spell of a sorcerer is
upon her. She is a doomed woman; there, in the gay world, fluttering,
perhaps the admired of all admirers. Her own hearth-stone is deserted;
and what must we anticipate, should she be placed at the head of a new
household?

Another exposure, always to be feared in society, arises from the
sensitiveness of woman to Public Opinion. In our country this influence
brings danger and evil to both sexes. The language of Cecil, if true of
London, is more so of America. "Doing as others do is the prevalent
principle," he affirms, "of the present female character. This,--so far
as it avails with man or woman,--is the ruin, death, and grave of all
that is noble, and virtuous, and praiseworthy." An inordinate desire to
please every one is surely a snare to integrity and purity of character.

But who so tempted, in this respect, as a young, dependant, and almost
helpless, female? Such are the customs of society, that woman is placed
beneath the protection of man. A consciousness of this position cannot
fail to awaken a strong desire for his favor. This sentiment, always
active, will have a superadded sway over one just entering the path of
social life. In future days she will gain, perhaps, new confidence in
herself, and rely more on her inward resources, while in the world. But
now, she must lean much upon others, and will, almost insensibly,
conform unduly to their wishes and practices. Let a guard be early
stationed at this post of peril.

In regard to her Dress, the young woman is liable to subject herself
completely to that form of public opinion termed fashion. This power,
elsewhere an idol, seems in the realm of dress a very Moloch. How often
are our children cast into its fiery arms, and the cries of the victim,
or rather the cries of duty, and reason, drowned by the harsh music of
the world.

Not only at evening parties, in the streets, and at Lectures, but in the
very house of God, you shall see the dominion of this tyrant. I quote,
on this topic, an eminent female writer of our country. "From your youth
upwards you are accustomed to hear such remarks as follow: 'Did you
observe Mrs. M.'s dress last Sunday? She must have got it from France;
it was something so out of the common way, I could not take my eyes off
from her all church time.' Another wore some article so old, or
ill-fashioned, as to be unfit to be seen at church. A third looked so
ugly in black that she 'must detest going into mournin