528 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY, 



treme. They wisli females to receive the same education as males, 

 and to compete with them in the intellectual struggle for existence. 

 We have, however, seen that both the woman's body and mind are 

 inferior in vigor and power to those of the man, and accordingly, if 

 pitted against one another in a physical or mental race, she, to use a 

 sporting phrase, would be heavily handicapped. She will not, as a 

 rule, reach his standard, and, if she endeavors to do so, it will be at the 

 expense of her health. The brain and nervous system, like other or- 

 gans, if overworked, become the centers of activity, and are fatigued ; 

 this increases existing susceptibility, and hence arise symptoms of 

 nervousness, hysteria, hypochondriasis, and insanity. These acting on 

 the body produce emaciation and other diseases, the offspring of an 

 exhausted constitution. 



The conclusion, then, to be drawn from this section is that, in ad- 

 dition to the natural affectability of her character, this condition in 

 woman is fostered and augmented by the artificial exigencies of civil- 

 ized life ; that, whereas idleness and want of occupation are the great- 

 est sources of many diseases peculiar to the sex, the opposite extreme 

 of mental strain is equally prejudicial. 



We have endeavored, in the brief space allotted us, to point out 

 the physical and intellectual capacities of woman, and in consequence 

 the disposition and instincts which nature has implanted in her. This 

 fundamental difference between the sexes, Ave have seen, is not due to 

 education or special cultivation, but to a primary development of the 

 system, each having those peculiarities best fitted for the part it has 

 been born to fulfill. There can therefore be little doubt that the most 

 natural and healthy condition for a woman is a properly assorted mar- 

 riage, in which she has children, with whom she has useful and con- 

 genial occupation, and by whom all her sympathies and best instincts 

 are developed. In modern times great and laudable efforts are being 

 made to effect an improvement in the higher education of women, 

 and, as there are many who either from choice or circumstances can 

 not occupy that position which it is the pride of most to i30ssess, a 

 movement has been made whereby they may earn an independent 

 livelihood by the exercise of their mental faculties. We are informed 

 by energetic and doubtless well-meaning speakers from the platform, 

 that women have hitherto been under subjection, that they should 

 emancipate themselves, that their intellect is as good as if not better 

 than that of men, and that they are as capable as men are of the 

 highest mental culture, and of profiting and distinguishing themselves 

 thereby. It is unquestionable that suitable occupation and education 

 are of the highest importance to the well-being of women, and that 

 all due encouragement should be given to those who endeavor to pro- 

 vide for them an intelligent interest in life. But in avoiding Scylla 

 care must be taken not to drift into Charybdis. To say that the ma- 

 jority of women are fit to cope successfully with men in the Intel- 



