1S64.] 305 [Price. 



Asia; the elevated table land of the latter giving them the lower 

 temperature that belongs to a higher latitude on the western side of 

 that hemisphere. That is, as we go westward, we go further north- 

 ward to keep in the same temperature, at the same elevation. The 

 climate being similar, and the mode of life the same, the religion of 

 both derived from the Indian mythology, and woman, necessarily the 

 exposed companion of man, while both pursued a nomadic life, living 

 in temporary huts, the physical causes operating upon the kindred 

 people of Asia and Europe, under the same temperature, could be 

 little different. Nothing can be pointed to as cause for the extraor- 

 dinary disparity of results, except a different religion during later 

 centuries, so significant as the German's high respect for woman, 

 with a single wife and mother in his family; while his ancestral 

 nations in Asia had no such exalted sentiment, or lost it, and con- 

 tinued to live in polygamy, with a liberty to divorce their wives at 

 pleasure : causes heightened in effect by the acceptance of Christianity 

 in Germany, and of Budhism, as the religion of Central Asia. From 

 the rude and warlike Goths, Vandals, Huns, Lombards, Saxons, all 

 parts of Europe have attained the highest and most intelligent civili- 

 zation known to the world, while the Mongolians and Tartars have 

 made no considerable advances in civilization since written history 

 has furnished her narratives. It is true, a milder climate and the 

 intermingling with civilized peoples in the south, helped the process 

 of amelioration ; but these causes could not operate in countries bor- 

 dering on the Baltic and the German Ocean, which had no influx 

 of people from the south ; where yet may be traced a profounder 

 respect for woman, and a more vigorous manhood than in the south 

 of Europe. 



The sentiment of devotion to the sex ran highest in its profes- 

 sion in the ages of chivalry and romance. But this was not the whole- 

 some and practical condition of society, which we should recommend 

 as best adapted for woman's true welfare and the true interest of so- 

 ciety. Tournaments and courtly assemblages of the nobility were 

 not the best school of her training. All that glittered so brightly, 

 was not truthfully of intrinsic purity and value. Virtue is not best 

 preserved where a prince and nobility enjoy by law, or privilege, or 

 opinion, an immunity from the common responsibilities of men. 

 Kings, who legally could do no wrong, became the greatest wrong- 

 doers, and set examples to their courtiers, sure to be followed for 

 evil in all the gradations of society. It was in the middle rank of 



VOL. IX. — 2p 



