Chap. XIX.] MENTAL POWERS OF MAN AND WOMAN. 311 



will dispute that the bull differs in disposition from the 

 cow, the wild-boar from the sow, the stallion from the 

 mare, and, as is well known to the keepers of menageries, 

 the males of the larger apes from the females. "Woman 

 seems to differ from man in mental disposition, chiefly in 

 her greater tenderness and less selfishness ; and this holds 

 good even with savages, as shown by a well-known pas- 

 sage in Mungo Park's Travels, and by statements made 

 by many other travellers. Woman, owing to her maternal 

 instincts, displays these qualities toward her infants in an 

 eminent degree ; therefore it is likely that she should often 

 extend them toward her fellow-creatures. Man is the ri- 

 val of other men ; he delights in competition, and this 

 leads to ambition which passes too easily into selfishness. 

 These latter qualities seem to be his natural and unfortu- 

 nate birthright. It is generally admitted that with woman 

 the powers of intuition, of rapid perception, and perhaps 

 of imitation, are more strongly marked than in man ; but 

 some, at least, of these faculties are characteristic of the 

 lower races, and therefore of a past and lower state of 

 civilization. 



The chief distinction in the intellectual powers of the 

 two sexes is shown by man attaining to a higher emi- 

 nence, in whatever he takes up, than woman can attain — 

 whether requiring deep thought, reason, or imagination, 

 or merely the use of the senses and hands. If two lists 

 were made of the most eminent men and women in 

 poetry, painting, sculpture, music — comprising composi- 

 tion and performance, history, science, and philosophy, 

 with half a dozen names under each subject, the two lists 

 would not bear comparison. We may also infer, from 

 the law of the deviation of averages, so well illustrated 

 by Mr. Galton, in his work on " Hereditary Genius," tliat 

 if men are capable of decided eminence over women in 



