Among the books of interest lately published, we must place the last work[C] by Miss Bremer, which needs to be read in the spirit of the writer—that is, in the love of the true and the good, which she deeply manifests, in order to be justly appreciated. We gave in our last number a short notice of this remarkable work, intending to prepare a longer critique for this month; and regret we have been hindered from completing our intention. But as the work cannot now be readily obtained, our readers who have not read it, will, we are sure, be gratified by a few selections expressive of Miss Bremer's opinions concerning the position, prospects, and progress of American women.
The Ideal of Man and Woman in America.—"The ideal of the men of America seems to me to be, purity of intention, decision in will, energy in action, simplicity and gentleness in demeanor. Hence it is that there is something tender and chivalric in his behavior to women, which is infinitely becoming to him. In every woman he respects his own mother.
"In the same way it appeared to me that the ideal of the women of America, of the women of the New World, is independence in character, gentleness of demeanor and manner. The American's ideal of happiness seems to me to be, marriage and home, combined with public activity.
"Of the American home, I have seen enough and heard enough for me to be able to say that the women have, in general, all the rule there that they wish to have. Woman is the centre and lawgiver in the homes of the New World, and the American man loves that it should be so. I must, however, say, that in the happy homes in which I lived, I saw the wife equally careful to guide herself by the wishes of her husband, as he was to indulge her; affection and sound reason make all things equal."
Female Education in America.—"The educational institutions for women are, in general, much superior to those of Europe, and perhaps the most important work which America is doing for the future of humanity, consists in her treatment and education of woman. Woman's increasing value as a teacher, and the employment of her as such in public schools, even in those for boys, is a public fact in these States; which greatly delights me. Seminaries have been established to educate her for this vocation. It even seems as if the daughters of New England had a peculiar faculty and love for this employment. Young girls of fortune devote themselves to it. The daughters of poor farmers go to work in the manufactories a sufficient time to earn the necessary sum to put themselves to school, and thus to become teachers in due course. Whole crowds of school teachers go from New England to the Western and Southern States, where schools are established and placed under their direction. In the schools for young ladies, they learn the classics, mathematics, physics, algebra, with great case, and pass their examination like young men. Not long since, a young lady in Nantucket,[D] not far from Boston, distinguished herself in astronomy; discovered a new planet, and received in consequence a medal from the King of Denmark."—Vol. i. pp. 190, 191.
Woman the Physician for her own Sex.—"When one reflects how important for future generations is the proper estimation of the woman and the child, how much depends upon diet, upon that fostering which lies beyond the sphere of the physician and his oversight, and which woman alone can rightly understand, who can doubt the importance of the female physician, in whose case science steps in to aid natural sense, and to constitute her the best helper and counsellor of women and children? That women have a natural feeling and talent for the vocation of physician, is proved by innumerable instances from the experience of all ages and people, and it is a shame and a pity that men have not, hitherto, permitted these to be developed by science.
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