264 Heredity. 



differences between the sexes Avhicli the study of the 

 evohition of organisms would lead us to expect. I shaU 

 now quote a few extracts from authors whose writings 

 upon the position of women are accepted as yaluable 

 contributions to our knowledge of the subject, in order 

 to show that they have recognized the existence of the 

 very differences which we have been led, by theoretical 

 reasoning, to expect. 



Mill's essay on ^' The Subjection of Woman" must be 

 regarded as the most important contribution to the dis- 

 cussion of the relative positions of the sexes as relating 

 to future progress; and it is interesting to note that, 

 while he holds that the existing differences are not nat- 

 ural, but are due to the subjection of one sex by the 

 other, he fully recognizes certain profound and charac- 

 teristic differences, Avhich are precisely in accordance 

 •with the present view of their origin and purpose. 

 Mill's evidence as to important differences between the 

 sexes is of the greatest value, both on account of the 

 weight of his opinion in itself, and on account of his be- 

 ing in this case an unwilling witness. He says: ^* Look- 

 ing at women as they are known in experience, it may 

 be said of then\, with more truth than belongs to most 

 generalizations on the subject, that the general bent of 

 their talents is toward the practical. This statement is 

 conformable to all the public history of women in the 

 present and in the past. It is no less borne out by com- 

 mon and daily experience. Let us consider the special 

 nature of the mental capacities most characteristic of a 

 woman of talent. They are all of a kind which fits 

 them for practice, and makes them tend toward it. 

 What is meant by a woman's capacity of intuitive per- 

 ception? It means a rapid and correct insight into pres- 

 ent facts. It has nothing to do wilh general principles. 



