." And having once tasted to destroy, will she not partake to rescue a world? If she would permit Satan to make her the agent of its ruin, will she not permit Jesus Christ to make her the instrument of It will be found that, in this list of femanine graces, its restoration? Let her not forget that the redress lies very much within her conceded province, and that her || of reading lighter works of taste, that, unless they are movements attract the gaze of civilized mankind. willing to resign the luxury of being "beguiled," they cannot consult these columns with pleasure or with patience; but if resolved, at some sacrifice, to form a relish for more substantial aliment, in the use of which they may recover a sound mind, it is hoped that the Repository will subserve their righteous purpose. Should such attempt to read it, may it promote their convalescence. Do not indulge the thought that this is claiming too much of woman. Rather accept the appeal, and yield to its force. Henceforth it is to be emphatically her office to "open her mouth with wisdom," and pour the treasures of her diligently furnished mind into young untutored hearts. Thus she is to train millenial generations for the service of a conquering Christ. Surely, then, she will awake, and realize that she has the investiture of an office charged with such august in-doned the addition of a few words in regard to being terests, and burdened with such overwhelming obligations. She will, awe struck and trembling, yield her whole heart, and soul, and strength, and mind, to its vital and sanctifying duties. I mentioned the millenium. Females have probably more to do towards ushering in that blessed period than either they, or some others who sigh for its coming, have conceived. When every child, whose parents are Christians, shall be trained under such a maternal nurture as fell to the happy lot of Timothy, the day of Christ's coronation will not be far off. He was discipled at a tender age, not by apostolic ministrations, but by the winning admonitions of her who sung his lullaby, and nestled him close to her praying heart. O, for such mothers in all the Israel of God! generation that shall obtain them! Then Having said so much about reading, I shall be par read. As the orator craves audience, so the writer would be tempted to solicit readers, were it not, (for what reason I am ignorant,) that while the speaker is indulged, the scribbler is prohibited by custom. I have not the effrontery to violate this custom; yet, with the privilege of exordium I am disposed to ask a favor of those who do read. My petition to such is, that they read piece by piece, tame and bold, prose and rhyme, from first to last; patiently pursuing the several articles to their close, and dividing to each its due share of time and meditation. This thorough and connected mode may sometimes try their patience. But it must often happen that different articles will bear to each other an intimate reHappy the||lation; so that the antecedent will be an introduction to the sequent, or the sequent a further exposition of the theme discussed in the antecedent. This explains why it is desirable to adopt the method of reading here suggested. And if it should render the task toilsome in the beginning, it will become more pleasant in the end, inasmuch as that is best relished, if relishable at all, which is best understood. "Peace shall visit earth, and truth let in say But besides reading the articles in their order, I so It now remains to be said, that to promote the health-licit the thorough perusal of each. To tell the plain ful cultivation of the female mind, and draw it from trifles into its appropriate sphere of privilege, is understood to be the object of this periodical. With this wise intention its publication was conceived, and has at length been authorized by the suffrage of worthy, discreet men. It will be ascertained, by experiment, whether it can be made to subserve, in some degree, this most important object. truth, I dread nothing so much as being "cut in pieces." If correspondents were to speak, they would doubtless the same. In their, as well as my own behalf, I therefore anxiously entreat-not that you will read, but that if you do read, having once commenced an article, you will press on to its conclusion. Respect the rights of parentage; but do not pass Solomon's judgment, and cruelly divide the child asunder. If It is not desirable to conceal the hope and the wish you will have half, take all. You will scarcely dethat it will supersede, at least with the religious, such mand the reason. Can there be symmetry in that periodicals as are intended merely to amuse, not to which is rent and mangled? Not if it was ever a persanctify and enlighten. True, the Repository will aim fect whole; and if the articles in this paper should be to entertain as well as to instruct. But though it will so unfinished and rude that they will appear as well not always preserve the gravity of a sermon, yet it will in fractions as in units, read until that fact is asnever, as is hoped, become the vehicle of silly jests and certained, and thenceforth act your pleasure. Until sickening tales, to offend the chaste sobriety of the then, if you please, never amputate a suffering limb, wise, and feed the froward merriment of the simple. and then mischievously judge all (and of course conIt will furnish no refection for the morbid mental ap-demn all) from the unsightly appearance of a severpetite which craves, as a sot the cup, dish after dish of ed, mortified member. If you find it wearisome to tragic love and rivalry. For this it has no propensity; travel slowly, as now happens, through ten or twelve and it is not endowed with the prerogative. It is ap-columns devoted to one thread-bare theme, think that pointed to another