July 10, 1885.] 



KNOWLEDGE 



\.^ AM ILLUSTRATED Wj^' 



MAGAZINE OF SCIENCE'^; 

 Plainly^ orded-ExactlyDescribed 



LONDON: FlilBAY, JULY 3, 1885. 

 Contents of No. 193. 



?ir.t 8tar"LeBVon.'.""()^«"J 



By Richard A. Proctor 



Jossip. By E. A. Proctor.... 



Tricycles in 1885 ; Small v. Large 

 Wheels. By John Browning 23 



Chats on Geometrical Measurement. 

 flUuB.) By R. A. Proctor.,...,... 24 



'athemalioal Theory of 



uOhMgColmui.. 



FEMININE VOLUBILITY. 



By Thomas Foster. 



AMONG tlie minor miseries of life, wBicli become by 

 frequent repetition, and by steady continuance, 

 very serious troubles, perliaps tbc querulous volubility of 

 kindly women, is as apt as any to embitter life. The 

 scolding vixen is endurable by comparison with the un- 

 selfish woman, who.se anxiety for the welfare of those 

 around her leads her to make them all exceedingly un- 

 comfortable. I can imagine a man of sense exposed to 

 the angry vituperations of a Xantippe, finding in them 

 after awhile a fund of amusement. I cannot imagine 

 such a man becoming very angry with a mere shrew, 

 save perhaps for the effect of her vile temper on the 

 comfort and happiness of others. But it is diilerent with 

 the complaints of those whom we know to be well- 

 meaning. Their querulousncss is infinitely more tryin;,;-, 

 because we cannot separate from our sense of annoyance 

 the sense of utter incongruity between the object fliev 

 "■ ■■ atter of 



ndly 



interests n 



nget I 



3 of 



n(s of k: 

 but over-aii\-i.i,m «,„iie„ ivsnnl.le Il,e Meiidydown 

 of rain, the |.uriin,-,. ,,f ulileli is cxeelleni, but the « 

 while it la.sl,, iii...,i u,.,ii.s,ii,ie au.l ainh.yiiig. One 

 not get angry wil.h ram or drizzle, but one i 

 comfort out of it ; whereas one can enjoy thi 

 opposition roused by a fierce storm through which 

 may have to make a way. 



I recall liere, by the way, tliat George Eliot, who 

 noted more closely than most persons the sources of 

 domestic happiness and misery, has dwelt on this diffe- 

 rence between the mere vixen whom everyone contemns 

 and the Mrs. Gummidges who trouble those around them 

 by constant complaints which have their origin in over- 

 anxious love. "Women who are never bitter and resent- 

 ful," she says, " are often the most querulous ; and if 

 Solomon was as wise as he was reputed to bo, I feel sure 



half I he 

 from r:i 

 abr..a.l," 



a pa 

 If no 



of 



lei-. 1 hele might be 

 :liiiy. lint the ca«e 

 II. Ainoi;g.st others 

 m the offender her- 



it I 



; but 



roug 

 t it 



•fly. 



happy, a 

 ^^ho had 

 queruUn 



iil'en where they might huve been most 

 ded by alienating tlie heart of the man 

 heart to cheek at the rii^ht time, her 

 There is more true love in kindly 

 e beforo the mischief is ,hmo, th:vu in 



