Angels view Girlhood with Solicitude and Delight--Beauty no perpetual Pledge of Safety--Nothing in Man or Things impels a Provident Regard for it--Blossoming Womanhood an Object of Deep Interest and Pity--Girlhood's first Work is to Form a Character--It should be _Pure_ and _Energetic_--Woman only a Thing--Her Education progressing--Physical Health should be Preserved--A Woman not Herself without Physical Strength--Woman must be Independent, and Earn her own Livelihood--Character must Embody Itself in an Outward Form to be of Service to the World Page 9-21
God a Lover of Beauty--Every thing in the Universe Beautiful--The Admirer of Beauty should Reverence its Author--The Love of Beauty elevating in its Tendency--Its Abuses Fearful--Man a Part of Nature, and God in all--Woman the most Perfect Type of Beauty--Youthful Woman exposed to great Temptation--Beauty a Charming, but Dangerous Gift--The most Beautiful should be the most Pious--Beauty of Person Worthless without Loveliness of Character--"Strong-minded" Women not Beautiful--Beauty the Nurse of Vanity--Value of Character depreciates with Increase of Beauty when substituted for Moral Worth--Beauty only Skin-deep--Beauty Two-fold: Inward and Outward--Inward Beauty shines through--Beauty of Soul made Washington, Josephine, and Channing glorious--Every Woman may be Beautiful--Cheerfulness, Agreeable Manners, a Correct Taste, and Kindness should be Cultivated 22-40
Religion and Dress--Variety in Nature--Dress should not be Injurious--Present Customs Unhealthy, Slovenly, and Immodest--A Subject of Religious Consideration--Suicide _vs._ Providence--Foolish Vanity--Taste an Element of Mind--Dress should be Symbolical--Woman should Elevate her Aims--Appropriate Dress Admirable 41-57
Fashion made Superior to Health--Fashionable Religion--Unfashionable Ministers--Votaries of Fashion Despise it--Fashionable Women Short-lived--Mothers of Great Men Unfashionable--Woman's Greatness shown in Offspring--Example of Women of Fashion--Apostrophe to Fashion--Appeal to American Women--Nature in Freedom's Temple--Fashion is Monotonous--Woman needs more Freedom 58-72
Life a School--Education a Work of Progress--Schools of Vice--Every Circumstance a Teacher--Kinds of Education--Female Education--True Womanly Ambition--Improve your Opportunities--Principles should be Understood--Time Trifled Away--Some Excuses--Society Needs Woman's Influence--Education as it is--Girls should have Something to Live For 73-87