field. Its mission may extend to another has gone before you and made a much heavier the diseased, but it must offer no hurtful cordials when journey, sweating and groaning all along under the there is need of rank refiners. crushing burden of the quill. If he would thus pio It is right to warn those who have formed the habit neer your way, you ought patiently to follow after. Original. PHYSICAL SCIENCE. PHYSICAL SCIENCE. MESSRS. EDITORS,-Under the above head I propose, if it meet with your approbation, to furnish a few articles for the Ladies' Repository. Once an apology might have been deemed necessary for introducing scientific articles into a periodical for the ladies; but now, I trust, no such apology need be made. The females of this country, especially, are beginning to understand and appreciate their privileges. They believe that the Creator has no more denied them a knowledge of his works than of his word. Many have learned "priceless lessons of wisdom" from this book of "elder Scripture" "Lessons of wisdom, purer than the deep And strangely wrought philosophies that burn not unworthy of remark, that the first act which man performed, of which we have any account, was to systematize the zoology of paradise. Such, indeed, are the relations existing between man and the sensible objects with which he is surrounded, that he cannot, if he would, remain entirely ignorant of the phenomena of nature, which are constantly exhibiting the laws and properties of the material world. As might be expected, therefore, most of the nations of antiquity devoted considerable attention to several branches of natural science. ASTRONOMY. The heavenly bodies, from their brilliancy and apparent motion, as well as from the important purposes which they serve, must have interested mankind from the earliest periods. Hence, we hear one, whose writings are considered by many as the most ancient that have come down to us, speaking of "the sweet influences of Pleiades," and "the bands of Orion." And permit me to express the hope that one object aimed at by the conductors of this magazine shall be to cultivate in the minds of its fair readers a quench-The Chaldeans, Phoenicians, and Egyptians, made less love of the "pure philosophy of nature." I shall be happy to know that I have contributed my mite towards the accomplishment of so desirable an object. "O, let us cherish, with a miser's care, In the first number I will give a very brief sketch of the early history of some of the most important branches of natural science. Very respectfully, yours, &c., Ohio University, Nov., 1840. INTRODUCTION. F. MERRICK. No sooner some important observations in astronomy. Greece, at an early period in her history, cultivated this science with considerable success. Thales, one of her philosophers, long before the Christian era, predicted an eclipse. Anaximander observed the obliquity of the ecliptic. Pythagoras asserted that the stars were worlds, and that the earth was round, Philolaus that the earth had an annual revolution around the sun, and Hicetas that it revolved upon its axis. Eudoxus applied the principles of geometry to this science, and made several important discoveries. Archimedes determined the distances of a number of the planets from the sun, and Hipparchus formed a catalogue of the fixed stars. The Chinese, also, made some proficiency in astronomy more than a thousand years before the commencement of the present era; and at a later period the Arabians prosecuted the science with great zeal, and not without some success. But it was not until the sixteenth century that the true system of the universe was fully developed. The labors of Tyco Brahe, Kepler, Galileo, and Newton, with those of their contemporaries, established the principles of this sublime science upon a foundation as immutable as the laws of nature themselves. CHEMISTRY AND MINERALOGY. Some knowledge of physical objects must have been coeval with the first observations of man. were his senses capable of performing their proper functions, than his eyes fell upon the wide-spread page of nature. Here he read in living and radiant characters the wonderful works of God. He saw the sun shining in his strength, the moon leading on one by one the starry host, until the whole firmament was Chemistry and mineralogy must have been in their thickly studded with the gems of night. Around him origin as they have been in their progress, nearly he saw moving innumerable forms of life. The mas- contemporaneous. It is impossible to point out the todon, with heavy tread, paced the distant plain-the precise time when the first observations were made in lion, crouching beneath the thicket of a glen, watched either, but some knowledge of both must have been for his prey-the antelope was leaping among the obtained before the Noachian deluge, as a number of cragged rocks-the verdant groves were vocal with the the valuable metals had been discovered, as well as the music of the feathered tribe-insects were sipping nec- processes for their reduction, and their uses. The protar from every opening flower; while the finny race ductions of many of the nations of antiquity show were sporting in the limpid streams in all the joyous- considerable acquaintance with these branches of sciness of life. With a scene like this spread out be- ence. This knowledge, however, was mostly confined fore him, not to have studied it with thrilling interest, to artizans, who handed it down from one generation to would indicate an insensibility to the displays of Di- another, in connection with the knowledge of their sevvine wisdom and goodness-such as we cannot attri-eral arts, except in Egypt, where chemistry, as well as bute to him while in a state of innocency. And it is mineralogy, was studied as a science. Here great pro |