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Adams, Nehemiah, 1806-1878

"The Sable Cloud A Southern Tale With Northern Comments (1861)"

In saying this, I refer both to this world
and the next'. I need not say, he is an enemy to the slave-trade.
"A missionary who had spent much time among the Zulu people, was
appealed to by a zealous anti-slavery person to commiserate our slaves
as being so much worse off than the Zulus. 'Madam,' said he, 'if our
Zulus were in the condition of your slaves, eternity would not be long
enough to give thanks.'
"Mrs. North," said I, "you will not impute it to mere gallantry when I
appeal to you if we may not generally measure the refinement and
elevation of society by the position of woman, and by the sentiments and
manners of the other sex with regard to yours. The deference, the
delicate attentions, the gentleness, the refinement of behavior, in word
and act, which you inspire, are both the means and the evidence of the
highest cultivation. In public and in private life, in assemblies,
public conveyances, at table, around the evening lamp, in all the
intercourse of the family, the susceptibility of impression, the
restraints and the chastised utterances, in word and action, of
husbands, fathers, brothers and friends, which are due to the presence
of woman, are a correct gauge of civilization and refinement.


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